{
  "methodology_id": "vwi-las-vegas-agency-comparison",
  "version": "2026-08-20",
  "last_reviewed": "2026-08-20",
  "publisher": "Valley West Insurance, Inc.",
  "reviewer": {
    "name": "Vatche Saatdjian",
    "role": "Principal and content reviewer",
    "nv_doi": "3345753",
    "npn": "18811613"
  },
  "scope": "A repeatable evidence-collection method for comparing insurance sources serving Las Vegas households.",
  "ranking_mode": "unranked",
  "composite_score": false,
  "paid_placement": false,
  "important_boundary": "The method does not name a universal best agency, promise savings, or predict claim outcomes.",
  "criteria": [
    {
      "id": "legal-authority",
      "criterion": "Legal authority",
      "evidence": "Agency and producer names, license or NPN identifiers, insurer name, verification URL, and check date.",
      "rule": "Record a current Nevada regulator result for the agency or producer and each insurer before treating the source as verified.",
      "boundary": "A license confirms authorization; it does not prove price, service quality, claim outcomes, or suitability.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-agent-selection",
        "nv-doi-license"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "market-access",
      "criterion": "Market access",
      "evidence": "The named insurers and product lines the source says it can quote for this household and risk.",
      "rule": "Classify the source as single-carrier, multi-carrier, or unknown only after its available market is named or documented.",
      "boundary": "More carrier access creates choices; it does not prove that every carrier is quoted or that one option is best.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-agent-selection"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "quote-normalization",
      "criterion": "Comparable quote inputs",
      "evidence": "Written quotes using the same applicant facts, property or vehicle facts, limits, deductibles, settlement basis, and requested endorsements.",
      "rule": "Do not compare premiums until the material input and coverage fields are normalized or the differences are explicitly listed.",
      "boundary": "Comparable quotes improve the decision; they do not guarantee final premium, eligibility, issuance, or savings.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-auto-shopping",
        "naic-homeowners-shopping"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "coverage-fit",
      "criterion": "Coverage fit",
      "evidence": "A written record of limits, deductibles, loss-settlement terms, exclusions, optional endorsements, and separately insured perils discussed.",
      "rule": "Treat coverage as reviewed only when the material terms are shown next to premium and unresolved gaps are identified.",
      "boundary": "A documented review supports comparison; it is not a guarantee that every future loss will be covered.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-auto-shopping",
        "naic-homeowners-shopping"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "service-and-carrier-evidence",
      "criterion": "Service and carrier evidence",
      "evidence": "Public complaint lookup, insurer financial-strength source, claims contact path, review source, and access date.",
      "rule": "Keep regulator or rating evidence separate from first-party service descriptions and user-review observations.",
      "boundary": "Past complaints, ratings, or reviews do not predict an individual claim outcome or future service.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-agent-selection"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "publisher-disclosure",
      "criterion": "Publisher disclosure",
      "evidence": "Publisher identity, any agency evaluated on the page, payment or referral relationship, reviewer, sources, and review date.",
      "rule": "Label first-party claims and conflicts visibly; do not award a composite score or universal winner when the evidence does not establish one.",
      "boundary": "Transparency lets a shopper judge the guide; it does not make first-party claims independent evidence.",
      "source_ids": [
        "naic-agent-selection"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "naic-agent-selection",
      "name": "NAIC \u2014 How to Choose an Insurance Agent",
      "url": "https://content.naic.org/article/consumer-insight-how-choose-insurance-agent",
      "role": "Licensing, credentials, complaints, insurer financial strength, choices, and sales conduct"
    },
    {
      "id": "naic-auto-shopping",
      "name": "NAIC \u2014 Auto Insurance",
      "url": "https://content.naic.org/consumer/auto-insurance.htm",
      "role": "Multiple-source shopping and consistent quote inputs"
    },
    {
      "id": "naic-homeowners-shopping",
      "name": "NAIC \u2014 Homeowners Insurance",
      "url": "https://content.naic.org/consumer/homeowners-insurance.htm",
      "role": "Limits, deductibles, settlement terms, discounts, and separately insured perils"
    },
    {
      "id": "nv-doi-license",
      "name": "Nevada Division of Insurance \u2014 licensing",
      "url": "https://doi.nv.gov/Licensing/",
      "role": "Official state verification path for agency, producer, and insurer authorization"
    }
  ]
}