Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do the initials ISO stand for?

ISO began life in 1971 as Insurance Services Office. While we still serve the property/casualty insurance marketplace, our business has expanded greatly. Therefore, in recent years, we have not used the old name in most of our communications with customers and others.

Is your company related to the organization that promotes standardization around the world?

No, the International Organization for Standardization, which also uses the initials ISO, is not related to our company. You can find the other organization's website at www.iso.org.

I forgot my ISO password. How do I get a new one?

To reset your password for any of the services available through ISOnetSM — including ISO ClaimSearch®, ISO PassportSM, SPI Plus®, and others — call ISO at 1-800-888-4476, and follow the instructions for password resets.

There are a few other spots in the iso.com website that require passwords. You'll find instructions for those right where you need to enter the passwords.

How does ISO rate local fire departments? And what does the rating mean for insurance costs in my community?

ISO's expert staff collects information about municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) — a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program does not meet ISO's minimum criteria.

Virtually all U.S. insurers of homes and business property use ISO's Public Protection Classification in calculating premiums. In general, the price of fire insurance in a community with a good PPC is substantially lower than in a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other factors are equal.

For more information about ISO's PPC program, please visit our special ISO Mitigation Online website.

What's an ISO symbol? How does it affect the automobile insurance premium for an individual car?

A symbol is a code used in ISO's Vehicle Series Rating (VSR) program.

The purpose of Vehicle Series Rating is to match premiums for each particular type of car to losses for that type of car. For each vehicle series (defined by such characteristics as make, model, body style, and wheelbase), ISO assigns a rating symbol. ISO provides corresponding symbol factors that insurers may use in determining premiums for individual policies. A vehicle with a higher rating symbol will have a higher premium than a vehicle with a lower symbol, if all other rating variables are the same.

Initially, ISO assigns preliminary symbols based solely on the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of a new vehicle. Then, by examining loss experience over time, ISO makes adjustments — both upwards and downwards — to arrive at the rating symbols.

Those adjustments reflect differences not covered by other rating variables, such as driver classifications, use of vehicle, and place of garaging. VSR captures differences caused by factors such as attractiveness to theft and susceptibility to damage. It's unlikely that a $30,000 minivan would generate the same amount of theft losses as a $30,000 sports car or that the vehicle damage sustained in an accident would be the same for a $40,000 luxury car with a fiberglass-based body as for a $40,000 sport utility vehicle. The VSR program adjusts the premiums and balances the effects in a revenue-neutral way. So, VSR promotes rating equity for drivers of different kinds of vehicles.

Why doesn't this website have information about the ISO product called GUS?

ISO has replaced GUS® (Geographic Underwriting System) with a new product called LOCATION®. LOCATION uses the same geographic information systems (GIS) technology as GUS to deliver property and hazard information representing every address in the United States. But LOCATION stores the information in a database that you can access through the web or on a CD-ROM. (GUS calculated the same kind of information every time you made a request.) GUS is no longer available.

Why doesn't this website have information about the ISO product called ISO Suite?

ISO SuiteTM is no longer available, but ISO Suite+TM is still available. ISOnetSM — the information service for insurance professionals — also gives you information similar to what you used to get in ISO Suite.

How can I get the text of a particular policy form?

If you work for a participating insurance company or agency, you can sign up for access to policy forms through ISOnetSM — the information service for insurance professionals. To sign up, send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at 1-800-888-4476.

If you work for a different kind of company or organization, you may or may not be able to get forms. Call us at 1-800-888-4476 for details.

Didn't find the answer to your question?

Contact ISO, or call us at 1-800-888-4476. We'll get back to you promptly, and we may add your question to this page.