Glossary
Quote proposal
A quote proposal is the client-facing document an agency builds from carrier quotes. Where a quote is the carrier's price and terms delivered to the agent, the proposal packages one or more quotes for the buyer: premium, limits, deductibles, key exclusions, and what the agency recommends. It is how a stack of quotes becomes a decision the client can actually make.
What goes in one
A good proposal compares options coverage by coverage, not just by price. The cheapest quote often carries a lower limit, a higher deductible, or a new exclusion, and the proposal is where the agency makes that visible instead of letting the client buy on the bottom line.
Proposals also carry the fine print that governs binding: effective dates, payment options, and subjectivities, which are the items the carrier requires before or shortly after coverage starts, like signed applications, loss runs, or an inspection.
Where it fits in the workflow
The sequence runs submission, carrier quotes, proposal, client decision, bind. The proposal is the handoff point between the agency's market work and the client's choice.
Not every carrier number is proposal-ready. An indication is a rough estimate, a quote is a firm offer, and a bindable quote is one the carrier will put coverage behind once subjectivities are cleared. Proposals should be built on quotes, with indications labeled as such.
In Relay
Relay's AI Quoting, a Research Preview, runs configured carrier portal workflows in parallel and returns quotes with source evidence for the proposal your team builds. See how →
Common questions
What is the difference between a quote and a proposal?
A quote is the carrier's price and terms, delivered to the agency. A proposal is the agency's document for the client, packaging one or more quotes with a comparison and a recommendation.
What are subjectivities?
Conditions the carrier requires before or shortly after binding: signed applications, current loss runs, inspections, or proof of protective safeguards. Coverage can be voided or rescinded if they are never satisfied, so proposals should list them plainly.
Part of the Relay insurance operations glossary. Updated 2026-07-11. See how we source content.
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