EXHIBIT 23a Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants As independent certified public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated January 19, 2000 on the consolidated financial statements of Brown & Brown, Inc. (the "Company") as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999, incorporated by reference into the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, into the Company's Form S-8 dated August 3, 2000. /S/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Orlando, Florida August 3, 2000.