How to compare homeowners insurance companies
Whether you want to switch companies to save money, purchase homeowners insurance for your first house or are just window shopping, comparing companies is a great way to get your best rates and coverage. We know that companies can begin looking the same the more quotes you get. The table below summarizes some high-level differences.CompanyMarket share*2021 J.D. Power overall satisfaction (higher is better)**2020 NAIC Complaint Index (lower is better)*Amica0.9%8540.51Auto Club of Southern California-840-Erie1.7%8350.48State Farm18.2%8350.74American Family4.1%8310.55Auto-Owners-8310.41Country Financial0.7%830-AIG1%8300.36Allstate9%8291.00CSAA0.9%8280.94Farmers5.6%8130.57Nationwide3.1%8120.53MetLife1%810-Liberty Mutual6.5%8064.71The Hartford0.9%7982.36*Market share data and Complaint Index from NAIC. **J.D. Power ratings from 2021 home insurance study.
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How to compare homeowners insurance quotes
Home insurance companies determine your quote using many factors. The price in the quote you receive is the result of multiple coverage limits and policy details. That means you should consider more than the final price on the quote: one company may have higher monthly premiums, but you may also get more coverage for the price.
For example, a quote has a dwelling coverage amount, which is the maximum reimbursement a home insurance company will provide if your home must be rebuilt. One company may quote you $150,000, while another quotes you $180,000. When comparing the final quote price between these two companies, remember that one provides more dwelling coverage than the other.
Because homeowners insurance policies are standardized, coverage won't vary much between companies. Although coverage doesn't differ much, some parts of a quote may change greatly between companies. For example:Coverage limits (the maximum amount the company will pay out)Type of replacement (RC vs. ACV)Deductible amountsAdditional coverages and endorsements
There are also different types of policies for home insurance, which are referred to as HO-1 through HO-8. Each policy type is tailored to the type of housing you live in and your home insurance coverage needs. Home insurance coverages that are owner-occupied range from the most basic (HO-1) to standard (HO-2 and HO-3) to comprehensive (HO-5). The most common type of home insurance policy is the HO-3. There are six coverages in a standard HO-3 homeowners insurance policy, and they each have their own coverage limit.
Your dwelling, other structures and personal property coverages also include a type of replacement, either replacement cost (RC) or actual cash value (ACV).RC: Replacement Cost
Replacement cost policies reimburse you based on the cost to completely replace a damaged item. For example, if you lose your living room couch in a fire, an RC policy will reimburse you enough money to purchase a new couch.ACV: Actual Cash Value
Actual cash value policies reimburse you based on the value of the item at the time of loss, with depreciation factored in. So, if that same couch is lost in a fire and you have an ACV policy, you'll receive a substantially lower settlement that reflects the value of the used couch.
Different coverages in your policy can be RC or ACV. It's common for dwelling coverage to be RC and property coverage to be ACV.
There are a few deductibles you might see on your policy. These include a policy deductible and special deductibles, like a wind, hail or hurricane deductible, depending on where you live. That means the amount you have to pay out of pocket may change depending on the peril that causes damage.An example of comparing home insurance quotes
Using a comparison website like QuoteWizard lets you get multiple quotes, empowering you to choose the policy that's right for you. As an example, we made up two imaginary policies, which are described in part below. Policy APolicy BMonthly premium$$$Dwelling coverage$150,000$200,000Personal liability coverage$100,000$300,000Wind deductible$1,000$250Property replacement policyACVRC
The two policies have different monthly premiums - Policy A is cheaper than Policy B. But how does the coverage compare?
Policy B provides more liability protection than Policy A. That means if you reach your liability limit of $100,000 with Policy A, you could be responsible for any additional out-of-pocket costs. Similarly, Policy B's dwelling coverage limit is higher, meaning your home's structure is protected for a larger amount.
There's also the wind deductible to consider: you could be out of pocket $1,000 for Policy A, but only $250 for Policy B after a loss due to wind. This difference could easily negate any policy savings you got by going with Policy A.
Lastly, consider the property replacement type. For Policy A, you'll receive actual cash value after a loss, meaning you'll have to pay some amount out of pocket to completely replace the item. The replacement cost with Policy B, on the other hand, means your insurance company will reimburse you the full cost to replace your belongings after a loss.
The final cost of your homeowners insurance policy doesn't matter if you aren't receiving the coverage you need. Even if one company has lower monthly premiums, what if it doesn't fully cover you after a loss? That's why we recommend comparing price and the quote coverage limits.Questions to ask the insurance company about your quote
Asking the right questions can help you better understand your quote options and make an informed decision. But it's not always clear what questions to ask, so here are a few questions to ask yourself and the insurance companies when you're comparing quotes.Questions to ask about a quoteAre my belongings covered by RC or ACV?Are there special deductibles (for example: wind, hail, hurricane)?Are there any more discounts I'm eligible for?Are there specific coverage exclusions?Questions to ask yourselfDo I have sufficient personal property protection to cover all my belongings?Do I own anything which will exceed policy limits, like jewelry?Do I have enough personal liability protection to protect my assets?Do I value an online experience or having a dedicated agent?
Homeowners insurance policies usually do not cover floods or earthquakes.Flood insurance
Flood damage is not included in a standard home insurance policy, but it can be purchased separately through FEMA. In the event of a flood, flood insurance covers your house and belongings. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, your mortgage lender may require you to have flood insurance.Earthquake insurance
If your home is damaged by an earthquake, you would need a separate policy to cover your home and belongings. Whether or not you need an earthquake insurance policy depends on if your area is prone to earthquakes.How much does homeowners insurance cost?What you can expect to pay in your state.
The average cost of homeowners insurance in the U.S. is $1,735 a year, according to our comprehensive study of the average cost of homeowners insurance. The table below can help you ballpark how much your neighbors pay and whether you're overpaying with your current insurer.
Average US yearlyrate in 2021:$1,735Average cost of homeowners insurance by stateStateAverage annual premiumAlabama$2,100Alaska$1,140Arizona$1,453Arkansas$2,402California$1,018Colorado$2,532Connecticut$1,579Delaware$882Florida$2,595Georgia$1,855Hawaii$466Idaho$1,060Illinois$1,596Indiana$1,587Iowa$1,779Kansas$2,947Kentucky$3,212Louisiana$2,505Maine$1,110Maryland$1,140Massachusetts$1,281Michigan$1,710Minnesota$2,087Mississippi$3,417Missouri$2,251Montana$2,245Nebraska$3,241Nevada$915New Hampshire$839New Jersey$963New Mexico$1,839New York$1,114North Carolina$1,869North Dakota$1,870Ohio$1,211Oklahoma$3,645Oregon$1,023Pennsylvania$1,042Rhode Island$1,503South Carolina$2,048South Dakota$2,312Tennessee$1,868Texas$3,431Utah$896Vermont$874Virginia$1,136Washington$920West Virginia$1,503Wisconsin$1,240Wyoming$1,502Note: Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary.
Our data shows homeowners insurance rates increase anywhere from $2 to $237 a year. If your rates recently increased more than your state average, it may be time to consider switching companies.
Homeowners insurance covers many natural disasters, meaning states at higher risk for natural disasters have higher rates. So Florida's hurricanes and Oklahoma's tornadoes contribute to their expensive premiums.
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