How to Get Home Insurance Quotes
Homeowners pay $2,801 a year on average for home insurance; however, getting quotes from multiple insurance companies can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Where do I find home insurance quotes?
Insurance companies
Many homeowners insurance companies let you get quotes on their websites. Some will give you a quote directly online, while others will connect you to one of their agents first. This is a good route to take if you are interested in specific companies.
Quote comparison sites
Quote comparison sites let you share details about your home insurance needs and then give you quotes from companies that fit those needs. This is a great way to quickly see a wide range of quotes.
Agents
Small and midsize home insurance company websites are more likely to connect you to agents in your area. You may need to then contact these agents for a quote.
There are two types of home insurance agents you can work with:
- Captive agents work for one insurance company. They are often very familiar with their company’s coverage options because of this, and it can sometimes help them fulfill claims quickly.
- Independent agents don’t work with just one company and are better able to tailor coverage to your needs. While they may not have the in-depth knowledge of captive agents, they can be an asset if you want to customize your home insurance policy.
No matter how you find home insurance quotes, make sure you get them from several companies and then compare them side by side. Don’t just compare them by cost, though; also compare their coverage options, customer service, how they handle claims and more.
Cheapest home insurance companies
| Company | Average annual rate | LendingTree score | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Erie | $2,055 |  |
 | State Farm | $2,427 | |
 | Allstate | $2,560 | |
 | Country Financial | $2,827 | |
 | Nationwide | $3,055 |  |
 | American Family | $3,072 | |
 | Chubb | $2,606 | |
 | Farmers | $3,801 | |
 | Travelers | $3,149 | |
 | Progressive | $2,648 | |
 | Farm Bureau | $3,639 | |
 | USAA* | $2,507 | |
*USAA only provides insurance to active military and veterans, as well as their families.
Home insurance quotes by state
Maine has the lowest home insurance quotes in the U.S. at an average of $1,863 a year. Oklahoma has the most expensive quotes of around $6,133 a year, partly because of the state’s high tornado risk.
Average home insurance rate by state
| State | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,217 |
| Alaska | $1,475 |
| Arizona | $2,623 |
| Arkansas | $3,722 |
| California | $1,260 |
| Colorado | $4,489 |
| Connecticut | $2,618 |
| Delaware | $1,701 |
| District of Columbia | $1,764 |
| Florida | $3,889 |
| Georgia | $2,869 |
| Hawaii | $632 |
| Idaho | $2,178 |
| Illinois | $2,743 |
| Indiana | $2,643 |
| Iowa | $2,697 |
| Kansas | $5,412 |
| Kentucky | $4,671 |
| Louisiana | $4,033 |
| Maine | $1,863 |
| Maryland | $1,810 |
| Massachusetts | $1,906 |
| Michigan | $2,467 |
| Minnesota | $3,642 |
| Mississippi | $4,201 |
| Missouri | $3,387 |
| Montana | $3,068 |
| Nebraska | $5,912 |
| Nevada | $1,626 |
| New Hampshire | $1,760 |
| New Jersey | $1,744 |
| New Mexico | $3,354 |
| New York | $1,897 |
| North Carolina | $3,378 |
| North Dakota | $2,911 |
| Ohio | $2,207 |
| Oklahoma | $6,133 |
| Oregon | $1,885 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,928 |
| Rhode Island | $2,240 |
| South Carolina | $3,335 |
| South Dakota | $3,605 |
| Tennessee | $2,857 |
| Texas | $5,180 |
| Utah | $1,507 |
| Vermont | $1,339 |
| Virginia | $2,093 |
| Washington | $1,600 |
| West Virginia | $2,511 |
| Wisconsin | $2,159 |
| Wyoming | $2,323 |
How do I get a homeowners insurance quote?
To get a homeowners insurance quote, you’ll start by choosing your coverage limits, deductible and policy add-ons. After that, you’ll want to find out which discounts you qualify for.
Step 1: Decide how much coverage you need
How much home insurance coverage you need depends mostly on the value of your home.
With a mortgage, lenders require you to insure your home at its replacement value, which is the estimated cost to rebuild it. You can insure your home for less than that if you have a low loan balance or no mortgage at all, but doing so is usually a bad idea.
If you already have home insurance, you can share your current policy’s declarations page with the companies you contact.
Your policy’s dwelling coverage pays to repair damage to your home, and policies usually have other standard coverages, such as:
- Personal property covers your belongings for theft or damage. To be sure that the default coverage amount is enough, you can create a list of your major personal property items and add up their combined value.
- Other structures coverage can pay to repair damage to a detached garage, a shed, fences and other structures not connected to your home. You may need to add more coverage if you have a cottage or a similar finished structure in your yard.
- Loss of use covers temporary living expenses if you can’t stay in your home while it’s being repaired. The default amount is usually enough.
- Personal liability covers injuries or property damage to others if you’re at fault. Ideally, your personal liability limit should be about the same as your net worth.
- Medical payments coverage pays for injuries a guest suffers in your home, regardless of fault. Default limits can range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are usually high enough.
Your home insurance rates will often change depending on how much coverage you need. Homeowners who get $450,000 of dwelling coverage pay around 20% more than those who get $350,000 of coverage, for example.
Home insurance rates by coverage amount
| Dwelling coverage amount | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| $350,000 | $2,498 |
| $400,000 | $2,801 |
| $450,000 | $3,111 |
Step 2: Think about your deductible
Your deductible is the amount you pay before insurance funds cover the rest of the claim. Higher deductibles are usually cheaper since the insurance company can pay you less for a claim.
If you need help choosing a deductible, ask for quotes showing your rates with two or three different deductible options. Just make sure the deductible you choose isn’t more than you can afford after a disaster.
Step 3: Find out what policy type you need
Before getting a quote, you should determine the policy form you need. The most common home insurance policy type is an HO-3 policy.
HO-1: An HO-1 policy is the most basic type of home insurance policy. It only protects you from 10 or 11 perils that your policy points out. HO-1 policies aren’t always available, and mortgage companies may reject this type of policy.
HO-2: HO-2 policies offer similar coverage to HO-1 policies, plus a few more perils. Unlike HO-1 policies, though, HO-2 policies cover personal property damage.
HO-3: An HO-3 policy is the most common type of policy, due to the amount of protection it provides. HO-3 policies are open-peril policies for the structure of your home. This means they cover all perils except for those it explicitly excludes. For personal belongings, HO-3 policies cover all explicitly stated perils. They also protect against injuries or damage you cause to others.
HO-5: HO-5 policies offer the most coverage. Unlike HO-3 policies, HO-5s are open-peril policies for both the structure of your home and your personal property.
Step 4: Choose your endorsements
Along with standard coverages, most home insurance companies offer “endorsements,” or extra coverage types that you can add to your policy.
Some of the most important endorsements to consider asking about for your quotes include:
- Scheduled personal property: Most policies only have limited coverage for valuables like jewelry and fine art. Personal property endorsements provide more protection for high-priced valuables you own.
- Water backup protection: Standard home insurance doesn’t typically cover damage from a backup in your home’s sewer or drainage system. This relatively cheap endorsement pays for cleanup and repairs from a failure of one of these systems.
- Extended replacement cost: Extended replacement cost coverage kicks in if the price of rebuilding your home after a total loss is higher than your policy’s limit.
Step 5: Look for discounts
Different insurance companies have their own collections of discounts. In fact, many of the questions on their quote request forms are designed to see which discounts you qualify for.
Sharing details about your home and personal background to get a discount may feel a little uncomfortable, but it can help you save money. Some of the most common home insurance discounts to look for are:
- Bundling: Most companies provide a generous discount if you get car insurance along with your homeowners insurance. This is known as “bundling insurance.”
- Home security discount: Several companies give discounts for having a home security system. Systems with third-party monitoring can usually save you the most.
- Smart home discounts: A few insurers have discounts for homes equipped with smartphone-monitored sensors that detect break-ins, fires and/or water leaks.
- Home renovations: You can sometimes get a discount for recent home renovations, such as roof replacement or upgrades to your plumbing, heating or electrical systems.
- Military discounts: Some insurance companies offer discounts to current and former members of the military.
- Affinity discounts: You might also find discounts for homeowners who work in certain professions or who belong to certain organizations.
Each quote you receive should show the discounts that have been applied to your rate. Don’t be shy about asking if others may be available.
What home insurance companies should I consider?
Allstate: Best for bundled policies
Allstate offers a 25% discount to homeowners who bundle home and auto insurance policies with them. The company’s rates are also 9% cheaper than the national average.
Country Financial: Best for dwelling coverage
Country Financial offers a Premier home insurance program that provides “open peril” dwelling coverage. This covers the structure of your home against all types of damage unless it’s specifically called out in your policy.
Erie: Best for replacement cost coverage
Erie includes replacement cost coverage at no extra charge in its standard home insurance policy. Replacement cost coverage pays rebuild costs that go over your policy limits.
State Farm: Best for cheap rates
State Farm’s home insurance rates are 13% cheaper than the national average. It’s also the most popular home insurance company in the U.S., with nearly 10% market share.
USAA: Best for active duty military
USAA offers home insurance specifically for members of the Armed Forces. For example, USAA policyholders don’t pay a deductible on claims involving military equipment like uniforms and body armor.
What affects your insurance quote?
How cheap your homeowners insurance quotes are depends on a few factors, such as:
- The age, location and construction features of your home
- The amount of coverage you need
- Your insurance history and, in most states, your credit
Each company weighs these factors differently, making it important to shop around for home insurance quotes. If possible, check quotes from at least three companies before you choose.
What information do I need for a quote?
No matter how you shop for home insurance, you’ll usually need the following information to get an accurate quote:
- Name and date of birth for you (and your spouse, if applicable)
- Address and general information about your home
- Specific home details, including whether you have a pool, a trampoline and/or pets
Insurance companies will also usually look at information on your home’s size and construction features from other sources, such as your county assessor’s website.
When you receive your quote, you’ll see the information the insurance company has about your home. Since this info helps determine your coverage and rates, make sure it’s accurate.
Other things to consider
The deductible amount you choose and how you want your policy to pay out claims also impact your home insurance quote.
Deductible
You can usually pick your deductible amount when getting a quote. A deductible is the amount you have to pay after you submit a claim and before your insurance policy kicks in to pay the rest.
Picking a high deductible usually gets you a lower insurance rate, while picking a lower deductible gets you a higher rate.
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost
When insurance companies pay out claims, they can pay based on the actual cash value or replacement cost value of the damaged items.
If you have an actual cash value policy, your insurance company will pay out your claim while factoring in depreciation. If you have a replacement cost value policy, you will be paid based on the cost of replacing the item.
Replacement cost value policies offer extra protection but are usually more expensive than actual cash value policies.
More frequently asked questions
A home insurance quote is a free, no-obligation estimate that an insurance company provides to show the coverages and rate it can offer. Most companies don’t lock in your rate until you formally accept your policy.
Your home’s value and location have a large influence over the rate shown in your home insurance quote.
In most states, insurance companies will also factor your credit history into your rates. Recent claims at a home you’re purchasing may also influence your rate.
Yes, and doing so is a good idea. Lenders require you to have homeowners insurance in place before your close date.
In areas with wildfire risks, getting a quote before you submit an offer can help you find out if the home is even insurable.
Homeowners insurance generally isn’t required by state law. However, lenders in every state typically require it for a mortgage.
Your policy’s coverage limit usually needs to match your home’s replacement value, which is the estimated cost of rebuilding it.
For a mortgage, your policy’s limit typically needs to match your home’s replacement value. If you live in a planned community, you may also need to meet your association’s liability insurance requirements.