What is the best homeowners insurance?
In our detailed analysis of the best homeowners insurance companies, the MarketWatch Guides team selected Allstate as our top overall pick. We also ranked State Farm for its affordable coverage options and American Family for its helpful online resources.
- American Family, Allstate and State Farm have the highest claims satisfaction scores.
- American Family approves the most claims with a 99% approval rate.
In our detailed analysis of the best homeowners insurance companies, the MarketWatch Guides team selected Allstate as our top overall pick. We also ranked State Farm for its affordable coverage options and American Family for its helpful online resources.
- QBE Home and Contents Insurance.
- Australia Post Home & Contents Insurance.
- Budget Direct - Home & Contents Insurance.
- Honey Home and Contents Insurance.
- Youi Home and Contents Insurance.
- RAC Home & Contents Insurance.
- RACQ Home & Contents Insurance.
Top 10 home insurance companies. State Farm is the largest provider of homeowners insurance in the U.S., with $19.7 billion in direct premiums written in 2020. That figure is double the amount of the second-largest insurer, Allstate.
The auto insurance company with the most complaints is United Automobile Insurance, which receives roughly 40 times more complaints than the average insurer its size, according to the latest NAIC complaint index.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Our expert take |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 5.0 | Best overall |
| USAA | 4.8 | Best for military members and veterans |
| Travelers | 4.7 | Great for drivers with speeding tickets |
| Erie | 4.6 | Best for drivers who caused an accident |
How much will home insurance rates increase? The firm's Home Insurance Projection Report foresees a 6% rise in annual premiums in 2024. The increase will put the national average at $2,522 at the end of the year.
- Progressive: Best home insurance for cheap rates.
- Nationwide: Best home insurance for high-value houses.
- Erie: Best home insurance for property claims customer satisfaction.
- USAA: Best home insurance for veterans and military.
When it comes to insuring your home, the 80% rule is an important guideline to keep in mind. This rule suggests you should insure your home for at least 80% of its total replacement cost to avoid penalties for being underinsured.
Who is the most expensive homeowners insurance?
Travelers is the most expensive homeowners insurance company for $200,000, $350,000, $500,000 and $750,000 dwelling coverage amounts. Rates vary significantly among companies because they each have their own formulas for pricing. That means it's vital to comparison shop homeowners insurance quotes when buying a policy.
- Dwelling coverage is the basis for all homeowners insurance policies. ...
- Contents coverage protects items including furniture and clothing in your home.
The HO-3, also known as a "special form," is the most common homeowners insurance policy form, says the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. An HO-3 offers "open peril" coverage for the structure of your home.
Based on data from Quadrant Information Services, the average annual cost of homeowners insurance in the U.S. is $2,511.25. Hawaii residents see the lowest average homeowners insurance rates at $782 annually. Oklahoma homes carry the most expensive policies, with an average annual cost of $6,325.
Homeowners insurance costs an average of $1,915 a year, or about $160 a month, according to NerdWallet's analysis. However, this is just a benchmark. Our sample policy was for a 40-year-old homeowner with good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
- #1 State Farm: Editor's Choice. ...
- #2 Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers. ...
- #3 Progressive: Low Rates for High-Risk Drivers. ...
- #4 Allstate. ...
- #5 USAA: Low Rates for Military. ...
- #6 Liberty Mutual: Good Programs for Young Drivers. ...
- #7 Farmers Insurance. ...
- #8 Travelers: Most Coverage Options.
| Best car insurance category | Company winner |
|---|---|
| Best insurance company for having few customer complaints | American Family |
| Best insurance company for financial strength | Auto-Owners |
| Best insurance company for discounts | Amica |
| Best insurance company for customer satisfaction | State Farm |
Between their various companies, State Farm and Allstate occupied five of the top 10 spots on the most-sued list. Also on the list are Safeco, a defendant in 880 cases; Scottsdale Insurance Company, 855; Liberty Mutual, 831; GeoVera Speciaty Insurance Company, 687; and Lexington Insurance Company, 585.
Executive Life Insurance Company (1991) - One of the largest life insurance companies in the US, it went bankrupt due to investment losses in junk bonds.
- #1: United Health Group (UNH)
- #2: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ( BRK.B)
- #3: CVS Health Corp Group (CVS)
- #4: The Cigna Group (CI)
- #5: Elevance Health Inc. ( ELV)
- #6: Centene (CNC)
- #7: Ping An Insurance (PNGAY)
- #8: Allianz (ALIZY)
Who is number one in insurance?
| Ranking | P/C insurance company name | % change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Farm Group | 11.6 |
| 2 | Berkshire Hathaway Ins | -2.1 |
| 3 | Progressive Ins Group | 9.6 |
| 4 | Allstate Ins Group | 10 |
- 1 AAA68%
- 2 BlueCross BlueShield59%
- 3 State Farm56%
- 4 USAA52%
- 5 Progressive52%
- 6 GEICO49%
- 7 UnitedHealthcare49%
- 8 Aflac47%
How often should I change homeowners insurance companies? It's recommended to review and reassess your homeowners insurance policy every one to two years, especially if there's been an increase in your premium or any changes in your policy or personal circ*mstances that could affect your rates.
At closing, once the buyer officially owns the home, you can cancel your coverage. Until that time, your homeowners insurance policy should remain in place to provide protection should anything happen to the home.
Why homeowners insurance rates are rising. Several factors are making homeowners insurance more expensive: The increase in the number and severity of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other harsh weather has led to a spike in claims in many parts of the country.
