Best Homeowners Insurance in Florida (2024)

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Key Takeaways:

  • The average homeowners insurance cost in Florida is about $5,550, among the highest in the nation, but rates depend on location, provider, property value, and more.
  • Florida’s homeowners insurance market has been in crisis mode since about 2020. Inflation, soaring populations, construction costs, and other factors have caused property values and insurance premiums to increase, causing several companies to fail or withdraw from the state.
  • Universal Property & Casualty and Citizens are the largest home insurance companies in Florida in terms of premiums written.
  • We sourced the rates used throughout this article from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which oversees and regulates insurance companies in the state.

Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Florida

The best homeowners insurance in Florida will vary by person depending on your coverage needs and budget, but it will likely come from Universal Property & Casualty, American Platinum, Citizens, Tower Hill, or a handful of other companies still prevalent in the state. As we’ll explain, Florida is a difficult place for companies to write homeowners insurance policies in, leaving residents frustrated with few options.

To help you find coverage, we’ve provided brief descriptions of the seven best homeowners insurance companies in Florida below.

Why You Can Trust Us: We’re a licensed insurance agency established in 2018 and headquartered in South Florida. This is our home, so it’s our job to understand the insurance landscape here as best as possible.

We partner with most national lending institutions and top homeowners insurance companies in Florida to help you find and maintain coverage. Plus, if you choose Clovered, you’re working with fellow state residents who make up your neighborhood and community and have a stake in your financial well-being.

Citizens

Demotech Rating

N/R

NAIC Complaint Index

1.00

Monthly Premium

$3,792

PROS:
  • Generally affordable premiums
CONS:
  • Maximum building coverage of $700,000 in most places
  • Fewer endorsements available
  • Separate flood coverage available
OVERVIEW:

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida’s state-run provider of last resort for people who can’t find a policy from a standard carrier, which unfortunately has become all too common in Florida.

While its premiums are artificially subsidized, the policies are subject to stricter coverage limits and fewer endorsements. Additionally, the state is trying to “de-populate” the insurer due to its oversaturation, so Citizens policyholders may be offloaded to a private company eventually. Also, all Citizens policyholders will be required to have flood insurance coverage by 2027.

People’s Trust

Demotech Rating

A

NAIC Complaint Index

8.22

Monthly Premium

$5,905

PROS:
CONS:
  • Generally expensive premiums
  • High number of complaints
OVERVIEW:

Based in Deerfield Beach, People’s Trust has been insuring homes throughout Florida since 2008. They don’t operate outside of the state. With this concentration of policyholders within the Sunshine State, the company can’t mitigate risk to their areas and thus has high average premiums.

Progressive

Demotech Rating

N/R

NAIC Complaint Index

2.12

Monthly Premium

$4,724

PROS:
  • Financial rating of “A” (Excellent) from A&M Best
CONS:
  • Withdrawing home insurance coverage throughout Florida
OVERVIEW:

Although popular for auto insurance, the nationally recognized Progressive is gaining popularity for home coverage, breaking into the top ten largest home insurance providers in the country. However, the company stopped writing new home policies in Florida in 2022 and began non-renewing over 100,000 Florida policyholders in 2023 to further limit its risk in the state.

Safeco Insurance

Demotech Rating

N/R

NAIC Complaint Index

3.48

Monthly Premium

$4,706

PROS:
  • Financial rating of “A” (Excellent) from A&M Best
  • Extensive network of locally based agents
CONS:
  • Minimizing Florida homeowners insurance risk
OVERVIEW:

Owned by Liberty Mutual, Safeco Insurance is another large national carrier. It sells exclusively through independent agents and offers auto, RV, and other types of insurance in addition to home coverage. However, the company limits new home insurance plans in Florida.

State Farm

Demotech Rating

N/R

NAIC Complaint Index

2.66

Monthly Premium

$2,319

PROS:
  • Low average premiums
  • One of the highest bundling discounts available
CONS:
  • Typically sold by captive agents that won’t compare premiums with other providers
OVERVIEW:

State Farm is the largest property insurance company in the United States in terms of premiums written. The company is one of few national insurers who haven’t scaled back operations in Florida recently. Their massive policyholder pool allows them to partially mitigate risk and lower premiums by spreading their financial risks among their many lines of business.

Tower Hill Insurance

Demotech Rating

A

NAIC Complaint Index

0.34

Monthly Premium

$2,940

PROS:
  • Lowest number of complaints
  • Specializes in the Florida market
CONS:
  • No smartphone app for policy and claim management
OVERVIEW:

Headquartered in Central Florida, Tower Hill does most of its business in Florida but can insure homes in a few other states, as well. Tower Hill operates as an insurance exchange, which is a structural difference from most providers in the state, although it has little effect on policyholders.

Universal P&C

Demotech Rating

A

NAIC Complaint Index

4.94

Monthly Premium

$5,776

PROS:
  • One of Florida’s longest-standing private insurance companies
  • Quoting options available online or through agents
  • In-state customer service center
  • Mobile app that allows policyholders to access policy documents, make payments, and track claims
CONS:
  • High premiums on certain properties
OVERVIEW:

Universal Property & Casualty is Florida’s largest private home insurance company, trailing only Citizens in premiums written. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, UPCIC opened in 1997 and has steadily grown to dominate the Florida market. It also owns another entity that covers properties throughout Florida called American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance, which you may want to look into when seeking coverage.

It’s Time to Switch Your Homeowners Insurance

We partner with the nation’s top homeowners insurance companies so you can get a custom policy at an affordable price.

Rating, Complaint, and Premium Methodology

A company’s Demotech rating is a mark of its financial stability. Demotech is an independent rating agency that analyzes the financial health of insurance companies. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index is determined by dividing a company’s share of complaints in the U.S. market by the company’s share of premiums in the U.S. market.

The National Complaint Index is always 1.0. This means a company with a complaint index of 2.0 has a complaint index that is twice as high as expected in the market.

Additionally, a company’s average premiums are determined using data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which oversees and regulates the state’s insurance companies. Carriers are required to file documents with the FLOIR annually.

Demotech is an independent rating agency that analyzes the financial health of insurance companies. A carrier’s Demotech rating indicates the company’s ability to withstand economic and underwriting downturns.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index compares a firm’s performance in terms of consumer complaints to other companies in the market. The default NAIC complaint index number is 1.0. This means a company with a complaint index of 2.0 has a complaint index that is twice as high as expected.

Average premiums are determined using data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, which oversees and regulates the state’s insurance providers.

Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Florida

Many factors affect a company’s average rates, with a primary consideration being home value. Companies utilize your home’s replacement cost — the cost to rebuild your house based on construction and labor expenses — to determine your needed coverage amounts. 

Larger, more extravagant houses cost more to construct and, thus, more to insure. To demonstrate the effect, the table below breaks down Florida homeowners insurance rates from the above companies at three typical house price levels.

Average Rates of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Florida
Company $150,000 House $300,000 House $450,000 House
Citizens $2,061 $3,932 $5,383
People’s Trust $3,305 $5,904 $8,506
Progressive $2,645 $4,723 $6,804
Safeco $2,411 $4,821 $6,887
State Farm $1,297 $2,319 $3,342
Tower Hill $1,646 $2,939 $4,235
Universal Property $3,125 $5,886 $8,318
Average $3,325 $6,026 $8,644

As you can see, rates vary considerably by company, but always climb as home value increases. Increased demand for new homes combined with supply chain shortages that hit the construction industry around 2020 during the pandemic caused building costs to rise in Florida, which contributed to insurance rates also rising. 

More on Florida Homeowners Insurance Companies and Wind Mitigation

Another factor critical to Florida home insurance rates is wind mitigation. Successful wind mitigation on a home can save you thousands of dollars per year. 

Wind Mitigation is any protection on your home that helps decrease the damage caused by strong winds like a hurricane. This can include certain roof attachments and coverings, extra water-resistant seals, and impact-resistant doors and windows (to learn more about Florida’s wind mitigation features, see Form OIR-B1-1655).

With hurricane-force winds being such a threat throughout the state, you can imagine why Florida home insurance companies place such an emphasis on it. Insurers are keen to reduce the risk of hurricane damage to their covered properties. Also, Florida law requires carriers to reduce rates for homeowners who implement wind mitigation features.

Look how premiums can differ both with and without wind mitigation, first on older homes, which are often more prone to wind damage due to their aging components and outdated construction. Florida revamped its building codes in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which eventually led to new state construction regulations enacted in 2002 to strengthen houses’ abilities to stand up to high winds from hurricanes.

The sample home insurance rates below are for a home built before 2001 with a $500 non-hurricane deductible, a 2% hurricane deductible, and no claims in the past three years.

Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Florida for Pre-2001 Construction Homes
Company Without Wind Mitigation With Wind Mitigation Wind Mitigation Savings
State Farm $3,388 $2,051 $1,337
Tower Hill $4,169 $2,347 $1,822
Citizens $5,182 $3,018 $2,164
Safeco $6,200 $3,973 $2,227
Progressive $6,214 $4,093 $2,121
People’s Trust $8,983 $4,121 $4,862
Universal Property $9,658 $4,224 $5,434
Average $9,064 $4,704 $4,360

Residents with older homes will often have the most difficult time finding coverage. Many companies are skeptical of covering older houses due to their higher likelihood of suffering damage. Some exceptionally old properties won’t qualify for a standard policy, known as the HO3 form, and will instead need an HO8 insurance policy specifically designed for old houses.

Newer homes have less wear and tear for insurers to worry about and newer components that are built with hurricane protection in mind. Note how premiums for house insurance in Florida get significantly lower on newly constructed homes below.

Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Florida for 2005 and Newer Construction Homes
Company Average Premium
State Farm $1,519
Tower Hill $2,304
Citizens $3,176
Universal Property $3,698
Safeco $3,798
Progressive $3,864
People’s Trust $4,508
Average $4,227

State Farm proved affordable again, while Tower Hill and Citizens remained just behind. However, you won’t know which company has the cheapest rates for your situation until you shop around.

It’s Time to Switch Your Homeowners Insurance

We partner with the nation’s top homeowners insurance companies so you can get a custom policy at an affordable price.

How Much Is Homeowners Insurance in Florida?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Florida is about $5,550 annually, with rates ranging from $3,325 to $8,644 for most people. However, you may encounter lower or higher rates based on where you live in Florida, in addition to several other prominent variables like your home’s value and wind mitigation features.

Homes closer to the ocean on either of Florida’s coasts usually have higher premiums because the risk of wind and flood damage is greater as you approach the water. Additionally, the highest premiums tend to be in Southeast Florida, where hurricane risk is the most significant and property values are the highest.

The table below lists average premiums in many of Florida’s largest cities by population.

Homeowners Insurance Rates in Florida’s Largest Cities
City Monthly Premium Yearly Premium
Jacksonville $346 $4,152
Miami $1,295 $15,539
Tampa $543 $6,510
Orlando $475 $5,704
St. Petersburg $552 $6,618
Port St. Lucie $810 $9,720
Cape Coral $589 $7,066
Tallahassee $311 $3,726
Fort Lauderdale $1,093 $13,119
Gainesville $298 $3,578
Palm Bay $593 $7,112
West Palm Beach $1,020 $12,236
Spring Hill $509 $6,105
Lakeland $448 $5,375
Deltona $405 $4,857
Palm Coast $389 $4,665
The Villages $371 $4,456

In addition to natural disaster susceptibility, rates vary by location due to crime rates, carrier strategy, and other factors. Read on for a county-by-county breakdown.

Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates by County

The most expensive counties for homeowners insurance in Florida are Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Their coastal location increases the likelihood of hurricane damage, which, coupled with older homes and higher construction costs, creates costly property insurance for residents.

The following table depicts average home insurance rates in Florida’s most expensive counties, which are all concentrated in South Florida.

Most Expensive Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates by County
County Pre-2001 Construction w/No Wind Mit Pre-2001 Construction w/ Wind Mit Newer Construction (2005)
Monroe $31,687 $10,658 $9,660
Miami-Dade $25,586 $11,224 $9,807
Broward $21,627 $9,516 $8,215
Palm Beach $20,093 $8,634 $8,251
Martin $18,143 $7,421 $7,105
Average $23,427 $9,491 $8,608

You’ll notice how the premiums for older homes with no wind mitigation in the leftmost column are extremely high. Most companies won’t even insure especially old homes in South Florida without wind mitigation and wouldn’t offer such a policy, so they don’t reflect actual premiums but rather what rates would be given the conditions.

Monroe County, which consists of the Florida Keys, has the most expensive home insurance rates in Florida. The small islands are extremely prone to wind and water damage.

The rest of the state’s most costly areas lie along the southeast coast, from Homestead and Florida City up to Jensen Beach along the Gold and Treasure Coasts. It will be hard to find cheap homeowners insurance in Florida in this region, especially if you have an older house.

Older dwellings cost more to insure than newer ones because many of the components in older homes, such as the roofing, pipes, and wiring, become compromised with age and are more likely to fail due to wear and tear or a severe weather event. 

Also, in the early 2000s, Florida adopted some of the nation’s strictest building codes (which are still tweaked from time to time) to combat hurricane damage. Houses built before these ordinances are less likely to withstand strong winds.

Where Is the Cheapest Homeowners Insurance in Florida?

The cheapest homeowners insurance in Florida is found near the north and center of the state, notably around Gainesville and Palatka, or in the interior of the Panhandle, where insurance premiums average $2,787 to $2,987 per year for newer homes.

Look at the table below, which shows where you can find the most affordable homeowners insurance in Florida. Average rates are almost four times lower than in the costly counties of South Florida.

Cheapest Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates by County
County Pre-2001 Construction w/No Wind Mit Pre-2001 Construction w/ Wind Mit Newer Construction (2005)
Alachua $4,785 $3,162 $2,787
Clay $4,858 $3,293 $2,930
Columbia $4,955 $3,415 $2,987
Leon $4,994 $3,302 $2,883
Putnam $5,022 $3,322 $2,942
Average $4,923 $3,299 $2,905

 Alachua, Clay, Columbia, and Putnam counties all connect in the northern central part of the state and don’t have any coastline. Leon County is in Florida’s Panhandle and touches the Georgia border. It also doesn’t reach the coast and, notably, contains Florida’s capital, Tallahassee.

If you’re seeking the cheapest homeowners insurance in Florida, you’ll have to move away from the coast. You must weigh if the cost of missing out on the beaches is worth the savings on home insurance.

More On Florida’s Home Insurance Crisis

It’s so hard to find affordable homeowners insurance in Florida because of high property values, obfuscating legislation, and the possibility of natural disasters. The homeowners insurance market is much more costly for companies, which makes it more expensive for residents.

The Florida market’s downturn started when rates steadily began to rise in the wake of the pandemic around 2020 as construction costs increased due to supply chain issues.

Then, nearly a dozen insurers went out of business by the end of 2022, citing issues with litigation, reinsurance, and coping with the impending hurricanes. Additionally, several well-known companies, such as Allstate and Progressive, withdrew or non-renewed hundreds of thousands of policies in the state. 

At the time of writing in early 2024, the number of home insurance companies currently writing new policies has diminished greatly, especially in South Florida, where property values are generally the highest and hurricane risk is the greatest. Citizens, the publicly run insurer of last resort, has grown to have the most policyholders of any company in the state.

While there are some signs of optimism in the market in 2024, it’s still tricky for most people to find a solid provider with affordable rates. 

Factors Affecting Florida Homeowners Insurance Costs

The average homeowners insurance in Florida is around $5,550 yearly, although many factors affect this cost. We’ve mentioned how location, home value, and wind mitigation are critical to Florida homeowners insurance rates, but several more significant variables affect premiums.

Claims History: Florida insurance carriers view people with extensive claims histories as higher-risk policyholders because the company believes they’re more likely to file another claim than someone who never has before. A person who has filed several claims in the recent past will likely pay more for coverage.

Home Age: As mentioned earlier, insurers examine the overall age of your home and many of its components, from the roof to the foundation. Older elements mean higher premiums. Even the best home insurance companies in Florida may not insure a house with a roof that is over 15 to 20 years old.

Hurricane Activity: Hurricane risk throughout the state is one of the primary reasons Florida home insurance premiums are among the highest in the country. Coastal properties are more susceptible to their damage and typically see higher rates.

However, Central Florida isn’t immune to damage, as evidenced by the heavy winds and flooding that Hurricanes Ian and Nicole brought to Osceola County and the Orlando area.

Also, when a named storm is approaching the state, companies typically refrain from writing new policies, so be sure to have your coverage in place before storm season, which runs from June 1 until November 30.

Sinkholes: Yet another environmental risk in Florida, sinkholes are depressions or pits that open up on the surface when the group collapses from water erosion beneath the surface. Sinkholes are common in Florida because porous limestone and dolostone make up much of the substrate.

Water permeates the rock and can destabilize certain areas and cause it to collapse. Sinkholes are most common in central and northern Florida, although they can happen anywhere in the state.

Coverage Amounts: The coverage amounts within your policy directly affect premiums. Opting for higher limits increases insurance costs. Adding optional endorsements will also raise rates.  

It’s Time to Switch Your Homeowners Insurance

We partner with the nation’s top homeowners insurance companies so you can get a custom policy at an affordable price.

What Does Homeowners Insurance in Florida Cover?

Homeowners insurance policies protect your property and personal liability in several ways. Plans protect from several possible damage sources, officially called perils. In Florida, the most common covered perils include hurricanes, fires, and theft. Your liability coverages also protect you financially in case of a lawsuit. Home insurance policies include six distinct coverage areas: 

Coverage A: Dwelling – Dwelling coverage accounts for your home’s physical structure and components, including the walls, roof, countertops, flooring, pipes, and more. Your policy’s dwelling coverage limit should be close to your home’s replacement cost.

Coverage B: Other Structures – Other structures coverage protects fixtures on your property unattached to the main house, such as fences, detached garages, sheds, carports, and in-ground pools. Your other structures limit is typically 10% of your dwelling coverage limit.

Coverage C: Personal Belongings – Personal property coverage guards your belongings in and around your property from theft and other peril damage. Covered items include furniture, electronics, jewelry, clothing, art, tools, bicycles, and more.

Coverage D: Loss of Use – Loss of use coverage helps pay for living expenses if your home gets damaged by a covered peril and you must move out temporarily. Through loss of use coverage, your insurer can cover lodging, groceries, and more while you’re displaced. 

Coverage E: Personal Liability – Liability coverage safeguards you financially if you’re found legally liable for someone’s injuries or property damage, such as a dog bite or a tree falling on your neighbor’s property. Your insurer can help cover legal fees, medical bills, and more.

Coverage F: Medical Payments – Medical payments coverage covers minor medical expenses if someone gets injured on your property, regardless of fault. Policies typically have liability limits in the hundreds of thousands and medical payments limits between $1,000 and $5,000.

Is Homeowners Insurance Required in Florida?

Homeowners insurance isn’t required by law in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need it. Most people still need coverage because mortgage lenders mandate it for the life of a loan.

Lenders mandate property insurance in Florida to protect their investments. If your house gets destroyed by a covered peril, the insurance company will pay out the homeowner (you) and the lender during a claim, ideally making all parties whole again.

Explaining Hazard Insurance in Florida

Homeowners insurance is also referred to as home insurance, property insurance, and hazard insurance in Florida, so don’t get confused if these terms are used interchangeably, such as in mortgage documents. 

Technically, there are a few different types of property insurance in Florida you can get for your house. The most common type of homeowners insurance, and the form we’ve been describing in-depth here, is the HO3 special form. Despite the “special” in the plan’s name, it’s the most commonly bound type of policy. 

You can also purchase HO1 and HO2 policies, which are simpler, as their names imply. They include fewer coverages, protect against fewer perils, and may only cover property losses at actual cash value. Lenders typically require homeowners to have an HO3 policy with dwelling limits that meet the home’s value.

Florida Homeowners Insurance Hurricane Deductibles Explained

Another notable aspect of Florida home insurance is the hurricane deductible. All plans have deductibles, which is the amount of money you must pay when filing a claim before your provider covers the rest of the damage bill. The standard, all-other-perils (AOP) deductible in your policy typically ranges from $500 to $2,000 and applies for all claims except hurricanes.

Most policies in Florida, especially for properties near the coast, will have a separate hurricane deductible that applies to windstorm damage claims (such as hurricanes and tropical storms). The hurricane deductible is not a fixed number across all policies but rather a percentage of your dwelling coverage, often between 2% and 10% of the amount.

So, for example, if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and opt for a 5% hurricane deductible, your hurricane deductible would be $15,000.

Your hurricane deductible is almost always higher than your AOP deductible, meaning you need to incur more significant levels of hurricane damage before you can file a claim. This method limits the provider’s risk in wind-prone areas. 

When shopping for the best Florida homeowners insurance, note hurricane deductibles in Florida and how they affect your policy and rates.

How to Save Money on Home Insurance in Florida

With home insurance rates in Florida being so high, you’re likely looking for any way possible to save money on premiums. You should keep an eye out for discounts, tweak your coverage limits to suit your needs, and always shop around to find the best deal.

Qualifying for discounts: Be sure to ask about available discounts when quoting. From security systems to wind mitigation, insurers offer an array of discounts from security systems to wind mitigation. Discount type and extent vary by company, but some common ones include:

  • Home security discounts (alarm systems, deadbolt locks)
  • Bundling discount
  • New homeownership discount
  • Occupation-based discounts (retiree, military service)
  • Claims-free discount

Adjusting Coverage Amounts: Ensure your coverage amounts meet your property needs, but be wary to not opt for excess coverage you don’t need. For example, we recommend conducting a home inventory to value your belongings and determine the precise amount of personal property coverage you need. 

Additionally, you should revisit your coverage amounts periodically to adjust as needed if you make changes around your home, like a renovation that increases your dwelling coverage need.

Comparing Multiple Quotes: The most proven way to save money on homeowners insurance is by comparing multiple quotes before you buy, so you ensure you find the best deal. Many companies offer ways to quote entirely online. Other times, you may have to get in touch with a company representative to complete the quote. 

Working with an independent agent who partners with several carriers is often the best route to finding possible savings while meeting coverage needs. An agent’s job is to present you with the available options and find the optimal match.

How to Get Florida Homeowners Insurance Quotes Online

Your best bet to find affordable coverage in the Sunshine State is to gather several homeowners insurance quotes in Florida and compare rates, coverages, discounts, and more. You won’t know you’re getting the best deal until you assess your options.

Our team at Clovered, an independent insurance agency, tries to make the home insurance shopping process as easy as possible. You can use our online quoting tool to compare rates from some of the top-rated homeowners insurance companies in Florida online in minutes.

Or, you can call one of our licensed agents during business hours at 833-255-4117 for a Florida home insurance quote over the phone. We’re happy to help you however we can.

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It's Time to Switch Your Homeowners Insurance

We partner with the nation's top homeowners insurance companies so you can get a custom policy at an affordable price.

The editorial content on Clovered’s website is meant to be informational material and should not be considered legal advice.

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