Do I Have to Add My Dog to My Homeowners Insurance?

Just like with the rest of the people in your family, it’s necessary to have your dog on your policy. While it may increase your premium because dogs can pose a liability risk for things like dog bites, your homeowners insurance will likely cover dog-related incidents. Let’s take a closer look at how your policy will help you with your dog.

Yes, you have to add your dog onto your homeowners insurance policy to make sure your furry friend is properly covered for anything that may occur. Dogs are a big part of your home and, unfortunately, a big part of the home insurance claims history.

From dog bites to accidental damage, homeowners insurance may protect your dog, but it has to be added to your policy.

In many cases, your homeowners insurance will cover a dog bite whether it occurs on or off your property. Coverage for your dog is included as part of your personal liability coverage.

It provides a set amount of money to pay for medical expenses and lawsuits due to accidents that occur on your property or damages you or your family causes someone, including a bite from the furry member of your family.

Typically, the minimum amount of personal liability coverage is $100,000. If your dog claim costs more than that, you’ll be responsible for the excess charges yourself. The average dog bite claim in 2019 was just over $44,000, so you will likely not have to worry. However, if a serious injury and a lawsuit are involved, that number could easily break the $100,000 mark.

Even if you think your dog would never hurt a fly, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Over four million people get bitten by dogs every year and many dog bite claims are from first-time offenders.

If you don’t have them on your policy and an unfortunate incident occurs, your homeowners policy wouldn’t cover the claim and you’d be responsible for paying the medical bills and legal expenses yourself.

Different areas of the United States also have different ways to determine who is at fault in a dog-bite incident. Some places deem the owner automatically responsible in a bite case, while others must make the victim prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. It would be wise to review your area’s dog statutes and negligence laws to find out which applies in your area.

There are certain breeds that insurance companies tend not to cover due to their history of being more aggressive. Here is a list of some of these breeds:

It is important to note that pit bulls are not one specific breed, but a group of breeds that insurance providers tend to watch out for and may not provide coverage for. Pit bulls include the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and any cross-breeding of those dog types.

Some insurance companies are friendlier than others when it comes to covering these restricted breeds. For example, instead of outright denying coverage due to a dangerous breed, some companies evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

At Clovered, we partner with many of the nation’s top insurance companies. All you need to do is get a quote from Clovered to see if your dog can be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

It’s also important to keep an eye on legislation in your area that could affect your dog ownership or policy coverage. It can vary on the state and local level.

For example, Pennsylvania and Michigan have passed laws making it illegal for insurers to deny coverage due to specific dog breeds. Additionally, Ohio requires people who own a dog that’s deemed vicious to purchase at least $100,000 of liability coverage.

Over 900 cities have ordinances regulating ownership of potentially dangerous breeds. For instance, your city or county could have a policy that bans owning pit bulls while your neighboring city allows them. If this is the case and you own one, your insurance will not cover the dog.

It’s never a good idea to hide your dog from your insurance company. Doing so could invalidate your policy and make you solely responsible for medical bills and damages caused by your dog.

If you’re looking for a home insurance company that will accommodate your dog at a reasonable price, Clovered can help. With Clovered, you can customize a policy that includes your pet and compare quotes from top insurance providers completely online.