Homeowners Insurance in Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama, is the state’s third-most populous city. Its excellent access to the Gulf is crucial to its economy, and residents can enjoy just a short drive to the surrounding beaches and favorable weather year-round. 

If you own or wish to own a home in Mobile, you’ll need homeowners insurance. Mortgage lenders require it. Even if you’re buying property in cash, getting an insurance policy is the best way to protect your investment from unexpected damage.

Keep reading to learn about home insurance in Mobile, including average rates, cost factors, and more.

The average cost of home insurance in Mobile is about $5,513 per year, which, unfortunately, is among the highest of all of Alabama’s cities. The Gulf Coast has been significant in Mobile’s history, and it likely plays a part in its relatively high insurance rates today.

Mobile’s coastal location means it’s at a greater risk of hurricane damage come storm season. The possibility of natural disasters like hurricanes usually raises insurance rates because insurers account for the potential damage of hurricane-force winds by raising premiums.

But, the averages alone don’t paint an accurate picture of insurance rates. Many more variables affect premiums. For example, wind mitigation can lower rates. The threat of hurricane damage is so great in Mobile that insurance companies reward policyholders who reinforce their homes with wind-protective measures with lower premiums. 

This wind mitigation bolstering involves installing hurricane-resistive shingles, roof straps, impact-resistant doors, windows, and shutters, among other measures.

Another crucial factor in determining rates is home value. How much your home costs, typically obtained from its replacement cost, influences how much coverage you need. Usually, the bigger and more expensive your house is, the more it’ll cost to insure since it costs more to rebuild based on materials, labor, and construction alone.

According to the state government’s most recent market share report, about 140 home insurance companies were operating in Alabama. An independent insurance agent can help you find the best coverage from the available options by comparing quotes and finding plans that match your needs. 

Clovered is an independent insurance agency that does business in several states throughout the southeast, including Alabama. We can help you with all your insurance needs in Mobile. We partner with several of the nation’s top insurance companies, and we can help you find the coverage you need at the price you want. 

To get started, you can use our proprietary online quoting tool, or you can call one of our licensed agents.

Homeowners insurance policies protect more than just your house. The sections of coverage and what they do are as follows:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains flood zone maps that indicate your property’s risk of flooding. These maps are used for construction methods and recommended elevations to keep your property safe. They’re also used to recommend flood insurance.

Mortgage lenders make policyholders with properties in FEMA-designated high-risk flood zones get flood insurance policies. These properties have about a 25% chance of flooding during the term of a 30-year mortgage.

For example, Some areas in eastern Mobile north of I-10 around the Chickasaw Creek and Spanish River are in SFHA flood zones. There are also some high-risk zones around the Dog River.

Flooding damage is excluded from homeowners insurance. You’d need a dedicated flood insurance policy to sufficiently protect your property and belongings from floods.

We’ve already gone over some significant factors that affect rates in Mobile, but there are even more we’d like to mention. For example, the construction style of your home has an effect. Frame homes, built with wood, often have higher premiums than masonry homes, made with bricks or concrete, of similar value. This is because masonry homes are sturdier and better stand up to many harsh weather elements.

Another notable factor is home age. Older homes tend to have higher premiums than newer homes. This occurs for a few reasons. Older houses aren’t built to the latest safety and building codes, making them inherently more dangerous and less prepared for potential severe weather. Also, older homes have a greater possibility of having outdated or discontinued components, such as siding, that can be particularly difficult to replace.

Policyholder claims history also plays a role in how much you pay for insurance. Someone who has filed many insurance claims in the recent past is likely to pay more for coverage than someone who is claims-free. This is because paying out claims costs providers money, and if an insurance company believes you’re more likely to cost them money, then they’ll charge you higher premiums to offset this potential risk.

Despite all the information we’ve presented to you, getting a home insurance quote in Mobile doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use our online quoting tool, which only requires answering a few questions about yourself and your property.

Clovered was built to simplify insurance. We want to help you find coverage. If you’d like to speak to an agent instead of looking for coverage on your own, feel free to call at 833-255-4117 Monday through Friday during business hours. You can also email us at agent@clovered.com.