Best Homeowners Insurance in Florida

What Is the Average Cost of Homeowners Insurance in Florida?

Average homeowners insurance rates in Florida range from $1,876 to $5,953 annually for most people, with our agency average sitting at $2,857 per year. Many factors affect people’s average rates, including location, home value, and carrier of choice.

Rates vary considerably by company. As independent Florida insurance agents, we partner with several of the state’s top insurers, and we can present the real, average premiums of our policyholders for a representation of the state’s average rate.

Unfortunately, Florida is one of the most costly states for home insurance in the nation. However, you can save money by shopping around before you buy and seeing which carrier has the best deal for you. Look below at some common companies and average premiums.

These averages are helpful, but remember that they don’t reflect many of the factors that could cause your rates to vary when getting quotes. For instance, we mentioned the importance of location on premiums. 

Some areas of Florida tend to be cheaper than others. 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.

How Much Is Homeowners Insurance in Florida Per Month?

The average house insurance in Florida is about $238 per month, with rates ranging from $117 to $335 for most people. We’ve broken down average rates in Florida’s most populous cities below. Note the general trend in price differences in coastal, inland, northern, and southern locations.

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 of Florida premiums.

Florida Homeowners Insurance Rates by County

Florida property insurance rates are highest in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Their coastal locations increase the likelihood of hurricane damage, which, coupled with older homes and higher construction costs, creates costly property insurance for residents.

The most expensive counties for average homeowners insurance in Florida are all concentrated in South Florida. If you have an especially old or large house in this area, the average Florida home insurance cost will likely be even higher than the average. Most companies won’t even insure especially old homes in South Florida without wind mitigation or some sort of modernization.

As mentioned, insurance rates are the highest in the state near the coastlines. 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 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 and could have higher premiums.

Where is the Cheapest Florida Homeowners Insurance?

Cheap Florida home insurance 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 can dip under $2,000 annually. 

You can find the most affordable homeowners insurance in Florida away from the coast. Average rates are almost four times lower than in the costly counties of South Florida.

Alachua, Clay, Columbia, and Putnam counties have among the lowest average rates. 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 lowest-cost homeowners insurance in Florida, you’ll have to move away from the coast. You must weigh whether the cost of missing out on the beaches is worth the savings on home insurance.

The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Florida

The best home insurance company in Florida will vary by person depending on your coverage needs and budget, as every property and policyholder differs. It’s best to utilize the help of an independent agent to buy and service your policy and help match you with the best carrier for your circumstances.

Why You Can Trust Us: Clovered is a licensed insurance agency in Florida established in 2018 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. 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.

Below is a list of homeowners insurance companies in Florida with which we partner. Average premiums are determined from our policyholder data. Financial strength is determined by each company’s ratings from Demotech, a leading insurance industry credit rating agency.

To gauge consumer satisfaction, we used the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ complaint index, which compares a firm’s consumer complaint performance with other companies in the market. The default index number is 1.0, meaning a company with a complaint index of 2.0 has a complaint value twice as high as expected. So, for their scale, lower is better.

Getting the Best Homeowners Insurance in Florida

Every policyholder is different; getting the best Florida homeowners insurance for your situation depends on your coverage needs and budget. Citizens, the state-run insurer of last resort, should ideally be a fallback option for coverage. You’re best off looking for alternatives to Citizens Insurance in Florida for the best protection.

The best policy will include the coverages you need. Homeowners insurance policies protect your property and personal liability in several ways. Plans protect from several possible damage sources, officially called perils.

Ensure Coverage Needs are Met: In Florida, the most common covered perils include hurricanes, fires, and theft. Your liability coverages also protect you financially in case of a lawsuit. Plans include six distinct coverage areas as explained in this Florida homeowners insurance policy breakdown:

Every plan should include these default coverages, but you may want extra protections for financial aspects or physical components of your property, which can be achieved at an added cost through endorsements. Common home insurance endorsements include personal property replacement cost coverage, mold coverage, water backup, and ordinance or law coverage.

Qualifying for discounts: Getting the best deal also involves asking about available discounts when quoting. From security systems to wind mitigation, the top home insurance companies in Florida offer an array of discounts, from security systems to wind mitigation. Discount type and extent vary by carrier, 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 of opting 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. Consult a Florida home insurance calculator to help determine your home’s current replacement cost, which will also influence your other structures and loss of use limits.

Comparing Multiple Florida Homeowners Insurance Quotes Online: 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 get Florida house insurance quotes. 

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, increasing your odds of finding the best home insurance in Florida.

How a Florida Insurance Agency Can Help

With so much to remember during an insurance search, there’s no shame in asking for help in the process. In fact, it’s probably a wise move. Insurance agents in Florida can help you find the right policy for your needs at the best price.

An agent’s job is to take your information and essentially pair it with a policy from one of their partner Florida homeowners insurance providers. There are two types of agents: captive and independent. 

A captive agent represents only one insurance company. Independent agents, on the other hand, have relationships with multiple carriers and can find you the best deal among their partners. Clovered in an independent insurance agency.

You may also encounter homeowners insurance brokers in Florida. Brokers are like agents in that they will find you a deal on insurance. However, brokers may not help you with claims or other administrative dealings with your insurer when the time comes, while agents often do. Also, there are different licensing requirements for agents and brokers.

How to Get Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Florida

Your best bet to find affordable coverage in the Sunshine State is to gather several home 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 Florida home insurance quotes over the phone. We’re happy to help you however we can.