Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance in Pennsylvania

Homeownership is a classic aspect of the American dream. The time and money you put into your property is likely the largest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. 

According to the latest census, over two-thirds of people own their homes in Pennsylvania. This success and effort shouldn’t go unprotected, which is why wise homeowners invest in homeowners insurance.

Pennsylvania can also experience many types of hazardous seasonal weather that can cause substantial property damage, from noreasaters to hurricanes.

Use this guide to make an informed decision on homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania. We break down Pennsylvania home insurance rates, some of the best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania, and much more.

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania is $1,318 for $300,000 of dwelling coverage. You may pay more or less than this, depending on how much insurance you need and several other factors. 

The brief home insurance price index for Pennsylvania below illustrates how the average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania can change based on your dwelling coverage, which is the largest property coverage in home insurance policies. Typically, the more coverage you need, the more you’ll pay for insurance.

In Pennsylvania, standard homeowners insurance policies include six coverages labeled A-F. These coverages describe different ways your policy protects you. Each coverage area often has a separate dollar limit.

The best home insurance companies in Pennsylvania will offer the coverage you need at a price that works for you. State Farm, Erie, Progressive, Farmers, and Liberty Mutual are the largest homeowners insurance companies in Pennsylvania. But, these are far from the only options. There are over 200 licensed providers that sell home insurance in Pennsylvania.

Because so many factors influence rates and coverage needs, the best choice for you may not be the best choice for someone else when it comes to choosing a provider, which is why shopping around for homeowners insurance is crucial.

Everyone is usually concerned about price first. You always want the best bang for your buck. But, keep in mind that cheap homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania isn’t always the best. You want to compare rates, but you also want to compare available coverage options, endorsements, discounts, and customer service experiences. 

Nevertheless, knowing affordable Pennsylvania home insurance options is always a good start in deciding which insurer to go with. Based on our table below, Allstate and Erie have some of the cheapest home insurance in Pennsylvania. These are average rates, and your quote from one of these providers may vary based on many factors.

The best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania will cover your property and liability sufficiently. You may need to raise your coverage limits or purchase optional endorsements for the best coverage. 

For instance, you may have the option of actual cash value or replacement cost coverage in your personal property coverage. Actual cash value will factor in depreciation when reimbursing you for your items, while replacement cost does not. Replacement cost will generally pay you what you paid for an item, regardless of age. You may want to find an insurer that has this option at an affordable rate depending on your home inventory.

Additionally, getting the best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania may also mean fitting your most valuable items into your policy adequately. Personal property coverage has sub-limits for high-value items like art, memorabilia, jewelry, and more. You can schedule these things with some insurers, which qualifies them for complete coverage at an additional cost.

Depending on your property history, location, and more, you may also be interested in some optional riders. Providers offer sinkhole, water backup, ordinance or law, and other optional endorsements that you might be interested in to create the best homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania for you.

There’s a lot to keep in mind when shopping for homeowners insurance. Many consumers need help figuring out where to start, especially if they’re buying their first home or switching carriers after a long time with one company.

Below, we’ve answered two common Pennsylvania homeowners insurance questions regarding price factors and requirements. We also explained some home insurance rules and regulations you might want to know.

As we mentioned earlier, homeowners insurance rates in Pennsylvania are influenced by many factors, some of which you can control while others you can’t. Insurance companies must consider a myriad of variables to determine your rate accurately. 

Some factors that affect the average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania are:

Although Pennsylvania has no coastline along the Atlantic, the state can still experience effects from hurricanes and tropical storms. This is evidenced as recently as 2021, when remnants of Hurricane Ida made their way into the state and, notably, the Delaware Valley. Ida caused substantial flooding and damage, and spawned separate tornadoes.

Providers check to see if your home is in an area more prone to hurricane, tornado, or flooding damage. If so, you will likely pay higher premiums to offset this potential risk. 

Your home’s age and features also influence the average cost of homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania. Older houses are inherently riskier since they may not be up to the latest building and safety codes. And, they tend to have more issues that lead to claims, like old roofs. 

Features of your property that can increase your rates include pools, trampolines, wood-burning stoves, outdated wiring, and polybutylene pipes.

You choose your deductible when you get your insurance policy. Raising your deductible can lower your premiums, while choosing a low deductible — which puts your insurance company on the hook for more damage – can raise your rates.

Having a history of filing home insurance claims can raise your rates, too. When shopping for coverage, providers will ask if you’ve filed any claims in the past three to five years. Pennsylvania homeowners insurance companies will likely charge you higher rates if you’ve filed several claims recently since you’re more likely to file again than someone who has never filed.

No, homeowners insurance isn’t mandatory in Pennsylvania by law. But, mortgage lenders can require their homeowners to get and maintain coverage for the life of the loan. If you don’t have a mortgage, no one will require you to have a home insurance plan.

Lenders mandate homeowners insurance to protect their investments in your property. You would still have to pay off your home loan if your house got destroyed. Your homeowners insurance enables you and your lender to recoup the money you spent on your property from the insurance company in case of serious damage.

If you don’t keep Pennsylvania home insurance for the life of your loan, your lender can force place insurance on you. Force-placed insurance is inadequate coverage at exceptionally higher rates. It isn’t a good idea to have force-placed insurance, and you should avoid it by choosing your own coverage and paying your premiums on time.

The insurance sector is highly regulated. There are many Pennsylvania homeowners insurance laws that companies have to follow, but there are also rules you should know that can help potential claims go as smoothly as possible.

If you file a claim, your provider must respond within 15 days. There is no timetable for how long a home insurance claim can stay open in Pennsylvania since every claim is different, and some may be very complex.

When filing a claim in Pennsylvania, insurers have 60 days to underwrite your plan. During this time, they can cancel your coverage for any valid reason they specify. In Pennsylvania, home insurers can consider your credit score when determining premiums and rate increases or decreases at renewal time.

Your carrier will likely outline some steps that you may need to take during your policy life, too. For instance, they may request that you file any claims as soon as possible. Waiting to file claims can exacerbate existing damage and may interfere with your provider’s ability to intervene. 

You must also generally pay your premiums on time. In Pennsylvania, your insurer isn’t required to extend a grace period for premium payments. Check your plan’s details for more information on what your carrier expects from you.

Getting home insurance quotes in Pennsylvania is easy with Clovered. You can get a quote entirely online and compare your options with several providers.

If you have questions or need any help along the way, our team of licensed agents would love to assist you. We’re available by phone at 833-255-4117 during business hours, or you can email us at [email protected].