If your house faces a heightened risk of damage or loss, insurance companies may consider your home to be higher risk and either charge you more expensive rates or deny you coverage altogether. But some companies are more flexible than others in terms of what they'll cover, so it's important to explore the best high-risk homeowners insurance companies for your specific situation.
Based on our analysis, State Farm is the best overall high-risk home insurance company, followed by Allstate, thanks to their nationwide availability and willingness to cover a variety of risk exposures.
Policygenius looked at some of the most popular home insurers in the U.S. by market share to find out which ones offered the best homeowners insurance for high-risk homes in 2024. We analyzed each company’s policy cost, availability, and acceptance of certain high-risk features, including homes with older roofs or a history of prior claims.
Best high-risk home insurance companies
Here are our picks for the best high-risk home insurance in 2024.
Best overall: State Farm
Runner up: Allstate
Best for lapses in coverage: Stillwater
Best for complex coverage needs: Foremost
To come up with our top picks, our team of licensed home insurance experts compared costs from several companies for a sample property with various features that make it high risk. In addition to cost, we also analyzed internal company data to see what risks each company was willing to cover, as well as state availability and other factors.
Best overall: State Farm
2024 Policygenius award winner
State Farm
4.8
Bundle home & auto
Offers extended replacement cost
All 50 states
Wind/hail deductible
Offers wildfire insurance
Mobile app
Offers flood insurance
Smart home discounts
Why we chose it
At a time when several major insurance companies are no longer insuring homes in areas prone to wildfires or hurricanes, State Farm continues to offer its relatively affordable and highly rated home insurance to homeowners in every corner of the country.
Pros and cons
Pros
Save up to $1,127 per year when you bundle your home and auto insurance
Excellent line-up of policy add-ons, including extended replacement cost coverage
Cons
No longer sells home insurance policies in California
20% more complaints filed with the NAIC than other companies of its size
More details
How much does State Farm home insurance cost?
The national average cost of home insurance with State Farm is $1,887 per year, according to sample quotes provided to Policygenius from Quadrant Information Services. This is higher than the national average of $1,754 per year.
State availability
State Farm offers home insurance policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Runner up: Allstate
2024 Policygenius award winner
Allstate
4.4
Bundle home & auto
Smart home discounts
All 50 states
Insures older homes
Mobile app
Offers wildfire insurance
Wind/hail deductible
Offers extended replacement cost
Offers flood insurance
Why we chose it
Allstate stands out for its willingness to cover a variety of high-risk features, including dangerous dog breeds, homes over 100 years old, and more, making it our runner-up pick for best high-risk homeowners insurance company of 2023.
Pros and cons
Pros
High-quality and flexible policy options
Numerous discounts and features that help you save
Below-average customer complaints
Cons
No longer sells home insurance policies in California
Below-average digital experience rating with J.D. Power
More details
How much does Allstate home insurance cost?
The national average cost of home insurance with Allstate $1,650 per year, according to sample quotes provided to Policygenius from Quadrant Information Services. This makes Allstate about 13% cheaper than the national average.
State availability
Allstate offers home insurance policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Best for high-value homes: AIG
AIG
4.6
Wind/hail deductible
Offers wildfire insurance
Smart home discounts
Offers extended replacement cost
Offers earthquake insurance
Mobile app
Offers flood insurance
Insures older homes
Bundle home & auto
Why we chose it
AIG offers high-dollar policy limits, exclusive coverage add-ons, and complimentary wildfire and hurricane protection services — best for affluent homeowners looking to purchase multiple insurance policies with one luxury carrier.
Pros and cons
Pros
Industry-best customer and claims satisfaction ratings with J.D. Power
Guaranteed & extended replacement cost coverage available
Complimentary wildfire and hurricane mitigation services
Cons
Doesn't allow you to purchase standalone home insurance
More details
How much does AIG home insurance cost?
Because AIG is designed exclusively for homes valued at $750,000 or more, rates vary widely based on where your home is located, its rebuild value, custom features and fixtures, and the wealth of unique artwork, jewelry, and other priceless possessions you have to insure.
State availability
AIG offers home insurance policies in all states except Hawaii and Alaska.
Best for lapses in coverage: Stillwater
2024 Policygenius award winner
Stillwater
4.5
New homebuyer discount
Offers extended replacement cost
Offers earthquake insurance
Bundle home & auto
Mobile app
Why we chose it
Stillwater's willingness to insure homes that have gone without home insurance for any period of time makes it our top pick for homeowners who've had a lapse in coverage.
Pros and cons
Pros
Insures homes that had a lapse in insurance coverage
Rates lower than the national average, plus 15 discounts to save even more
Offers a slew of coverage add-ons
Cons
Doesn’t have as strong financial strength rating as other insurers
Wasn’t included in J.D. Power’s 2022 customer satisfaction surveys
Not available in Louisiana
More details
How much does Stillwater home insurance cost?
The national average cost of home insurance with Stillwater is $1,589 per year, according to sample quotes provided to Policygenius from Quadrant Information Services. This makes Stillwater about 18% cheaper than the national average.
State availability
Stillwater homeowners insurance is available in all states except Louisiana.
Best for complex coverage needs: Foremost
2024 Policygenius award winner
Foremost
4.2
All 50 states
Wind/hail deductible
Offers flood insurance
Offers earthquake insurance
Offers wildfire insurance
Why we chose it
Foremost is willing to insure high-risk homes that are older, showing obvious signs of wear and tear, or have an extensive claims history. And it’s not afraid to work with homeowners who have bad credit.
Pros and cons
Pros
Insures high-risk homes that are older, showing signs of wear and tear, or have a history of claims
Works with homeowners with bad credit
Offers guaranteed and extended replacement cost coverage for your home
Cons
Rates are 27% higher than the national average
More details
How much does Foremost home insurance cost?
The national average cost of home insurance with Foremost is $2,484 per year, according to sample quotes provided to Policygenius from Quadrant Information Services. This makes Foremost about 27% more expensive than the national average.
State availability
Foremost homeowners insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Comparing high-risk homeowners insurance rates
Looking at the 25 largest home insurance companies in the U.S. by market share, we analyzed each company’s average home insurance rate for different high-risk features — including a house with 3+ claims or a policyholder with poor credit — for a 40-year-old female homeowner with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in personal liability coverage, and a $1,000 policy deductible.
As you can see in the table below, certain home insurance companies offer more affordable rates than others when it comes to insuring high-risk properties. National General, for example, has the cheapest average home insurance premiums for a house with multiple past claims, while State Auto offers the most affordable coverage for a home with an in-ground pool.
Company | Multiple claims | Older roof | Agressive dog breed | Poor credit | In-ground pool | Older home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAA | $4,798 | $1,807 | $1,818 | $4,143 | $1,870 | $2,068 |
AIG | $1,959 | $1,256 | $1,107 | $1,866 | $1,116 | $1,312 |
Allstate | $2,904 | $1,762 | $1,596 | $2,705 | $1,597 | $1,695 |
American Family | $2,899 | $1,794 | $1,568 | $2,184 | $1,493 | $1,857 |
Amica | $4,632 | $2,473 | $3,882 | $5,474 | $3,882 | $2,539 |
ASI Progressive | $2,665 | $1,860 | $2,644 | $3,487 | $2,630 | $1,840 |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,735 | $1,506 | $1,283 | $5,729 | $1,307 | $1,512 |
Chubb | $2,942 | $1,964 | $1,922 | $3,888 | $1,922 | $1,785 |
Country Financial | $4,204 | $2,531 | $2,730 | $3,721 | $2,730 | $2,634 |
Erie | $2,440 | $1,465 | $1,346 | $3,575 | $1,515 | $1,591 |
Farmers | $3,852 | $1,971 | $1,918 | $3,789 | $1,902 | $1,912 |
Mercury | $3,878 | $1,915 | $1,910 | $4,944 | $1,994 | $1,837 |
Narragansett Bay | $1,971 | $1,408 | $1,561 | $1,855 | $1,558 | $1,459 |
National General | $1,309 | $998 | $1,007 | $1,300 | $1,057 | $1,054 |
Nationwide | $3,627 | $2,077 | $1,955 | $2,655 | $1,955 | $2,092 |
Pure Insurance | $3,112 | $2,079 | $2,281 | $2,166 | $2,281 | $2,118 |
State Auto | $2,696 | $1,473 | $1,008 | $2,908 | $1,008 | $1,522 |
State Farm | $2,132 | $1,935 | $2,039 | $3,966 | $2,039 | $1,940 |
The Hanover | $3,958 | $2,946 | $2,829 | $5,864 | $2,876 | $3,327 |
The Hartford | $7,036 | $2,494 | $2,536 | N/A | $2,794 | $2,556 |
Travelers | $7,406 | $5,843 | $3,638 | $9,903 | $3,911 | $6,063 |
Universal Property | $1,957 | $1,659 | $1,667 | $1,667 | $1,667 | $1,704 |
UPC | $2,762 | $1,732 | $1,266 | $3,404 | $1,266 | $1,752 |
USAA | $2,174 | $1,527 | $1,432 | $2,264 | $1,432 | $1,530 |
What is high-risk homeowners insurance & when do you need it?
After getting high-risk homeowners insurance quotes, the insurance company will look at multiple factors to determine your rates or whether you’re worth insuring. Factors including the age of your house, its location, and personal factors like your credit score or loss history make up your overall risk profile. If your risk profile points to a high probability of future losses or claims, you’ll likely be considered high risk.
If any of the following factors apply to you or your home, insurance companies will likely consider you to be high risk.
I’m a high-risk homeowner — how do I get home insurance?
If you suspect you or your home’s risk is making it harder to get homeowners insurance, you’ll first want to find out why. The reason might be something small like trimming tree branches or clearing your property of dry brush (something that’s important in wildfire states); or something big like replacing your roof or improving your credit score. Once you narrow down why you’re considered high risk, it will make it easier for you to solve the problem and get the coverage you need.
To find high-risk homeowners insurance, consider taking the following steps:
Talk to your neighbors. If you live in a high-risk area, like a hurricane-prone coastal community, there’s a good chance one of your neighbors had a similar experience. Consider talking to neighbors or a local insurance agent in the area to find out what companies offer coverage.
Look into excess & surplus insurance. Surplus carriers specialize in coverage for high-risk homes that are rejected by standard homeowners insurance companies. Just keep in mind these policies are typically more expensive.
Contact your state’s insurance department. They might offer last-resort home insurance advice or options that you may qualify for, like a FAIR Plan.
What states do insurers consider high risk for homeowners insurance?
Insurance companies consider states along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts the most high risk due to the high probability of hurricane and windstorm damage. In fact, some insurers may only offer policies with wind and hail exclusions due to the outsized risk in certain areas.
If you live in any of the following states, you may need to purchase separate windstorm insurance (sold as Beach and Windstorm Plans) via your state’s FAIR Plan.
Insurance companies may also deny you coverage if your home is in an area prone to wildfires, particularly in hazardous areas of California. Like most states, California has a FAIR Plan of its own that can fill in any coverage gaps you may have.
Frequently asked questions
What does high risk mean in insurance?
In homeowners insurance, high risk means there’s factors related to you or your home that increase the likelihood of property loss or claims. If you have a history of frequent claims or your roof is showing signs of wear and tear, your insurance company will likely consider you to be high risk.
What happens when you can't get home insurance?
If you can’t get homeowners insurance, you’ll want to consider getting high-risk homeowners insurance via an excess and surplus lines company or through your state’s FAIR Plan.
What are 3 types of risks that homeowners insurance covers?
Homeowners insurance covers your home and personal belongings in the event your property is damaged or burglarized by a covered peril in your policy. It also helps cover the cost of medical and legal bills if you’re found liable for a guest’s injury on your property.
Methodology
To find the best high-risk homeowners insurance of 2024, we compared coverage and rates for over 20 home insurance companies. To do this, we analyzed the following:
Internal Policygenius carrier data to find out which companies accepted the following risk features, as well as how many states it offered coverage for those risks
Rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. for a sample 40-year-old female homeowner with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability coverage, a $1,000 deductible, and various high-risk features
Number of states where each company writes homeowners insurance policies
After researching companies in each of these areas, our team of insurance experts determined the best high-risk home insurance companies for a variety of coverage needs and scenarios.
