Your guide to comparing homeowners insurance quotes

Wondering how to compare homeowners insurance quotes? You may have noticed that after plugging your information into a few websites, you get wildly different prices, even for the same property.

Here’s a closer look at what goes into a home insurance quote, why quotes can vary so much, and how to compare them fairly.

What is a home insurance quote?

A homeowners insurance quote is an estimate of how much an insurance company may charge you to insure your home.

The quote is based on information about you, your property, and the type of coverage you choose. Any of the following can affect your quoted price: your home’s age, location, claims history, deductible, and coverage limits.

Along with telling you how much your premiums will be, your quote will also break down what’s actually being covered, such as:

Dwelling coverage for the structure of your home
Personal property coverage for your belongings
Liability coverage
Other structures coverage for things like detached garages or sheds
Additional living expenses if you need to temporarily live elsewhere after a covered loss

What information do you need to get a quote?

You’ll typically want to have the following information on hand when you get a home insurance quote:

Your personal information, including your date of birth and Social Security number
Your address and how long you’ve lived there
The home’s age and square footage
Roof age and materials
Details about your plumbing, electrical, and heating systems
Features like fireplaces, pools, trampolines, detached structures, or security systems
Your claims history
When you want coverage to begin

The insurance company may be able to pull some of this information automatically once they have your address. You could also look at property tax records, inspection reports, and county assessor websites for information on square footage, when your property was built, and what features it has.

How home insurers calculate your quote

Every home insurance company uses a slightly different formula to calculate your rate, which is the biggest reason why you can get two totally different quotes for the same property.

Some of the biggest factors your insurer might take into consideration when calculating your quote include:

Your home’s age and condition
Roof age and materials
Local weather and natural disaster risks
Crime rates in your area
Your claims history
Your credit (in many states)
Rebuilding costs in your area
The deductible and coverage limits you choose

For example, if your home has a brand-new roof, you may receive a lower quote than if your home has a 25-year-old roof nearing the end of its lifespan. Or if you live in a part of the country with very few natural disasters, you may have a less expensive quote than someone who lives where hurricanes or tornadoes often hit.

Do home insurers use credit scores to calculate rates?

In many states, home insurance companies are allowed to use your credit-based insurance score to calculate premiums. A 2026 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper analyzed over 70 million policies and found that homeowners with the lowest credit scores paid approximately $550 more per year than those with the highest scores (about 24% more) for identical coverage. So, two people could insure very similar homes and still receive different rates based partly on differences in credit profiles.

Where to get home insurance quotes

There are a few different ways to get homeowners insurance quotes, and the best option depends on how hands-on you want to be.

Insurance company websites

You can grab a home insurance quote online directly through a company’s website in a matter of minutes. This can be a quick way to see pricing and coverage options if you already have a handful of companies you’re considering. However, the biggest downside is that you’ll have to repeat this information over and over again if you’re getting quotes from multiple websites.

Comparison websites

If you’d like to avoid having to reenter your information over and over again, you could use a comparison website to view quotes from several home insurance companies all at once.

Just keep in mind that some comparison sites generate estimated rates first and then send you to individual insurers to finish the process. They could also share your information with agents or partners, which can sometimes lead to follow-up calls or emails.

You can also check out our list of the seven best homeowners insurance companies.

Independent insurance agents

If you prefer to work with an actual person, you could get home insurance quotes through an independent insurance agent. There are many benefits to going this route. For example, they can often gather several quotes for you and help explain differences in coverage so you’re not trying to compare policy language on your own.

They can also be helpful if you have an unusual situation, like your home is older, located in a high-risk area, or has unique upgrades that could make it harder to insure.

How to compare home insurance quotes

Once you have a few homeowners insurance quotes in front of you, it can be tempting to jump straight to the cheapest policy. However, two policies can have very different coverage levels, deductibles, and exclusions, even if the premiums are surprisingly close.

So, as you compare quotes, pay attention to things like:

For example, one company might quote a higher premium, but that premium could include optional endorsements or add-ons that you’d be looking to purchase anyway.

Why do quotes vary so much between insurers?

Homeowners insurance pricing may feel a little random from the outside, but quotes vary so much for a number of reasons:

Companies use different underwriting algorithms or formulas.
They weigh risks differently.
Their base policies include very different coverage levels or extras.

Understanding what’s in a quote

At its most basic level, you should see the following types of coverage in a home insurance quote:

Dwelling coverage. Covers the structure of your home if it’s damaged by a covered event. The amount you select should reflect what it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch,which could be different than what you paid for it.
Personal property coverage: Covers your belongings, such as your clothes, knick-knacks, rugs, sofa, microwave, toaster, artwork, and other personal items.
Liability coverage: Helps cover legal expenses or damages if someone gets hurt on your property and you’re found responsible. For instance, if a neighborhood kid breaks their leg on your trampoline or your dog nips at a delivery person.
Other structures coverage: Covers detached structures such as a backyard fence, a tool shed, or a detached garage.
Additional living expenses (loss of use): Also known as loss of use coverage, this helps pay for temporary costs, such as hotel stays or meals, if you can’t live in your home after a covered loss.

Learn more: How to lower your homeowners insurance premium

How to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples

Before you compare premiums, you’ll want to make sure key details line up as closely as possible so you’re comparing similar policies as much as you can. To do this, start by picking one quote that seems reasonably close to what you want. Then use that quote as your baseline and compare everything else against it.

As you review each policy, ask:

Is the dwelling coverage amount roughly the same?
Are the liability limits similar?
Do the deductibles match?
Is personal property covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
Are any optional endorsements included?
Are there separate deductibles for wind, hurricanes, or other risks?

For example, Company A could quote $1,700 per year and Company B could quote $2,000 per year.

At first glance, the cheaper quote looks like the easy winner. But if the $1,700 policy comes with a $5,000 deductible and only pays actual cash value for your belongings, while the other offers replacement cost coverage and a $1,000 deductible, you’re not really comparing the same thing.

When to get new quotes

A lot of people shop for homeowners insurance once, set up their policy, and then don’t think about it again for years. But there are a few times when it’s especially worth getting fresh quotes.

You may want to shop around if:

Your premium increased at renewal.
You recently bought a home.
You renovated or upgraded your property.
You switched mortgage companies.
Your credit has improved.
You bundled or changed other insurance policies.
It’s been at least a year since you last compared rates.

Even if you decide to stay with your current insurance company, getting new quotes can help you confirm if your rate is still competitive.

Home insurance quotes FAQs

What information do you need to get a home insurance quote?

You’ll typically need some basic details about you and your home, including your address, square footage, roof age, claims history, and information about your plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. You may also be asked about features like pools, detached garages, fireplaces, or security systems.

How many home insurance quotes should I get?

Ideally, it’s good to get at least three quotes. You’ll find that rates can differ quite a bit between insurance companies, so comparing a few will give you a better sense of what’s normal for your home.

Why are my home insurance quotes so different from each other?

Insurance companies use different formulas to calculate risk, and they don’t all weigh the same factors equally. For example, one may weigh your zip code more heavily than your credit-based insurance score or your roof’s age. The included coverage levels will also influence the price. If one company gives you more in the base package, it could naturally be a little more expensive.

Does getting a home insurance quote affect my credit score?

No. Shopping for homeowners insurance quotes can’t hurt your credit score. Insurance companies may review your credit-based insurance score in states where it’s allowed, but quote shopping itself usually doesn’t do anything to your credit.

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