Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage in Florida?

Asked by: Angelita Keebler  |  Last update: August 15, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (22 votes)

Coverage for Wind Damage
Most homeowners' insurance policies in Florida cover damage caused by windstorms, hurricanes, and hail, unless you sign to specifically waive the coverage.

Do I really need hurricane insurance in Florida?

Despite the high risk, Florida doesn't specifically require hurricane insurance. That's because hurricane insurance isn't a separate policy you can purchase. It's included in a standard property insurance policy.

Does insurance cover hurricane damage in Florida?

Generally speaking, there is no such thing as “hurricane insurance,” or a specific policy that Florida homeowners can purchase to protect against these storms.

What is the average cost of hurricane insurance in Florida?

How much is hurricane insurance in Florida? The average cost of NFIP flood insurance in Florida is $628, while homeowners insurance costs $2,047 a year on average, according to NerdWallet's rate analysis. Depending on where you live, you may also need to buy separate windstorm insurance.

What does insurance cover during a hurricane?

Hurricane damage (like flood and wind damage) to your car is generally covered as long as you carry comprehensive insurance on your auto policy. However, if you have personal items in your vehicle that get damaged due to a hurricane, your homeowners, renters or condo insurance will cover it.

Does your homeowners insurance cover flooding due to hurricane damage?

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What happens if your house is destroyed by a hurricane?

If a covered disaster completely destroys your house, your standard homeowner's insurance policy includes a "loss of use" or "additional living expense" protection, providing temporary housing until you recover. It pays off your mortgage, freeing you of that obligation.

What does wind insurance cover in Florida?

Windstorm insurance covers property damage and dwelling by strong winds, rain, hail, dust and other substances caused by windstorms. Although Florida's law does not require homeowners to obtain windstorm insurance, most mortgage lenders do.

Who provides hurricane insurance in Florida?

The Florida legislature created a state run insurance safety net, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, to provide insurance to homeowners who cannot find insurance in the private market. Citizens is currently Florida's largest property insurer, covering 1.2 million policyholders.

What is the average hurricane deductible in Florida?

Hurricane Deductible Florida

Insurers are required by law to offer an average hurricane deductible in Florida of $500, 2%, 5% and 10% of your policy's dwelling limit.

What type of homeowners insurance is required in Florida?

Florida law does not require the purchase of homeowners' insurance, but most people want to insure the largest investment they may ever make – their home.

Does hurricane deductible apply to tropical storm?

Hurricane deductibles are “triggered” only when there is a hurricane, or a tropical storm. Triggers vary by state and insurer and may apply when the National Weather Service (NWS) "names" a tropical storm, declares a hurricane watch or warning or defines the hurricane's intensity.

What is covered under hurricane deductible?

What Are Hurricane Deductibles? Hurricane deductibles are what you pay for home repairs after hurricane damage and are usually higher (much higher) than a regular home insurance deductible. For example: If you have a house fire, you would pay the amount of your regular deductible toward repairs—let's say, $1,000.

What is a normal hurricane deductible?

The typical hurricane deductible is between 1% and 5% of the home's insured value, although policies in some vulnerable coastal areas could have an even higher deductible.

Does flood insurance cover hurricanes in Florida?

In Florida, residential property policies are also required to cover damage from windstorms, such as hurricanes. Insurers must include this coverage in their policies, though policyholders can sign a waiver to remove this from their insurance plan. Note that flood damage is not a part of this basic coverage.

What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Florida?

How much is homeowners insurance in Florida? The average cost of a standard homeowners policy in Florida is $2,414 a year, or $201 a month. Most insurance companies offer discounts that can bring your rates down by a little or a lot, depending on how many you qualify to receive.

Is storm damage covered by insurance?

Buildings insurance policies usually cover financial loss caused by storm damage. We say that a storm generally involves violent winds, usually accompanied by rain, hail or snow.

What is the minimum hurricane deductible in Florida?

All insurance companies must offer Hurricane Deductible options of $500, 2 percent, 5 percent, or 10 percent of the policy dwelling or structure limits, unless the specific percentage deductible is less than $500.

Is wind coverage the same as hurricane coverage?

With a hurricane comes both wind and water, but a windstorm policy will only cover you for wind. Dealing with the insurance company can become a major hassle if the cause of the damage — wind or water — is ambivalent.

What does a 2 hurricane deductible mean?

While a regular homeowners insurance policy deductible is a fixed dollar amount—say, $500 or $2,000—a hurricane deductible might be 2% to 5% percent of a home's insured value, or $2,000 to $5,000 for every $100,000 in home coverage.

Is it expensive to insure a house in Florida?

First, it could be helpful to know that the average cost of home insurance in Florida in 2022 is $1,648 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, which is higher than the national average of $1,383 per year.

What is the difference between hurricane and flood insurance?

Flood insurance, generally covers water coming into your home from off of your property. Hurricane insurance is for wind damage, not flooding, from a storm over 74 mph, ie a hurricane.

How much is hurricane insurance in Florida Keys?

“Nationwide, the average policy is about $800, in the Florida Keys, people are paying $3,000, $4,000 and$5,000 for their policies.

Do I really need wind insurance in Florida?

Wind insurance isn't mandatory in Florida, but your mortgage lender may require it. Regardless of whether it is required for you, windstorm insurance is a good consideration for Florida homeowners, given that the state regularly experiences strong winds, hurricanes and other storms.

What companies write wind insurance in Florida?

Florida residents who live in high-risk “wind pool” areas of the state may need to buy separate wind insurance coverage to protect their properties.
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Where to get windstorm insurance in Florida
  • AAA.
  • Amica.
  • Auto-Owners.
  • Cincinnati Insurance.
  • Southern Fidelity.
  • USAA.

What is required for wind mitigation in Florida?

Surprisingly, as of November 2019, wind mitigation inspections are not required in the state of Florida.