Is wind insurance the same as hurricane insurance in Florida?

Asked by: Heloise Miller  |  Last update: November 13, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (20 votes)

Homeowners and wind insurance policies in Florida can have separate deductibles for hurricanes and other windstorms. A homeowners insurance hurricane deductible typically only applies to windstorm damage from storms declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center.

Is wind and hurricane insurance the same?

With a windstorm insurance, coverage is for damage caused by wind only. While there is no specific "hurricane insurance," this insurance may refer a a combination of a windstorm policy, flood insurance, and homeowners insurance.

What is hurricane insurance called in Florida?

Under a standard homeowner's insurance policy in Florida, hurricane damage is typically covered under the windstorm or named storm deductible.

What is the average cost of wind insurance in Florida?

How much will I pay for Florida windstorm insurance? The insurance rates for wind coverage in Florida vary greatly depending on your insurance company and where you live. The average rate for windstorm insurance in Florida is somewhere around $2,500.

How much is wind hurricane insurance in Florida?

Therefore, on average, Florida homeowners pay approximately $2,674 per year in premiums to protect against hurricane damage. In addition, all Florida homeowners are subject to a special deductible for hurricane damage.

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Do I need wind insurance in Florida?

While Florida law does not mandate homeowners to have wind insurance, mortgage providers may require it as part of the lending agreement. This is very likely if your home is near or on the coastline. Even if you are not required to carry wind insurance by a lender, you should consider it.

How much discount for wind mitigation in Florida?

How Much Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost? A wind mitigation report will cost, on average, $75.00-$150.00. However, with minimal wind mitigation features in place, the inspection will pay for itself in the first year. Credits can go up to the maximum savings of 88% off the hurricane/wind premium.

Do most homeowners insurance policies cover wind damage?

Homeowners insurance typically covers wind damage. Coverage also usually includes damage from hail, wind-driven rain or snow that gets inside the home when a roof or wall is damaged due to wind.

Do mortgage companies require wind insurance in Florida?

Like homeowners insurance, wind insurance isn't required by the state of Florida. However, it's often required by mortgage lenders, particularly if you live in a coastal area.

Does insurance cover hurricane wind damage?

Is Wind Damage Covered by Home Insurance? Yes, as noted above, homeowners insurance typically covers most types of wind damage. Usually, the dwelling coverage of your homeowners policy will help pay to repair or replace damage to the roof, siding or windows due to a wind event.

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. Dwelling coverage works a bit differently for houses and condos, since condo owners don't actually own the building in which they live.

Do most Florida residents have hurricane insurance?

Florida Hurricane Insurance: The Bottom Line

The risk of hurricanes in Florida is higher than in any other state in the U.S. Hurricane coverage shouldn't be an afterthought. Most homeowners, renters, and condo owners already have coverage.

Do most Floridians have hurricane insurance?

While most homeowners' insurance policies in Florida will cover hurricane damage, you should be aware that homeowners' insurance does not cover damage caused by storm surge or floods that are caused by a hurricane.

What is the deductible for wind hurricanes?

Wind deductibles typically range from one to five percent of your home's insured value. In the case of wind damage, your standard deductible would not apply and your wind deductible would kick in. The Insurance Information Institute offers more details on how wind deductibles work.

Is a hurricane deductible the same as a wind deductible?

A hurricane deductible applies only to damage from storms categorized as hurricanes by the National Weather Service or U.S. National Hurricane Center. A so-called windstorm deductible applies to any other wind damage.

What is the definition of wind coverage?

Wind coverage is defined as the percentage of time that crosswinds are below an acceptable velocity. According to the FAA standards (FAA AC 150/5300-13), the minimum wind coverage considering all the observations is 95 percent.

What home insurance is required in Florida?

Florida doesn't require homeowners insurance by law, but if you finance your home, your lender may require you to have a homeowners insurance policy in place. Your policy's coverages are designed to safeguard your property and assets.

Who needs a wind mitigation inspection in Florida?

A wind mitigation inspection is completed by a licensed contractor. On a standard homeowners insurance policy, a home may qualify for a hurricane/wind premium discount. A wind mitigation inspection would be required for homes built prior to 2002, since that is when building codes changed.

What does hurricane insurance actually cover?

There's technically no single policy known as “hurricane insurance.” Instead, you'll need to insure your home against the two main sources of hurricane damage: water and wind. Depending on where you live, you may need to buy these separate policies to ensure adequate hurricane coverage: Flood insurance.

Does insurance cover wind blowing off shingles?

Yes, homeowners insurance should cover wind damage and any other roof damage caused by extreme weather (hail, tornados, fallen limbs, etc.). You obviously have a claim if the wind blows shingles off your roof. However, finding missing shingles isn't the only sign that wind damaged your roof.

What insurance covers wind driven rain?

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms and nor'easters can cause wind and floodwater damage to your property. Your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy works with your homeowners or commercial property insurance to cover any sustained damage.

What is named windstorm coverage?

Named storm insurance deductibles apply to any weather event declared as a hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm or cyclone by the U.S. National Weather Service, the U.S. National Hurricane Center or the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration – and where a number or “name” has been applied (e.g., Hurricane ...

How long is a wind mitigation good for in Florida?

How long is a wind mitigation inspection valid? Wind mitigation inspections in Florida are valid for five years.

Can roofers do wind mitigation inspections in Florida?

How Home Inspectors Complete Wind Mitigation Inspections. Home inspectors are generally the main person filling out the wind mitigation form. However, general contractors and roofers are qualified to fill out the form as well.

Who is writing wind insurance in Florida?

Citizens Property Insurance Company (“Citizens”) was created in 2002 by the Florida legislature to provide wind insurance (and general property insurance) for homeowners in high-risk areas who aren't able to obtain insurance coverage in the open, private insurance market.