What is an HO3 policy?

Asked by: Shany Windler  |  Last update: January 6, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (47 votes)

HO-3 insurance policies cover your dwelling, belongings and personal liability. You need HO-3 insurance because it provides financial coverage should your home's structure get damaged from natural disasters or other perils such as theft or fire.

What does the HO3 policy cover?

HO-3 insurance is the most common type of home insurance policy. Standard HO-3 policies provide coverage for your home's structure, contents, liability, medical payments and additional living expenses.

What is the difference between an HO3 and HO6 policy?

What's the difference between HO3 and HO6? The main difference between an HO3 policy for a single-family home and an HO6 condo insurance policy is that while an HO3 covers the physical structure of your home itself, an HO6 policy only covers what's inside the walls of your condo.

What is excluded on an HO3 policy?

HO-3 insurance will not cover earthquakes, floods, government seizures, mudslides, ordinance updates, sewer backups, and sinkholes. Excluded perils require additional coverage through a policy rider or endorsement, or the purchase of a standalone policy, like flood insurance for hurricanes.

What is the difference between HO3 and ho4?

For regular homeowners, HO-1 and HO-2 are named-peril policies, while the HO-3 is the all-perils policy. The HO-4 covers apartment renters, but condo owners are best served by an HO-6. Mobile homes are covered under the HO-7, but only when they're stationary; motor homes aren't covered.

What is an HO-3 Policy?

43 related questions found

Which is better HO3 or HO5?

Since HO-5 policies provide broader coverage, they tend to cost more than HO-3 policies. By paying a higher premium, your personal property will be covered for more loss scenarios than if you purchased an HO-3. That said, the 16 named perils on an HO-3 policy cover the most frequent claims.

What is HO3 used for?

An HO-3 is a type of home insurance policy that covers your home and other structures on your property on an open-perils basis and insures your personal property on a named-perils basis. It also provides additional living expenses and liability coverage.

What are 5 common mistakes people make when purchasing insurance?

Avoid these big mistakes to save money and get the coverage you need.
  • Setting your deductible too high or too low. ...
  • Not having enough home or auto insurance. ...
  • Knowing when to drop your car's comprehensive or gap coverage. ...
  • Not knowing about health care networks and referrals. ...
  • Not telling your family about your life insurance.

What does Ho 4 cover?

HO4 insurance, or renters insurance, is financial coverage for 1) damages or losses to your stuff 2) legal fees if you're sued 3) other's medical bills if you're at fault and 4) temp living expenses if your place becomes uninhabitable.

Is HO3 replacement cost?

What it covers: Under an HO-3, only your home is insured at its replacement cost, while your personal belongings will be covered at their actual cash value. An HO-5 covers both your home and personal belongings at their replacement cost (which is typically higher than cash value).

What are the three main types of homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance policies generally cover destruction and damage to a residence's interior and exterior, the loss or theft of possessions, and personal liability for harm to others. Three basic levels of coverage exist: actual cash value, replacement cost, and extended replacement cost/value.

Can you write a condo on an HO3?

However, the differences prevent insurers from writing condo insurance on an HO3 policy form. This is why HO6 policies exist for condo owners. The key difference between homeowners and condo owners is that condo owners aren't responsible for the exterior structure of their condo.

Does HO3 cover trees?

If a tree hits an insured structure, a homeowners policy covers the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500 to $1,000, depending on the insurer and the type of policy purchased. If the fallen tree did not hit an insured structure, there is generally no coverage for debris removal.

Does HO3 cover water damage?

HO3 and House & Property policies include water damage when it results from a covered loss. For example, say a tree branch punctures your ceiling during a rainstorm. Your homeowners insurance can usually help pay for the water damage that follows because it was caused by a loss policies typically cover.

What is the difference between HO3 and HO6 insurance?

HO3 insurance covers single-family homes with protection for the structure and personal property, while HO6 insurance is designed for condos, covering interior unit features and personal property but not the building's exterior. We've saved shoppers an average of $450 per year on their home insurance.

Does HO3 cover animals?

Under the standard homeowners policy (HO3), animals aren't one of the 16 named perils; therefore, there would be no coverage for any damaged personal property.

What does HO 5 cover?

Personal Property Coverage

Common covered perils include fire, theft, vandalism, and certain types of water damage. In contrast, the HO5 policy offers open-perils coverage for personal property, meaning it covers all risks except those specifically excluded from the policy.

What is excluded from the HO-3 homeowners policy?

Additional HO-3 policy exclusions

Floods and earthquakes are two of the most common perils that many insurers won't cover. In most cases, homeowners looking for protection against these perils will need to seek out a separate earthquake or flood insurance policy.

What is the main difference between an HO4 and an HO6?

An HO-4 policy would not. In short, renters insurance is primarily for your personal belongings, while HO-6 coverage has a bit more reach. Perils covered by HO-6 typically include dwelling coverage for materials like flooring, personal liability coverage, personal property coverage and loss of use coverage.

What to avoid with homeowners insurance?

4 Common Home Insurance Mistakes to Avoid
  • Under-Insuring Your Home. While this may seem like a no-brainer, many homeowners decide to go with the least amount of coverage available in an effort to save money. ...
  • Setting Your Deductible Incorrectly. ...
  • Forgetting About Discounts. ...
  • Not Customizing Your Coverage.

What do insurance companies fear the most?

It's simple: Insurance companies' legal teams hate having to go before juries. Naturally, it's up to juries to apply the law in a fair and even-handed manner. However, it never helps insurance companies to be seen as the villains who are trying to get one over on people in genuine need.

What is the biggest risk in insurance?

As the insurance sector grapples with multifaceted challenges, identifying and understanding these risk factors is the first step in crafting a resilient strategy for the future.
  1. Compliance changes. ...
  2. Cybersecurity threats. ...
  3. Technology changes. ...
  4. Climate change & other environmental factors. ...
  5. Talent shortage. ...
  6. Financial risks.

Is an HO3 policy good?

The main reason why HO3 policies are so popular is because they offer an excellent balance of reliable, affordable coverage against a broad range of risks. However, depending on your coverage needs and kind of home you have, another type of home insurance may be a better fit.

What is HO3 special coverage?

The Homeowners Policy Special Form 3 (HO 3) is part of the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), homeowners forms portfolio. The HO 3 insures the described owner-occupied dwelling, private structures in connection with the dwelling, unscheduled personal property on and away from the premises, and loss of use.

What area is not protected by most homeowners insurance?

Areas Not Covered on The Homeowners' Insurance Policy.
  1. Pests and animal infestation. The homeowner insurance policy does not cover damages caused by pests and animals. ...
  2. Ground movement. ...
  3. Flooding. ...
  4. Damage caused by mold. ...
  5. Expensive artwork and jewelry. ...
  6. War. ...
  7. Nuclear hazard. ...
  8. Damage caused by a power surge or outages.