What does Homesite homeowners insurance cover

Standard Coverages

Dwelling

Dwelling coverage may pay to repair or rebuild your house caused by fire, severe weather, falling trees, ice dams, and other covered perils.

Example: You may be protected if your roof caves in from the weight of ice, snow, or sleet, damaging interior components such as walls, kitchen cabinets, and countertops.

Loss of use

If you're unable to stay in your home during repairs due to a covered loss, additional living expenses (part of your loss of use coverage) may pay for additional living expenses above what you'd typically pay, up to your policy's limits.

Example: A fire damages your kitchen and you're unable to live in your home while the repairs are being made. You may be covered for the cost of a hotel stay and meals, above what you normally spend on groceries.

Liability

Personal liability coverage helps protect your assets if you or your family members are liable for someone else's damage or injuries. Additional coverages may be available to purchase for libel, slander, and other lawsuits. If you need more than a $500,000 liability limit, a separate umbrella policy may provide additional coverage.

Example: A delivery person falls on your steps and breaks their arm. If you're found to be liable, your homeowners insurance may cover their medical bills and lost wages.

Personal property

Personal property coverage helps pay to repair or replace furniture, clothes, electronics, tools, and other belongings if they're destroyed in a covered loss. For more expensive items, such as jewelry, art and collectibles, you may need to "schedule" the item, also known as adding an insurance rider to your homeowners insurance policy.

Example: Someone breaks into your car and steals your cellphone and work tools/equipment. Your home insurance policy may pay to replace the stolen items, up to the limits of your policy and minus your deductible.

Founded in 1997, Homesite was one of the first insurance companies to allow customers to buy property insurance instantly online. Since then, the company has expanded to sell more insurance products, including auto, life, commercial and flood insurance. In 2014, American Family acquired Homesite and continues to directly write new policies under the Homesite brand.

As one of the first pioneers of home insurance purchased online, the company is tailored to those who prefer to purchase their policy digitally. Today, the company sells insurance in every state and Washington, D.C. This review breaks down Homesite’s product lines — auto, home and life insurance.

Homesite car insurance | Bankrate Score 4.3*

Homesite car insurance is underwritten by American Family. Therefore, the company’s Bankrate Score of 4.3 out of 5 is based on American Family data. To calculate Bankrate Score, our editorial insurance team analyzed the company based on third-party ratings, average premium, coverage offerings and customer complaints. American Family scored above industry average in the 2021 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, showing that policyholders generally approve of the company’s claims process. American Family received financial strength ratings of A (Excellent) from AM Best and A (Strong) from Standard and Poor (S&P). The company received an average number of complaints for a provider of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

In terms of coverage, Homesite offers standard coverage types such as liability, comprehensive, collision, PIP, uninsured/underinsured motorist and MedPay. In addition, the company offers add-on coverage types like emergency road service and rental reimbursement coverage. The company writes policies in every state and the District of Columbia.

*Homesite car insurance is underwritten by American Family; Bankrate Score displayed is for American Family. 

Homesite car insurance cost

American Family — the company that facilitates Homesite coverage — has an average full coverage premium of $1,627 per year and an average minimum coverage premium of $592 per year, according to Bankrate’s 2022 study of quoted annual premiums. The national average cost of auto insurance in the United States is $1,771 per year for full coverage and $545 per year for minimum coverage, which means Homesite customers pay slightly more than average. In the table below, see how average Homesite rates stack up against the national average after certain life events.

*16-year-old rates reflect the total cost of a 16-year-old (male or female) and married parents on the same policy.

Homesite car insurance discounts

If you’re wondering how to save on your car insurance, Homesite offers a wide array of common car insurance discounts like multi-policy and anti-theft savings. The company also offers the following unique auto insurance discount opportunities.

• Group discounts: If you’re affiliated with a certain group, such as an alumni organization or the military, you may qualify for this discount.
• Driver’s education discount: If you complete an approved driver’s education course, you may qualify for this discount.
• Parking at home: If you park your vehicle at home rather than on the street, you may qualify for savings.
• Early renewal: If you renew your policy before a certain date, you may qualify for this discount. You may want to check with your insurance agent for details.

Homesite car services

Homesite offers roadside assistance for quick help if your car breaks down, gets a flat tire, runs out of gas, or anything else. Roadside assistance is an add-on coverage and may be worth adding to your car insurance policy.

Homesite home insurance | Bankrate Score 4.0*

Homesite stands out for its home insurance coverage, which is robust and offers important protections for peoples’ homes and personal belongings. The company has over 20 years of experience selling property insurance online, directly to customers. American Family, Homesite’s underwriter, received a Bankrate Score of 4.0 out of 5. The company received an above-average J.D. Power score for customer satisfaction in the 2021 U.S. Home Insurance Study, showing that policyholders are generally happy with the service they receive. And, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the company receives an average number of complaints for its size. The company does not have a mobile app, which may be a downside for customers who prefer to manage their policy on their phone.

Homesite offers home, condo, flood and commercial insurance. In addition to standard home insurance coverage types like dwelling, other structures, personal property and liability coverage, the company offers identity theft protection, flood insurance and coverage for valuables.

*Homesite car insurance is underwritten by American Family; Bankrate Score displayed is for American Family. 

Homesite home insurance cost

American Family, Homesite’s underwriter, charges an average premium of $1,105 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, according to Bankrate’s 2022 study of quoted annual premiums. Homesite’s average rates are slightly lower than the national average cost of home insurance, which is $1,383 per year for the same amount of coverage. The following table outlines how Homesite’s rates compare to the national average for different amounts of coverage.

Homesite home insurance discounts

Homesite offers competitive home insurance discounts that may apply to you. In addition to standard savings opportunities for fire alarms and new roofs, the company offers the following unique discounts.

• Moving in discount: If you switch from a Homesite renters or condo policy to a homeowners policy, you may qualify for this discount.
• Retired occupant discount: If you’re a senior or retired, you may be eligible for a retiree discount, depending on where you live.
• New construction: If your home was just built, you may qualify for savings.

Homesite home services

The company does not outline any additional home services on its website.

Homesite life insurance

Homesite’s life insurance offerings are a bit more sparse than many of its competitors. The company offers three types of life insurance policies, and does not list any additional riders on its website. Homesite sells the following life insurance policies:

• Simplified term life insurance: Terms available for 10, 15, 20 or 30 years, with coverage ranging from $50,000 to $500,000.
• Children’s whole life insurance: Protects a child for their lifetime and builds cash value over time.
• Senior whole life insurance: Lifetime protection with $10,000 or $15,000 in coverage.

Homesite’s life insurance is also underwritten by American Family Life Insurance Company which may give you confidence in the company’s financial strength.

Homesite life insurance endorsements

Homesite does not advertise any endorsement options on its website, but you may want to speak to a representative to see if there are any ways to personalize your life insurance policy.

Homesite life services

Homesite does not outline any special life services on its website.

Other Homesite perks worth considering

If you’re on the fence about Homesite insurance, the following perks may sway your decision.

• Condo insurance: Condominium owners are covered by Homesite with this policy. Even if your condo association offers insurance, you are likely responsible for damages inside your unit and damage to your personal belongings.
• Renters insurance: If you rent your home, you may be interested in purchasing this type of policy.
• Commercial insurance: If you own a business, you may want to look into the company’s commercial insurance.
• Flood insurance: If you’re worried about flooding, Homesite has you covered with additional coverage options for floods and water damage.

Homesite social responsibility

This Homesite insurance review would not be complete without a discussion of the company’s social responsibility initiatives. Homesite focuses its efforts on three key areas: affordable housing, expanding access to healthcare and wellness, and expanding access to education and vocational programs. Specifically, the company’s employees engage in home builds, meal services, food drives, literacy programs, philanthropy walks and a charity golf tournament.

Not sure if Homesite is right for you? Consider these alternatives

Every shopper is different, so Homesite may not be the right fit for you. If you’ve decided against Homesite after reading the Homesite insurance review, you may want to research the following list of car insurance providers.

• State Farm: State Farm, named one of the best car insurance companies in the 2022 Bankrate Awards, stands out for its low premiums and high claims satisfaction. If you’re uneasy that Homesite hasn’t been ranked by many third-party organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power, you may want to get a quote from State Farm.
• USAA: USAA only writes policies to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members. If you qualify, you may benefit from certain military-focused coverage options. In addition, the company was voted one of the best home insurance companies in the 2022 Bankrate Awards for its excellent customer service, nationwide availability and low NAIC complaint score.
• MassMutual: If you’re looking for more life insurance coverage options than Homesite offers, you may want to look into MassMutual. This company offers more whole life insurance riders than most of its competitors, which could allow you to create a policy that works well for you. MassMutual was also named one of the best life insurance companies in the 2022 Bankrate Awards.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2022 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

Auto

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our sample drivers own a 2020 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-60 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), single speeding ticket and single at-fault accident.

Homeowners

Homeowners dwelling coverage levels were calculated using our base profile and applying 2022 rates obtained from Quadrant Information Services for the following coverage limits:

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $250,000, $350,000, $450,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $25,000, $35,000, $45,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $125,000, $175,000, $225,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $50,000, $70,000, $90,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $300,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.

Bankrate Scores

Bankrate Scores primarily reflect a weighted rank of industry-standard ratings for financial strength and customer experience in addition to analysis of quoted annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We know it is important for drivers and homeowners to be confident their financial protection covers the likeliest risks, is priced competitively and is provided by a financially-sound company with a history of positive customer support.

To determine how well the best car and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moody’s had the most impact on the companies’ Bankrate Scores. As price is a common consideration for drivers and homeowners, we analyzed quoted premiums based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with a 2019 Toyota Camry, as well as 40-year-old male and female homeowners with $250,000 in dwelling coverage. This profile, assessed across more than 35,000 ZIP codes in the U.S., provided a basis on which drivers and homeowners may compare each provider.

While coverage options, insurer availability, affordability and customer experience are often the top priorities, Bankrate also analyzed each insurer’s online and mobile resources for policy management and claims handling. Insurance is rapidly evolving to keep pace with our digital world, so these aspects also carried weight in determining Bankrate Scores.