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Help with Home/Title/Flood Insurance

Wildfire Season is Here: But you don't need to be in the forest to be at risk of a house fire.  Be prepared for the worst.  Click here

Information to help you shop for homeowners', title and flood insurance.

Information about Homeowners' Insurance

GENERAL INFORMATION

Why should I buy home insurance?

  • Owners: To protect both your house and personal property.
  • Tenants: To protect your furniture and personal property.
  • Everyone: Protection against liability for accidents that injure other people or damage their property.

How much home insurance do I need?

  • Asset Protection: More coverage generally means you will have less to pay out of your own pocket if disaster strikes. You must determine the amount you can financially afford to lose. Depending upon your determination, more insurance may be the answer. You should insure your property to the value you believe your home is worth to obtain maximum protection. You need enough liability coverage to protect yourself from lawsuits resulting from your possible negligence.
  • Lender Requirements: Your lender may require you to cover the house for at least the amount of the mortgage. This may be too little or too much for your individual circumstances. You are not required to purchase insurance from the insurer recommended by your lender.
  • Policy Requirements: Insurers may impose some conditions for replacement cost protection, to include your insuring the property to value.

Where can I obtain information about insurance?

Information is available to consumers from a number of sources. These sources include any public library, the Arizona State Insurance Department, consumer groups, consumer publications, your insurance agent, or your insurance company.

WAYS TO REDUCE COSTS

What affects home insurance prices?

  • Type of Construction: Frame houses usually cost more to insure than brick.
  • Age of House: New homes may qualify for discounts. Some insurance companies offer limited coverage or may not insure older homes.
  • Local Fire Protection: The number of fire hydrants and fire departments and the availability of water are just some factors which determine your area's fire protection class. If you reside in an area without fire protection, you will pay more for fire insurance.

What deductible should I choose?

The deductible applies only to coverages on your house and personal property. It is the amount you have to pay out of your pocket on each claim. Insurance only attaches once the deductible amount is exceeded. A policy with a $100 deductible will cost more than one with a $250 deductible. Higher deductibles may be available at a reduced price, but purchasing, for example, a $250 deductible in lieu of a $100 deductible will mean you will normally pay $150 more out of your pocket at the time of a loss.

TYPES OF COVERAGE IN A TYPICAL HOMEOWNERS' POLICY

What basic coverages are available?

The most common basic coverages are: Property damage, Additional Living Expenses, Personal Liability, and Medical Payments.

What does "property damage" cover?

Property damage coverage helps pay for damage to your home and personal property caused by such perils as fire, lightning, windstorm or hail. The perils of flood and earthquake are not covered. If you believe you need flood insurance and your insurance company will not provide it, you may obtain coverage through the Federal government's National Flood Program ("NFP"). To learn more about the NFP you can contact an insurance agent or contact the NFP at (800) 638-6620. You should carefully read your policy before you have a loss to determine exactly what types of losses will be covered.

What does "contents insurance" coverage include?

In general, the contents of your home and other personal belongings owned by you or family members who live with you will be covered under the policy in an amount equal to 50% of the limit of liability carried on your dwelling. However, high valued personal property such as jewelry and cameras should be scheduled on the policy so that you are adequately protected to avoid the possibility of these items not being fully covered at the time of loss.

What does "additional living expense" or "loss of use" cover?

Most home insurance policies provide for the necessary increase in expenses you incur if your home is damaged by an insured event and you cannot live there while repairs are being made or if you are denied access to your home by government order. The coverage is generally subject to duration limits and commonly covers any expense incurred by you so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living. In some instances, this coverage may include the costs of a motel, eating in a restaurant, or storing some of your property.

What Is "personal liability insurance" coverage?

Personal Liability Coverage protects you and all family members who live with you against a claim or lawsuit resulting from (non-auto and non-business) bodily injury or property damage to others and for which you become legally obligated to pay. Defense costs are included, but the insurance company has no duty to defend you after the limit of liability on the policy has been exhausted.

What does "medical payments insurance" cover?

Regardless of who is at fault, this coverage pays the reasonable expenses for others accidentally injured on your premises or the areas immediately adjoining your property such as sidewalks or alleys. Medical Payments Coverage does not apply to your own injuries or those of family members living with you or injuries arising out of activities involving a business that you operate out of your home, your intentional acts, or arising out of the rental of your premises.

COMMONLY USED INSURANCE TERMS

What is "replacement cost"?

Replacement Cost is the amount necessary to replace or rebuild your home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality without deducting for depreciation.

What is "depreciation"?

Depreciation is the decrease in the home's value since the time it was built because of age or wear and tear.

What is "actual cash value"?

Actual Cash Value usually means the sum of money required at the time of the loss to repair or replace the property destroyed, less an amount for depreciation. Actual Cash Value equals the replacement cost less depreciation. Most standard home insurance policies cover the contents of your home (i.e., personal belongings) on an actual cash value basis, but it is possible to purchase replacement cost.

What is a "peril"?

A peril is a condition which can cause a loss. Three examples are fire, windstorm, and theft.

HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE CAN HELP

What information can the Arizona Department of Insurance provide?

Use our License Search menu option to ensure that your insurance agent or insurance company is licensed/authorized in Arizona.  Available publications are listed on the bottom of this page.

What do I do if I have a complaint?

See the "Help With a Problem" menu for details.

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE QUESTIONS FOR YOUR AGENT

Click here for additional information about homeowners' insurance.

DO I HAVE AN "ALL RISK" OR "NAMED PERIL" POLICY?

Be sure you know which type of policy you have and what causes of loss will be covered.

All Risk: Most, but not all, homeowner insurance policies sold are "all risk" which means they cover the largest number of causes of loss (freezing, collapse, fire, windstorm, smoke, etc.). However, there are some exclusions in all homeowner policies, including but not limited to damage caused by flood, war, neglect, and power failure.

Named Peril:  Some homeowner insurance policies limit the covered causes of loss to those specifically listed or “named” in the policy.

Homeowners' Insurance

Consumer Guide: Understanding How Insurers Use Credit Information

Learn how insurance companies use your credit information.
 

Homeowners' Insurance Company Telephone Numbers

Contact information for companies that sell homeowners insurance in Arizona.

InsureU

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has a great resource called "InsureU" where you can learn about various types of insurance and ways to plan and protect yourself.

Homeowners Insurance Check-up

A guide to help you decide if you need to adjust your homeowners coverage.

Home Sharing

Learn how renting part or all of your home to a guest for a fee may affect your homeowners insurance coverage.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Key Contacts

If you have questions about flood insurance, including information on the new flood maps and new rate structure, use this document to contact FEMA.  The Department encourages everyone on or near a flood plain to review their insurance policies, contact FEMA with flood-related questions, and be prepared.

Title Insurance

Message to Home Buyers

A message to home buyers from the Director of the Arizona Department of Insurance.

Answers to your Questions about Title Insurance

Why title insurance?
 

Title Insurance Shopping Tips

Check this out before buying title insurance.

Arizona Department of Financial Institutions License Search

Click here and make sure that your escrow agent is licensed by the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions.

American Land Title Association

Click here for information about title insurance and the home purchase closing process.

Floods, Fires and Other Disasters

Flooding after Wildfires: Department of Emergency and Military Affairs

Information about how to protect yourself from increased flooding risk after wildfire flames are extinguished. 

InsureU

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has a great resource called "InsureU" where you can learn about various types of insurance and ways to plan and protect yourself.

Is my Fire-related Loss Covered by my Insurance Policy?

A burning question: Are you covered in the event of a fire?

Insurance Tips for Disaster Victims

Insurance Tips for Disaster Victims

Arizona Flood Fact Sheet

Do you need flood insurance? This fact sheet provides information to help you answer that question.

Flood Insurance Information

What you need to know about flood insurance.
 

Home Replacement Cost Estimators

This list of “calculators” can aid homeowners’ discussion about the adequacy of their homeowners insurance coverage with their insurance representative.

Insurance and Storms or Disasters

The best time to prepare for what to do after a storm or disaster is before the event happens. This publication contains points to keep in mind about your auto and homeowners insurance coverage.

Making Repairs after a Disaster

Making a report after a disaster

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Click here to go learn about flood insurance, view a glossary of terms, and search for insurance companies that sell flood insurance.

Please Provide Your Feedback

Complete a quick and easy survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/adoi_consumer

Consumers

  • CONSUMERS
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    • ... Rate Increases
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    • ... Surprise Billing
  • Help for Health Care Providers
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  • Help with Business Insurance
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  • Laws, Rules and Bulletins
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Contact Info

Consumer Services Section

To file a complaint, go to https://difi.az.gov/complaint

Street Address:
100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite 261
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630

Contact Hours: Mondays - Fridays, 9 AM to 4 PM
[email protected]
602-364-2499

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