What is the 80% rule for homeowners insurance?

Asked by: Christelle Lowe  |  Last update: August 19, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (59 votes)

The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.

How much is homeowners insurance on a $500,000 house?

How much is homeowners insurance on a $500,000 house? A $500,000 home costs an average of $2,891 per year to insure. State Farm has the cheapest rates for $500,000 homes, at around $1,976 per year.

What does 80% coinsurance mean in a homeowners policy?

Coinsurance is a property policy requirement that means you must insure your home or office to a specific value, often 80% of its replacement cost at the time of the loss. Contact us today so that we can review your current insurance and help you decide if you should increase your property limits."

What does Dave Ramsey say about homeowners insurance?

Homeowners Insurance

Dave recommends selecting a higher deductible for your homeowner's insurance to help keep your premiums low. It is also important to consider a policy offering guaranteed or extended replacement cost policy to help you to rebuild after a significant loss.

What requirement calls for a home to be insured for 80% and in some cases 100% of its replacement value in order for any loss to be fully covered?

The 80/20 coinsurance rule is a standard practice in most homeowners insurance policies and is backed by law in a handful of states. Due to the 80/20 coinsurance rule, having insurance coverage of less than 80% of the total replacement value limits your potential settlement in a claim.

What Is the 80% Rule in Homeowners Insurance in Georgia? - InsuranceGuide360.com

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How does the 80% rule for home insurance work?

The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.

What is the 100 percent replacement cost?

Replacement cost is how much it would cost to reconstruct your home as it is now, and most homeowners policies offer replacement cost coverage. However, if you don't insure to the full value of your home, you may find yourself responsible for a significant portion of the rebuilding costs in the event of a loss.

What should you not say to homeowners insurance?

Avoid any admissions of fault or liability when talking to your adjuster. Such statements can be used to shift blame, potentially decreasing the amount you might be compensated. Instead, focus on describing the damage and the events as they happened, without inserting personal opinions about who might be at fault.

Which insurance company does Dave Ramsey recommend?

Zander Insurance Is RamseyTrusted

It means Zander is the only company Dave and the entire Ramsey team trusts to help you find term life insurance.

Do I really need homeowners insurance if my house is paid off?

While mortgage insurance protects the lender, homeowners insurance protects your home, the contents of your home and you as the homeowner. Once your mortgage is paid off, you have 100% equity in your home, so homeowners insurance may become even more crucial to your financial well-being.

What is the rule of thumb for home insurance?

Recommended Coverage: Equal to Your Home's Replacement Cost

The dwelling coverage part of your homeowners insurance policy helps pay to rebuild or repair your home and any attached structures—such as a garage, deck, or front porch—if damaged by a covered peril.

What does it mean when insurance covers 80%?

Simply put, 80/20 coinsurance means your insurance company pays 80% of the total bill, and you pay the other 20%. Remember, this applies after you've paid your deductible.

Is it better to have 80 or 90 coinsurance?

Common coinsurance is 80%, 90%, or 100% of the value of the insured property. The higher the percentage is, the worse it is for you. It is important to note, as a way of preventing frustration and confusion at the time of loss, coverage through the NREIG program has no coinsurance.

Who has the cheapest homeowners insurance?

Nationwide, Amica and USAA have some of the lowest rates for homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has become more expensive in recent years, especially in states hit with increasingly severe storms, flooding or wildfires.

Why is homeowners insurance so high?

Several factors are behind the rising rates. Severe weather events continue to cause serious damage and costly insurance claims. The rising cost of building materials, supply chain issues and unfilled jobs are driving up the costs of home repairs.

What insurance does Suze Orman recommend?

Suze has also mentioned that many companies or insurance agents try to sell whole life or universal life insurance policies to people just so they can earn more commission money. Suze recommends that you should get term life insurance and continues to add that most people should get a 20 year term policy.

Who is the most trusted insurance company?

Key takeaways

Amica and USAA tied in Bankrate's analysis as the two best auto insurance companies overall. Geico ranks as the best car insurance company for high-risk drivers. Nationwide and Liberty Mutual are some of the best auto insurance companies for discounts and bundling.

What insurance company do millionaires use?

Chubb Insurance Masterpiece

Chubb is a premium insurer that specializes in serving successful families and individuals. With over a hundred years of experience in 50+ countries around the world, Chubb is a household name among high net worth individuals.

What voids homeowners insurance?

Common exclusions in even the most comprehensive homeowners policies include: earth movement, such as earthquakes; sinkholes or landslides that damage your home; water damage, such as floods or sewer back-ups that leak through a pipe or seep through the foundation causing damage to your home; damage resulting from ...

How to negotiate with homeowners insurance?

Here are some things to keep in mind as you negotiate:
  1. Understand the Policy You Bought (Or Was Bought For You) ...
  2. Understanding the Role of Insurance Adjusters and Pubic Adjusters. ...
  3. Understand What's In Your Claim and Settlement Offer. ...
  4. Preparing for Negotiations. ...
  5. Appeal Your Offer. ...
  6. Consult a Property Damage Lawyer.

What should I not tell my insurance company?

The insurance representative does not need to know every little detail of your life after the accident. Don't discuss information about your family, your job, past accidents, past injuries, and anything that is not strictly relevant to your accident injury claim. Also, don't answer questions that haven't come up.

What happens if you over-insure your home?

In general, the cost of being over-insured is the increased cost of premiums and riders that aren't needed. By eliminating these unnecessary costs, you can potentially save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars per year and reallocate those savings toward other, more exciting spending goals.

What is the appropriate amount of insurance that you should have on your house?

Most homeowners insurance policies provide a minimum of $100,000 worth of liability insurance, but higher amounts are available and, increasingly, it is recommended that homeowners consider purchasing at least $300,000 to $500,000 worth of liability coverage.