Having homeowners insurance is important for protecting your property, possessions, and family, but things can be a bit different if you are a military member. Whether you need home insurance simply to protect against disaster or because it’s a requirement for your VA mortgage loan, there are plenty of options out there for home insurance for veterans.
The rules may be slightly different for those on active duty, as some homeowners insurance policies have exclusions for when you are deployed. For example, you might not be covered while you are deployed if your home is empty for a long period of time.
We have listed some of the best homeowners insurance for military veterans below. Our research has compared insurance premiums, discounts, coverage, methods of managing your account, and online tools. The good thing about the insurance providers listed below is that they are highly rated, offer plenty of coverage, and many offer bundling options for auto insurance as well.
The 5 Top Homeowners Insurance Companies for Veterans
- Amica: Best for Deals and Discounts
- Allstate: Best for Mobile App Management
- USAA: Best Overall Military Insurance Provider
- Travelers: Best for Customizable Coverage
- Progressive: Best for Online Quote Tool
Compare Homeowners Insurance for Military Veterans
| Reviews.com Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options. | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Amica | 4.25/5 | A+ | 853/1000 | |
| Pin Allstate | 4.5/5 | A+ | 829/1000 | |
| Pin USAA | 4/5 | A++ | 889/1000 | |
| Pin Travelers | 4.25/5 | A++ | 803/1000 | |
| Pin Country Financial | 5/5 | A+ | 855/1000 |
Amica
With over a century of experience, Amica has been protecting homes across the country since 1907.
Best for Deals and Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Good number of discounts
- Financially strong company
- Great customer service
- Money-back dividend policy
Cons
- Fairly basic website
- Not available in Alaska or Hawaii
- Discounts not available in all states covered
Discounts available
- Loyalty discount for customers who have been with Amica for 2 years
- Claim-free discount
- Alarm system discount
Unique features
Amica’s dividend policy makes it stand out. This policy offers up to 20% of your annual premium back to you, lowering your overall costs.
*J.D. Power 2020 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Amica:
Allstate
Allstate is one of the country’s most popular insurance providers and offers nationwide coverage.
Best for Mobile App Management
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Great app to manage your policy all from your smartphone
- Does not use third-party underwriters
- Good number of discounts to suit most policyholders
Cons
- More customer complaints than average
- Discounts not available in every state
Available discounts
- Multi-policy discount, save up to 25% when bundling home and auto policies.
- Welcome and loyalty discounts – save up to 10%.
- Homebuyer discount for new homes or recent home purchases.
Unique features
Allstate’s intuitive mobile app is a great feature. The app features digital proof of insurance whenever you need it, options for paying bills, and a digital locker to make filing claims easier.
*J.D. Power 2020 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Allstate:
USAA
USAA stands out as one of the best options for military members — the company is tailored for military members and veterans specifically.
Best Overall Military Insurance Provider
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable and competitive rates
- Covers full cost of replacing home
- Comprehensive coverage covers fire, theft, vandalism, and most weather-related events
Cons
- Limited number of discounts
- Not available to those not in the military
Discounts available
- Claims-free discount
Unique features
USAA’s position as a military-specific insurance provider makes it the ideal pick for those struggling to get coverage while on active duty or deployed. USAA offers coverage no matter your service status.
*J.D. Power 2020 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on USAA:
Travelers
Travelers is a well-established insurance company that has been in business since 1853.
Best for Customizable Coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Lots of different coverage options to customize your policy
- A good range of discounts
- Can be managed with Alexa
Cons
- Customer satisfaction is inconsistent — it’s positive on some sites and negative on others
- Surprise hidden fees is one of the top complaints
- Can’t fully complete policy online
Discounts available
- Multi-policy discount
- Homebuyer discount for new home purchases
- Green home discount
Unique features
Your Travelers policy can be managed with Amazon Alexa. For example, you can ask Alexa to mail ID cards, check when your next payment is due, and ask for your policy number.
*J.D. Power 2020 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Travelers:
Progressive
Progressive homeowners insurance provides coverage in all 50 states and has a great online quoting tool.
Best for Online Quote Tool
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Good number of discounts available
- There is an easy to use, in-depth online quote tool
- Coverage can be customized according to your needs
Cons
- Customer satisfaction ratings are average
- Some policies are underwritten by third-party companies
- Prices and discount availability can vary across states.
Discounts available
- Multi-policy discount for bundling home and auto coverage.
- Home security discount for installing alarm systems
- Paperless billing discount
Unique features
Progressive offers wide coverage, including temporary living expenses if you are unable to live in your home due to damage or destruction.
*J.D. Power 2020 Home Insurance Customer Satisfaction Survey, based on a 1,000-point scale
Further Reading on Progressive:
- Progressive Homeowners Insurance Review
- Progressive Renters Insurance Review
- Progressive Auto Insurance Review
Methodology
We evaluated the companies based on their customer rating and experience, financial stability, and coverage to determine the best. To compare home insurance companies across the board, we then calculated a Reviews.com score based on the following:
- Customer Ratings – Customer ratings are an indication of satisfaction with the process of filing a claim. We measured this using J.D. Power Homeowners Satisfaction ratings.
- Coverage – As there isn’t one company to fit everyone’s needs, we evaluated companies by the amount of coverage options available and add-ons available.
- Confidence – It is extremely important for insurance companies to fulfill customers’ claims. Companies with sound financial strength will not have issues paying out claims, regardless of the amount. However, companies with weak financial strength might not be able to pay out claims. We measured this using A.M. Best.
- Customer Experience – The amount of complaints a company receives is an indicator of the overall customer experience as it expresses dissatisfaction. We have based this measure on the NAIC National Complaint Index.
How to Buy Homeowners Insurance for Military Veterans
Home insurance for military members and veterans is a good way to gain peace of mind, but it also may be required depending on your type of mortgage. For example, VA loans require homeowners insurance to cover dwelling and personal liability coverage plus damage from weather, fire, theft, or vandalism.
When assessing your application, homeowners insurance providers will also look at eligibility criteria such as:
- Whether you are on active duty.
- Whether you are currently deployed.
- Length of service.
- Type of discharge received.
- Whether you are a member of the Reserves or National Guard.
There are also other factors to consider when shopping around for homeowners insurance for veterans. In some cases, an insurance company may have some fine print on your occupancy status if you are currently serving.
Occupancy Clause for Active Military
One clause common with homeowners insurance for military veterans is the Occupancy Clause. This clause means that someone must live in your home at all times for it to be covered. If you are deployed and your home is vacant for a certain period of time (usually 30-60 days), your policy may not cover you. For those on active duty who live alone, this clause is one to watch out for.
War Zone Exemption
The War Zone Exemption clause is when an insurance provider makes exemptions for those deployed in war zones. If you are deployed in one of these areas, your homeowners insurance will not replace anything damaged on your property and will not cover you while you are there. For those on active duty, it’s best to find homeowners insurance for military members that does not involve the War Zone Exemption. This could mean using a military-specific insurance company such as USAA.
VA Home Loans
VA loans are a preferred way for many military members to purchase a home. A VA home loan is a government-backed loan that offers several benefits for military members who might otherwise struggle to get a mortgage. One of the benefits is that there’s no need for a large down payment and there’s no private mortgage insurance to pay. Most VA loans do, however, require homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance for VA loans must cover hazard insurance coverage that pays for the cost to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed or damaged. The insurance policy must also cover the common perils in an HO-1 form, including:
- Dwelling coverage.
- Liability coverage.
- Weather-related damage.
- Vandalism.
- Fire and smoke.
- Theft.
FAQ
Do VA loans offer home insurance?
VA loans themselves do not offer home insurance as part of the loan. They require a separate home insurance policy in order to approve the loan. However, home insurance is generally recommended for every homeowner for added peace of mind and protection, even if it isn’t required.
Do you need homeowners insurance with a VA loan?
VA loans will typically require that you have sufficient homeowners insurance before you can close on a loan. Each lender will likely have its own requirements, but most will need your policy to cover dwelling and liability coverage plus hazard coverage.
What should military members watch out for with home insurance policies?
Some insurance providers will have fine print on their policies that exclude certain scenarios for active military members. These include the Occupancy Exemption and the War Zone Exemption. However, if you are a retired veteran and are not in active service, you will have more choice and won’t have to worry about policy changes during deployment.
About the Authors
Kara is a freelance writer for Reviews.com. For the past few years, she has covered a wide range of personal finance topics such as home insurance, mortgages and personal loans for a variety of websites. She has been featured in The Simple Dollar, Bankrate.com and Interest.com among others. She holds a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from LJMU in the UK. Kara's favorite review on Reviews.com is The Best International Travel Insurance Companies.
