Benefits of Combining Home and Auto Insurance

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Benefits of Combining Home and Auto Insurance

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As home and insurance premiums continue to rise, many people are looking for ways to reduce insurance costs without diminishing their coverage levels or quality of service. One way to save money is by bundling your home and auto insurance with the same carrier.

What Is Bundling?

When you “bundle” insurance, you purchase your policies from the same carrier. People most commonly bundle home insurance and car insurance, but you can also save money by bundling RV, boat, motorcycle, and umbrella policies with the same carrier. It all depends on your insurance needs.

Your carrier may refer to an insurance bundle as a multi-policy or multi-line discount.

Benefits of Bundling

Bundling insurance offers many benefits on top of the obvious multi-line discounts.

Cost Savings

Bankrate research revealed that homeowners could save an average of 20% annually by bundling home and auto insurance. Some carriers offer savings of up to 25%. Of course, the savings depends on a variety of factors, including coverage levels, where you live, your credit score, and the type of vehicle and home you’re insuring.

Convenience

Paying bills isn’t fun. It’s much easier to bundle policies and consolidate your insurance bill, plus have one point of contact for customer service and claims. Make sure your carrier provides online service or a mobile app for easy account management. By bundling policies, you’ll only have to remember one login and password.

Enhanced Coverage Options and Other Benefits

Providers may offer additional perks for bundled policies. You might qualify for a higher deductible along with a lower premium rate. Your insurance carrier may be less likely to drop you following a claim if they hold multiple policies for you; they won’t want to lose that business.

Additionally, if damage affects both home and auto insurance, such as a tree falling on your car and fence during a storm, you may be able to pay a single deductible for the claim if your policies are with one company.

Price vs. Reliability

Saving time and money is important, but you also want to make sure your combined policies meet your needs. Make sure your carrier covers everything you need, such as RV, boat, or motorcycle policies.

In some cases, insurance carriers may partner with other insurance companies to provide additional coverage lines. You might save money buying this kind of bundle, but it could mean managing two accounts. You might also lose out on additional multi-line perks and benefits.

Check J.D. Power ratings for your insurance carrier of choice to see how consumers feel about their customer service. Refer to A.M. Best or Moody’s ratings to assess the financial health of the company.

Also consider the following questions:

  • Does the company pay claims promptly?
  • Do they have a lot of unresolved complaints on customer review sites?
  • Are customer service reps easy to reach, friendly, and knowledgeable?

How to Research Bundling Options

In the first half of 2024, home insurance premiums rose by 17.4% for new policies, according to NationalMortgageProfessional.com. Staying with the same carrier is not the solution; the site reported that those who purchased a policy in 2021 now pay 69% more for the same coverage.

Likewise, car insurance rates rose by 25%, year-over-year, at the start of 2024, according to Bankrate’s annual report. If you haven’t shopped your insurance policies in at least a year, now is the time. Research bundling options to find the best combination of low rates and quality service.

Compare Bundle Rates Across Providers

Finding the best rates for home and insurance bundles involves first getting quotes from multiple companies. You can call around or approach local insurance brokers who represent multiple companies to shop your policy for you. But it’s easier to go online for a free quote from Solvable.com.

Don’t just compare insurance bundles. Also evaluate pricing for individual policies from different carriers.  Bundled policies may not offer specialized discounts, such as safe driving or student driver discounts. Run the numbers and compare rates to ensure a bundled policy is the best option for your family.

Evaluate the Quality of Coverage for Both Home and Auto

Comparing insurance bundles means evaluating a lot of factors, separately and together. Read your policy carefully to ensure the policies offer all the coverage you need at the levels you need.

Read your home insurance policy carefully to find out if there are any exclusions, such as coverage against flood or earthquake damage, that may require a separate policy.

Take note of the coverage limits for auto insurance. Progressive Insurance recommended having enough liability coverage to protect your net worth if you are found at-fault in an accident.

Assess your deductibles for home and auto. Can you afford the deductible? Could you secure a lower premium by increasing your deductible?

Consider Additional Perks or Expanded Coverage Options

As you shop around for the best rates on a bundled policy, consider adding umbrella coverage, which protects your financial interests for various events that can happen on your property or away from home, or riders for valuables in your home like fine art or collectibles.

Often, carriers can write additional coverage lines or riders without substantially increasing your premium costs.

Shop your home and auto policies with Solvable to find the best rates from top-rated carriers.

Author:
Mitul Patel