Because dogs are responsible for so many personal liability claims, many home insurance companies won't cover your dog if they're categorized as a so-called dangerous breed or have a history of biting. [1] Others might refuse to extend you coverage altogether. But you're not totally out of luck if you live with a four-legged friend. We rounded up some of the best home insurance companies for dog owners, including the cheapest companies by state.
Does homeowners insurance cover dogs?
A standard homeowners insurance policy includes two types of coverage to protect you from expensive bills caused by your dog:
Personal liability coverage: Covers legal fees, medical bills, and damages if your dog hurts someone or damages their belongings while at your home and you're found legally responsible.
Medical payments to others coverage: Covers the costs of any injuries caused by your dog — regardless of who's at fault.
Just keep in mind that some home insurance companies won't extend coverage to your dog if they're deemed a dangerous dog breed, while others might refuse to write you a policy altogether. And if your dog has a history of biting or if a liability claim has been filed against you in the past, you may also have a difficult time securing homeowners insurance coverage.
➞ Learn more about homeowners insurance and dogs
What dog breeds are considered high risk?
Certain dog breeds are responsible for a majority of home insurance claims, causing some home insurance companies to exclude those breeds from standard home insurance coverage.
If you own one of the following breeds, you may need to look into a dog-friendly home insurance company to cover bodily injury and property damage you’re liable for as their owner:
Dog-friendly home insurance companies
Here’s a look at how the top dog-friendly homeowners insurance companies compare according to their Policygenius rating. Our Policygenius ratings take into consideration each company’s financial stability, home insurance rates, consumer confidence, customer satisfaction ratings, and coverage options. See our full homeowners insurance ratings methodology.
Insurance company | Policygenius rating | A.M. Best rating | Average annual cost |
---|---|---|---|
4.9 out of 5 stars | A+ (Superior) | $1,479 | |
4.8 out of 5 stars | A+ (Superior) | $2,039 | |
4.5 out of 5 stars | A (Excellent) | $1,568 | |
4.4 out of 5 stars | A+ (Superior) | $1,650 | |
4.4 out of 5 stars | A+ (Superior) | N/A | |
4.3 out of 5 stars | A (Excellent) | $1,022 | |
4.3 out of 5 stars | A (Excellent) | N/A |
Deep dive into the best dog-friendly home insurance companies
Here's a more in-depth look at some of the best dog-friendly home insurance companies:
Cheapest home insurance companies for dog owners by state
Allstate, USAA, American Family, and State Farm make repeat appearances on our list of the cheapest home insurance companies for dog owners by state.
State | Cheapest company for dog owners | Average annual rate |
---|---|---|
USAA | $1,038 | |
Western National | $1,040 | |
USAA | $863 | |
Farmers | $2,293 | |
Mercury | $934 | |
American Family | $2,186 | |
USAA | $1,259 | |
Nationwide | $739 | |
Tower Hill | $1,189 | |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,289 | |
DB Insurance | $286 | |
USAA | $1,149 | |
Allstate | $1,059 | |
Allstate | $861 | |
American Family | $1,209 | |
American Family | $2,577 | |
State Auto | $1,285 | |
UPC Insurance | $1,195 | |
Vermont Mutual Insurance | $517 | |
State Farm | $1,311 | |
MAPFRE Insurance | $1,179 | |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $241 | |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $1,159 | |
Allstate | $1,372 | |
USAA | $1,719 | |
USAA | $1,650 | |
American Family | $1,926 | |
USAA | $961 | |
Vermont Mutual Insurance | $657 | |
NJM | $791 | |
Farmers | $1,581 | |
National General | $965 | |
State Farm | $904 | |
Agraria Insurance | $1,477 | |
Erie | $1,031 | |
Allstate | $3,264 | |
American Family | $782 | |
Allstate | $771 | |
Narragansett Bay | $774 | |
USAA | $726 | |
Farmers | $1,761 | |
Allstate | $1,613 | |
Farmers | $484 | |
American Family | $630 | |
Auto-Owners Insurance | $515 | |
State Farm | $1,330 | |
Allstate | $586 | |
Chubb | $890 | |
Erie | $1,232 | |
Allstate | $1,055 | |
USAA | $711 |