Best homeowners insurance in Fort Myers, FL for 2022

The beaches of Fort Myers are an attractive reason to live on the Gulf coast of Florida, as long as your home is protected with a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy. It doesn’t take a direct hit from a hurricane to cause extensive damage to a home, especially with storms from the gulf hitting the coast more often in recent years. 

Severe weather is a threat to most of Florida, and while the average cost of homeowners insurance in Fort Myers is $2,288 per year is around 13% lower than the statewide average of $2643 per year, it’s about 20% higher than the national average of $1,899.

However, cost isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a home insurance company. Not sure what to look for? Policygenius can help you figure out your coverage needs and compare quotes from multiple top companies in Fort Myers.  

Best homeowners insurance companies in Fort Myers

Of the companies we evaluated, Tower Hill has the lowest rate with an average yearly cost of $729, which is more than $1,500 less than the city average. At $7,586 per year, Citizens’ rate is by far the highest, but they offer options to residents that have been turned down by other companies. 

Policygenius analyzed thousands of quotes from the 5 largest Fort Myers insurers to find the average cost of homeowners insurance with each company in 2022. We then looked at 2021 J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores and compared that with the coverage needs of Fort Myers residents to find the best homeowners insurance in Fort Myers.

Universal Property

Universal Property is a Florida-based insurance company that provides a relatively standard, but solid home insurance policy. It's an especially good option if you have lots of animals on your property thanks to its special animal liability coverage.

Pros

• Covers homes that are generally more difficult to insure

• Excellent coverage add-ons, such as replacement cost contents, water backup, equipment breakdown, and service line coverage

• Special animal liability coverage available in case your dog or another animal on your property injures someone

Cons

• Customer reviews complain of a poor claims experience

• Doesn't offer increased dwelling coverage

• Minimal discount opportunities

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Why Universal Property tops our best list

Universal Property is a great option for Fort Myers residents who are likely to file a claim after an emergency. Once you submit your claim, their “fast track” team will make sure it is processed right away. When you need to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss, Universal Property will get you back to normal as fast as they can. 

How to get a quote

Online through Universal Property

Citizens Insurance

Citizens Insurance offers basic home and wind-only insurance coverage for homes in high-risk coastal areas of Florida. If you're having a difficult time finding a company to insure your home, Citizens is a decent last-resort option.

Pros

• Provides homeowners insurance to high-risk homes that are often denied coverage by private insurers

• Offers wind-only policies

• Sets up catastrophe response centers after natural disasters to offer in-person support to homeowners without power or means of communication

• File claims over the phone or online 24/7/365

• Low customer complaint ratings in 2020

Cons

• Rates are around 15% higher than the state average

• Limited additional coverage options

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Why Citizens tops our best list

Being based in Florida, Citizens is familiar with the after-effects of a hurricane. They know that it’s not always possible to get in touch with your insurance company when your power and internet are out. After debilitating storms, Citizens will bring in mobile catastrophe response centers where customers can file claims and receive checks for living expenses instantaneously.   

How to get a quote

Contact a Citizens Insurance agent through their website

State Farm

There's a reason State Farm is one of the top-rated insurance companies in the U.S. — its customer satisfaction ratings are through the roof, it offers a slew of coverage add-ons for full protection, and makes filing claims through its mobile app a breeze.

Pros

• Top-tier coverage add-ons, including equipment breakdown, water backup, and service line coverage

• Get up to $1 million in personal liability coverage

• Score discounts for bundling, installing security devices, and choosing a high deductible

• File and track claims online, over the phone, in person, or through its mobile app

• High customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings

Cons

• No discounts for first-time homebuyers or going a year without a claim

Read our full State Farm home insurance review

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Why State Farm tops our best list

If customer service is high on your list when shopping around for an insurance company, State Farm is a great option. State Farm consistently receives high ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction with J.D. Power. When you file a claim after a disaster, you want to be through a company that handles your situation quickly and efficiently each time. With State Farm’s mobile app, you can easily keep track of your claim. 

How to get a quote

Online through State Farm

Tower Hill

Tower Hill stands out thanks to its robust flood insurance options and contractor network program that makes repairing your home after a natural disaster as seamless as possible.

Pros

• Offers 3 flood insurance options, including a private flood endorsement and standalone policy

• Contractor network program for easy repairs that come with a 5-year warranty for workmanship

• Lower-than-average customer complaints according to the NAIC

Cons

• Little information about discounts or coverage options available online

Read our full Tower Hill review here

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Why Tower Hill tops our best list

Beach erosion and rising tides put Fort Myers homes at risk of more frequent flooding in coming years. Tower Hill offers three different levels of flood insurance, including an option that requires no minimum deductible and no wait. Whether or not you are currently in a flood zone, your house is still at risk of water damage in Fort Myers. Tower Hill can make sure you don’t end up paying these costly expenses out of pocket. 

How to get a quote

Online through Tower Hill

ASI Progressive

ASI Progressive offers robust home insurance coverage and ways to save. Our fave perk? Its bundling discount, which lets you save up to 20% on premiums and only requires you to pay one deductible if your home and car are damaged in the same event.

Pros

• Policies are backed by Progressive Insurance

• Flood insurance coverage add-on available — a rarity among insurers

• Save up to 20% when you bundle your home and auto insurance

• Score discounts for owning a new home, signing up for e-bills, paying your premiums in full for the year, and more

• Only pay one deductible if your home and car are damaged in the same incident and you bundle your home and auto insurance together

• File and track claims online

Cons

• Below-average claims satisfaction ratings

• Minimal information about coverage add-ons available online

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Why ASI Progressive tops our best list

If your house in Fort Myers is a vacation or rental home, ASI Progressive offers specialized insurance policies for seasonal or investment properties that can save you money on home insurance. By only paying for the coverage you need, you can eliminate costs that may not benefit your home away from home.

How to get a quote

By contacting an ASI Progressive Agent

Cheapest homeowners insurance companies by ZIP code in Fort Myers

Looking at average home insurance costs for 15 of the most popular companies in Fort Myers, we found that the cheapest home insurance in the city can be found in almost every ZIP code with Tower Hill. The average Tower Hill rate in this area is $725 per year — $1,563 less than the city average of $2,288 per year. 

While residents in the 33905 and 33907 ZIP codes will see slightly higher rates, the average rate of $735 in these areas is only nominally more expensive than the rest of the city.

The most affordable areas for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers

With an average home insurance rate of $2,259 per year, the 33965 ZIP code (Florida Gulf Coast University), is the most affordable area for home insurance in Fort Myers. This area is mostly made up of student housing from the university. 

The most expensive areas for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers

With an average home insurance rate of $2,295, the 33901 ZIP code is the most expensive area for home insurance in Fort Myers. Most homes in this area are 50 to 70 years old, which can increase the average home insurance rate. 

Shopping for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers

When shopping for home insurance, it’s important to know what you’re looking for in a policy so you can get the right coverage for your house. 

The last thing you want to do is spend too much for high coverage limits you may not need. At the same time, with the risk of powerful hurricane winds in Fort Myers, you should make sure you have enough dwelling coverage to pay for repairs to your home after a storm. 

In this section, we break down the average annual home insurance rates in Fort Myers for different coverage and deductible levels, as well as the cheapest and most expensive home insurance companies in the state for individuals with a poor credit score, dog owners, and pool owners. Once you’re ready to shop, a Policygenius expert can help you navigate your coverage needs and help you find the best deal on homeowners insurance in Fort Myers.

Fort Myers home insurance costs by coverage amounts

Dwelling coverage is the part of your home insurance policy that pays for the cost to repair or rebuild your home when it is damaged by a covered hazard. Your dwelling coverage limit should be based on your home’s replacement cost, which is the total price to rebuild your home. 

Knowing the replacement cost of your home can save you money, as the higher your dwelling coverage amount, the more your rates will increase. In Fort Myers, $100,000 in coverage will cost $902 per year. That amount jumps up to $1,588 for a policy with $200,000 in coverage.

Liability coverage is important to have in case someone on your property is injured by anything from a dog bite to tripping over uneven paving blocks. Your coverage amount should be based on the total value of your assets (your house, cars, and cash) since you might be responsible for covering costly medical bills. 

While usually the more coverage you need means higher premiums, in Fort Myers we found that average yearly costs fluctuate with the amount of liability coverage you get.

Fort Myers home insurance costs by deductible amount

Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for each claim you file with your insurance company. Since you will have to pay this amount every time you submit a claim, consider a lower deductible if your house is at risk for frequent storm damage. While a lower amount will increase the price of your home insurance, you won’t get stuck paying thousands of dollars in deductibles. 

As seen in the table below, Fort Myers residents can save around $798 on home insurance by choosing a $2,000 deductible over the $500 option.

Home insurance discounts in Fort Myers

If you are looking to save money on your policy, check if you can get a discount for having certain safety features in your home. Most insurers will offer discounts for smoke detectors, burglar alarms, and deadbolt locks because the safer your home is, the less likely you are to file a claim. 

While you won’t get a huge discount if your house has one of the following features and nothing else, they can add up if you have several protective devices in your home. Here is the average annual rate and average discount percentage for homes in Fort Myers with deadbolts, smoke alarms, or burglar alarms. 

Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for dog owners

If you have a dog breed that insurance companies consider “aggressive,” you may be charged higher rates due to the higher liability risk.  

With an average rate of $729 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates in Fort Myers for a home with a dangerous dog breed, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the highest. 

Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for poor credit

Your credit score could also impact your insurance rate. Companies will often look at your credit history to determine if you are more likely to file a claim or pay your bills on time. If you have poor credit, you could see higher premiums. 

It’s important to shop around, however, since not all insurers will charge more for a low credit score.

With an average rate of $1,153 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates in Fort Myers for a homeowner with poor credit, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the highest. 

Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for pool owners

While it's nice to have a pool in the Florida heat, some insurers will charge you more if you have one on your property. Pools increase the probability of liability claims due to the risk of injury, though not all companies will factor this into your rate as heavily.

With an average rate of $729 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates for Fort Myers homes that have a swimming pool, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the most expensive.

How to buy homeowners insurance in Fort Myers

Shopping around and comparing quotes is the best way to make sure you are getting the right coverage for your home. Below are tips for shopping for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers:

1. Reach out to a licensed Policygenius agent. A Policygenius expert can help answer questions, determine your coverage amounts, and compare quotes, all at no cost to you. 

2. Ask about Florida’s FAIR plan. If you’ve been turned down by multiple traditional insurance companies due to factors that make you a high risk to insure, our agents can discuss Florida’s FAIR plan as an alternative to traditional coverage. 

3. Consider purchasing flood insurance. As storms continue to move through Fort Myers, it’s likely you will need flood insurance at some point, even if you are not currently in a flood zone.

4. Figure out how much you can afford to pay for your deductible. Consider how likely you are to file multiple claims when determining your deductible. You can save money on your policy with a higher deductible, but the savings won’t be worth it if you file multiple claims over a two or three year span.  

5. Compare quotes from a Policygenius agent. There are many factors that determine your insurance rate, and insurers weigh those factors differently. Comparing quotes with Policygenius is the best way to find the most affordable home insurance. 

6. Choose your policy, sign it, and pay your first premium. After you find the right policy for your home, a Policygenius agent can help with the paperwork so all you have to do is sign and pay your first premium.  

Methodology

Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:

• Dwelling: $300,000

• Other structures: $30,000

• Personal property: $150,000

• Loss of use: $60,000

• Liability: $300,000

• Medical: $1,000

All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.