What are the different types of homeowners insurance coverage?
Dwelling coverage
If your home’s physical structure, including your roof, siding or attached garage, is damaged by a covered peril, dwelling coverage may pay to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home and anything permanently attached to it.
For example, if a windstorm knocks your chimney down, your policy's dwelling coverage may pay for those repairs, up to your policy’s limits, minus your deductible.
Other structures coverage
Other structures coverage for structures on your property that are not attached to the main home, including outbuildings like detached garages, fences, and gazebos. If a violent thunderstorm damages your garden shed, other structures coverage may pay for the damage, up to your policy’s limits, minus your deductible.
Personal property coverage
Personal property coverage protects your belongings such as electronics, furniture, and clothing up to your coverage limits and minus your homeowners insurance deductible.
For example, personal property coverage may pay to replace a computer stolen from your car, up to your policy’s limits and minus your deductible.
Personal liability coverage
Personal liability coverage protects against financial loss if you're liable for another party’s damages or injuries. It may even cover legal fees and lawsuits if you’re sued.
For example, if your child accidentally breaks a neighbor's stained-glass window while playing catch in the yard, your liability coverage may pay to replace the window, up to your policy’s liability coverage limit.
Loss of use coverage
Loss of use coverage, which includes "additional living expenses," may pay for extra costs you incur to maintain your living situation while your home is being repaired or rebuilt due to a covered loss.
For example, suppose a fire destroys much of your home and leaves it uninhabitable. Loss of use coverage may pay the additional costs you incur for a short-term rental and certain living expenses up your policy’s limit while your home is being repaired. Learn about how insurance may cover fire damage.
Optional homeowners insurance coverages also include water backup coverage and personal injury coverage. Learn more about homeowners insurance coverages.
What does homeowners insurance not cover?
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover motor vehicles or damage to your home and belongings from perils not listed on your policy. A homeowners insurance policy usually doesn't cover:
- Flooding
- Earthquakes
- Damage caused by termites, vermin, and rodents
- Wear and tear
However, you may be able to purchase separate flood insurance and, if you live in a state with seismic activity, you may have access to a standalone earthquake insurance policy.
Learn more about how homeowners insurance works and how much home insurance you need.
