Best homeowners insurance in Georgia for 2023

Compare the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia

According to average rates provided by Quadrant Information Services, along with third-party scores issued in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study and financial strength ratings from AM Best, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team narrowed down Allstate, Chubb, Auto-Owners, State Farm and Country Financial as the best homeowners insurance companies in Georgia.

The top 5 home insurance companies in Georgia

How Bankrate chose the best home insurance companies in Georgia 

Bankrate’s editorial team analyzed 2023 average quoted premium data from Quadrant Information Services for dozens of companies in Georgia. We also analyzed each company’s available coverage options, discounts, policy features and third-party ratings, including financial strength ratings from AM Best and customer service scores from the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study. We used these factors to determine a proprietary Bankrate Score for each company, which is calculated on a 5.0 scale. The higher the Bankrate Score, the better the company performed across these categories. This Score can help you compare home insurance companies to find the best options for your needs.

How much is home insurance in Georgia?

On average, Georgia homeowners pay $1,394 annually for homeowners insurance with $250,000 in dwelling coverage. This is slightly lower than the national annual average cost of homeowners insurance, which is $1,428 per year.

Home insurance premiums vary from state to state, including in the Southeast. For example, at an average cost of $1,981, Florida homeowners pay more per year for the same level of coverage. Alabama and Tennessee are also more expensive than Georgia, with average rates of $1,631 and $1,755, respectively. Although Georgia is near the coast, it does sit slightly inland, which may offer some protection from storms and account for Georgia’s lower average premiums.

However, how much you pay for home insurance depends on more than just where you live. The age of your home, your insurance-based credit score and the cost of labor and materials can all affect your homeowners insurance premium, as will the amount of coverage you carry.

How to find the best cheap home insurance in Georgia

Finding the best cheap home insurance in Georgia is vital to financially protect your home, which could be your most significant investment during your lifetime. Whether it's your first homeowners insurance policy in Georgia or your tenth, finding the coverage that fits your needs as well as your budget can be challenging. However, following the steps below might keep you on track: 

1. Evaluate your needs: Knowing how much coverage you need will not only ensure that your finances are properly protected, but it can help prevent you from overinsuring or purchasing higher coverage limits than you need. Consulting with a licensed insurance agent could help you tailor a package that makes the most sense for you and your home.  
2. Compare quotes: Every company has its own unique underwriting guidelines and places different weights on various rating factors. Comparing quotes from multiple companies in Georgia will help you narrow down the ones that are the most competitive (and the ones that offer the coverage you need). When shopping around, you want to be sure that you’re requesting the same (or similar) coverage limits and options from carrier to carrier. Otherwise, you may accidentally choose a cheap policy with inadequate coverage. 
3. Take advantage of discounts: When requesting homeowners insurance quotes in Georgia, it could be a good idea to make sure that you’re taking advantage of every discount you may be eligible for. This is especially important when completing online quotes, as some applications may make you manually select certain discounts to apply them. 
4. Maintain your property: Although Georgia is a little more inland than other states in the Southeast, it’s still susceptible to wind and hurricane damage. Because newer roofs are less likely to be damaged in a severe storm, home insurance companies may offer lower rates to those with new roofs. Some companies even provide roof-specific discounts. 
5. Raise your deductible: While not ideal, raising your deductible can help lower your homeowners insurance premium. If you go this route, many insurance professionals would advise you to select an amount you would feel comfortable paying out of pocket in an emergency. The focus of insurance is to lower your financial risk. If you choose a deductible that would cause you hardship, then that may defeat the purpose. 

Common home insurance discounts in Georgia

Although homeowners insurance premiums in Georgia tend to be lower than average, taking advantage of discounts could help you save even more. Discounts will vary from company to company but when you’re requesting quotes, you may want to keep an eye out for some of the more common homeowners insurance discounts, including:

Home insurance coverage types in Georgia

Hurricane damage is one of the most prevalent risks in the Peach State. Although it’s been some time since Georgia has been a direct target for a hurricane, it’s not out of the question. In 1994, Tropical Storm Alberto dumped over 25 inches of rain in less than 24 hours on parts of the state, displacing over 50,000 people.

In addition to standard homeowners insurance coverage types like dwelling coverage, liability, personal property and loss of use, you may want to consider additional coverage to protect yourself against Georgia’s common causes of loss:

• Flood insurance: Many areas of Georgia are at a high risk for flood damage, with the average National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim payout at over $26,000. Because flooding is not covered by home insurance, you may want to consider purchasing a flood policy in conjunction with your homeowners policy. Additionally, you will likely be required to purchase a separate flood insurance policy from either the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer if your home is in a high-risk flood zone. Some home insurers offer endorsements for flood coverage.
• Windstorm coverage: Georgia’s coastal position comes with the risk of hurricane damage, which can be widespread and devastating. Most policies cover wind damage automatically, but if you are in a high-risk area, you may need a separate policy or endorsement. Even if your homeowners insurance policy does cover wind damage, you may have a separate wind deductible for named tropical cyclones.
• Roof replacement cost: Although Georgia is not in Tornado Alley, it is prone to significant tornadic activity. And while most tornado damage comes from high winds, hail is also common with these convective storms. If your roof is newer or in good condition, you may qualify for roof replacement cost coverage. If your roof is damaged, you could get the full replacement cost for repairs or a new roof rather than seeing depreciation taken out of your settlement.

Because Georgia has a relatively high risk for storm-related damage, working with a licensed insurance agent to choose endorsements could be beneficial.

Frequently asked questions