Homesite insurance review 2023

Homesite car insurance

Founded in 1997, Homesite was one of the first insurance companies to allow customers to buy property insurance instantly online. In 2014, American Family acquired Homesite and as such, Homesite’s policies are underwritten by CONNECT, powered by American Family. This carrier could be a good choice for those looking to bundle multiple policies under one roof since this company offers multiple product lines, such as auto, life, commercial, homeowners, condo and flood insurance.  

Homesite offers the standard car insurance coverage types you would expect, such as liability, comprehensive and collision. Although the company’s car insurance endorsement options are a bit sparse, you can choose to include rental reimbursement coverage and emergency road service. The company writes policies in every state and Washington, D.C.

Pros and cons of Homesite car insurance

Finding the best car insurance company can be challenging, but figuring out your priorities ahead of time by listing a carrier’s pros and cons can help you better evaluate a carrier on a holistic level.

Homesite car insurance cost

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team keeps track of average premiums across the country via proprietary rate data sourced from Quadrant Information Services. According to our research, the national average cost of car insurance for a full coverage policy is $2,014 per year, with a minimum coverage policy averaging $622 per year. However, how much you pay for car insurance can vary based on several rating factors, including (but not limited to) your driving record, location, the type of vehicle you drive and in some states, your credit score.

Rate data for Homesite is not available, so you will have to request a quote online or reach out to a licensed agent to find out how much you might pay for Homesite car insurance.

Homesite car insurance discounts

If you are searching for the cheapest car insurance company, Homesite car insurance could offer some discount opportunities that might help you save. Some of the standouts may include:

These discounts could have additional eligibility and availability restrictions, so for more information, please reach out to a Homesite agent. 

Homesite car tools and benefits

Homesite offers roadside assistance for quick help if your car breaks down, gets a flat tire or runs out of gas. Roadside assistance is an add-on coverage and may be worth adding to your car insurance policy.

Homesite home insurance

Policyholders looking for robust home insurance coverage may find Homesite especially appealing. Compared to its auto insurance, Homesite has many coverage add-ons available that allow homeowners to personalize their policies.

In addition to standard home insurance coverage types like dwelling and personal property, you can add endorsements such as extended replacement cost. This option can provide 25 to 50 percent of extra dwelling coverage should the amount needed to replace your home exceed your dwelling limit. Some of the other endorsement options Homesite offers include water backup coverage, identity theft protection and an earthquake endorsement.

Pros and cons of Homesite homeowners insurance

When comparing home insurance quotes, it can be easy to lose track of what benefits each carrier provides. To simplify the process, you may find it helpful to make a list of pros and cons.

Homesite home insurance cost 

According to Bankrate’s extensive research, the national average cost of home insurance for $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,428 per year. However, insurance companies consider many factors to determine how much it should charge you for home insurance, including the age of your home, where your home is located and your prior claims history, among others. As such, you may be paying more or less than the average.

Homesite home insurance premiums are unavailable, so for more information, please contact the company directly. 

Homesite home insurance discounts

Homesite offers many discount opportunities compared to some carriers, which could help it earn a spot as one of the cheapest home insurance companies. Some of the standout discounts that may be available on your Homesite home insurance include:

Homeowners insurance discounts vary by state, so it may be a good idea to request a quote or speak with an agent if you have specific questions about eligibility requirements. 

Homesite home tools and benefits 

The company does not outline any additional home services on its website.

Homesite life insurance

Homesite offers simple life insurance policies, so this coverage may be best for those looking for no-frills life insurance coverage or for people who already have a policy with Homesite and prefer to bundle their policies with the same insurance provider. There are three types of policies available with Homesite life insurance, including simplified term life, children’s whole life and senior whole life insurance. 

Although Homesite only offers three types of life insurance, it may provide some options to allow for policy customization. For instance, there are four term limits you can choose from for the company’s simplified term policy (10-year, 15-year, 20-year and 30-year terms). Additionally, Homesite offers a guaranteed purchase option on its children’s whole life insurance policy, which allows the purchase of additional coverage at certain milestones, regardless of the policyholder’s health.

Pros and cons of Homesite life insurance

Life insurance can be complex, but Bankrate is here to help you make sense of this important coverage. The list below could help you determine if Homesite life insurance is right for you.

Homesite life insurance endorsements

Although endorsements may increase the cost of your life insurance policy, they can help you personalize your coverage to fit your individual needs. However, Homesite doesn’t list its life insurance endorsement options on its website, so you’ll want to contact an agent for a life insurance quote if you have questions.

Homesite life tools and benefits

Homesite doesn’t outline any special life services on its website.

Homesite customer satisfaction

For some, customer service is as important as cheap rates. Typically, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team looks to a few different third-party scoring metrics to evaluate a company’s customer satisfaction, namely J.D. Power scores and the NAIC Complaint Index. However, many of Homesite insurance products are unrated by J.D. Power. Additionally, Homesite may have several underwriting companies, and these companies can vary depending on the type of insurance and what part of the country that insurance product is written in. This means that third-party scoring data on Homesite may be limited.

When a J.D. Power score is available, know that the highest score possible is 1,000, and the higher a company’s J.D. Power score, the more satisfied its customers might be. Regarding the NAIC Complaint Index, an average (or baseline) number of customer complaints equals a complaint index score of 1.0. A score higher than 1.0 indicates more complaints than average and a score lower than 1.0 indicates fewer complaints. 

Homesite auto satisfaction

Homesite’s auto insurance product is underwritten by CONNECT. While Homesite itself was not included in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, CONNECT was included in the California region, where it earned third place with a respectable score of 834. 

CONNECT’s NAIC Complaint Index for its private passenger product line has a score of 0.77. This means that, on average, the company receives fewer complaints compared to other companies of its size. However, since CONNECT is the underwriter for Homesite car insurance rather than the provider itself, you may want to speak with friends or family currently insured with Homesite to better understand the company’s level of auto service. 

Homesite homeowners satisfaction

Homesite took last place in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study, with a score of 753. The company fared a little better in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Property Claims Study, but it still scored below the industry average with a score of 859. This data shows that homeowners that prioritize customer service may want to do further research before making their decision to switch. 

NAIC scores for Homesite home insurance are not available as the company uses several underwriting companies to sell this product. 

Homesite life satisfaction

Homesite life insurance is underwritten by the American Family Life Insurance Company. Although J.D. Power did not include this company in its 2022 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study, the American Family Life Insurance Company has only received one NAIC customer complaint regarding its individual life product, and has a stellar index score of 0.11.

How to file a claim with Homesite

Filing a claim can be nerve-wracking, but knowing what to expect might relieve some of your stress. No matter the claim, Homesite will ask for some basic information. However, the information it will ask for depends on the type of claim you’re filing. For instance, when filing a car insurance claim, Homesite will ask for the date the accident occurred, the details surrounding the accident and the other party’s details (such as their name, insurance company and policy number). Additionally, the company may ask for supporting documentation, such as a police report (if applicable).

When you’re ready, you can file a claim with Homesite by:

• Calling 1-866-621-4823
• Logging into the company’s online portal

It may also be worth noting that insurance professionals will generally advise you to report your claim as soon as you can to avoid unnecessary delays.

Homesite availability

While many of Homesite’s insurance products may be available in most states, you may want to contact the company or request a quote if you are interested in a specific Homesite product. The company utilizes different underwriters for different insurance types, so some types of insurance policies may not be available in all states.

Other Homesite perks worth considering

If you’re on the fence about Homesite insurance, the following perks may sway your decision.

• Condo insurance: Even if your condo association offers insurance, you are likely responsible for damages inside your unit and damage to your personal belongings. This is where condo insurance may step in. 
• Renters insurance: Renters may be interested in this policy, as it provides financial protection for your personal belongings and liability. 
• Commercial insurance: Owning a business comes with unique exposures that require commercial insurance. Homesite offers general liability, business owner’s policies and workers’ compensation policies in its suite of commercial products. 
• Flood insurance: A standard homeowners policy does not typically cover floods. Homesite can help provide financial protection for this devastating natural disaster through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Homesite corporate sustainability

Homesite has a few corporate sustainability initiatives, which focuses on three key areas: affordable housing, expanding access to healthcare and wellness, and expanding access to education and vocational programs. Although its last corporate citizenship report was in 2018, the company’s Twitter account shows employees engaged in food drives, school supply drives and various fundraisers.

Not sure if Homesite is right for you?

Although Bankrate’s insurance editorial team works to provide you a comprehensive review of the carrier, you may still wonder if this is the right company for you. While you’re shopping around, you may want to consider looking into one (or all) of the following comparable providers: 

Homesite vs. State Farm

State Farm, named one of the best car insurance companies in the 2023 Bankrate Awards, stands out for its low premiums and high claims satisfaction. If you’re uneasy that Homesite hasn’t been ranked by many third-party organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power, you may want to get a quote from State Farm.

Learn more: State Farm Insurance review

Homesite vs. USAA

USAA only writes policies to active-duty military, veterans and qualifying family members. If you qualify, you may benefit from certain military-focused coverage options. In addition, the company was voted one of the best home insurance companies in the 2023 Bankrate Awards for its excellent customer service, nationwide availability and low NAIC complaint score.

Learn more: USAA Insurance review

Homesite vs. MassMutual

If you’re looking for more life insurance coverage options than Homesite offers, you may want to look into MassMutual. This company offers more whole life insurance riders than most of its competitors, which could allow you to create a policy that works well for you. MassMutual was also named one of the best life insurance companies in the 2023 Bankrate Awards.

Learn more: MassMutual Insurance review

Is Homesite a good insurance company?

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has almost a century of combined industry experience, and we’ve leveraged our knowledge to conduct more than 100 extensive insurance company reviews. We do this because we know that, for most people, finding the best insurance company isn’t easy. However, we aim to make it so by providing our readers with the information they need to compare insurance quotes with confidence.

Insurance is a personalized product. Everyone needs something different from their provider, so whether Homesite is a good company depends on your needs. If you are looking for a homeowners insurance company that offers robust coverage and discount options, then Homesite could be a good choice. On the other hand, those who want lots of life insurance options or prioritize top-notch customer service may find a better fit elsewhere. To settle on a decision of whether Homesite is a good company for you, consider speaking with a representing agent or requesting a quote.

Methodology

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways a home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.