Mariah Posey is an auto, home and life insurance editor and writer for Bankrate.com. She aims to make the insurance journey as convenient as possible by simplifying industry lingo and implementing thoughtful content design to provide readers clear answers to their questions.
Mariah Posey is an auto, home and life insurance editor and writer for Bankrate.com. She aims to make the insurance journey as convenient as possible by simplifying industry lingo and implementing thoughtful content design to provide readers clear answers to their questions.
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have 9 licensed insurance agents on staff who have spent a combined 78 years in the insurance industry. While we adhere to strict
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At a glance
2.9
Rating: 2.9 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
Score breakdown
Home
Rating: 2.9 stars out of 5
2.9
Cost & ratings
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0
Coverage
Rating: 4.33 stars out of 5
4.3
Support
Rating: 0.5 stars out of 5
0.5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
About Bankrate Score
Bankrate's take
Kin is a regional home insurer that services 11 high-risk states. It takes a tech-forward approach to home insurance, but its poor online reviews and above-average number of complaints could deter some shoppers.
Only available in AL, AZ, CA, GA, FL, LA, MS, SC, TN, TX and VA
Tech-forward approach to insurance
Mainly sells property insurance; no auto, renters, boat or pet insurance available
Private flood policies
Above-average number of customer complaints
New
What’s new with Kin?
After pulling out of the insurance market in California, the company returned to the Golden State in March 2025 to offer home insurance throughout the state.
Kin expanded its insurance offerings to Georgia, Texas and Tennessee, making the company now available in 11 states.
Kin home insurance review
Established in 2016, Kin is a direct-to-consumer home insurance company that specializes in providing coverage in states prone to natural disasters. It advertises itself as an affordable insurer with a unique underwriting method that includes data that other insurance providers typically overlook, including property records, permit data and aerial imagery. Kin also considers the more standard data points, such as roof characteristics, construction type and location. What’s more, Kin offers replacement cost policies (compared to actual cash value policies), so if your home or belongings are damaged, you could be paid out the full replacement cost instead of the depreciated value.
Kin earned a 2.9 out of a possible 5 Bankrate Score. Its strong discount availability and user-friendly website helped boost its rating, but Kin lost some points for its limited state availability and customer service hours. While claims may be filed 24/7, general customer service hours are more restricted. Plus, Kin does not offer auto insurance, which could deter customers looking to bundle and manage multiple policies in one place.
Pros and cons of Kin home insurance
When you’re shopping for the best home insurance company for your needs, it can be helpful to compare quotes and other features of each insurer. During our Kin insurance review, we identified these pros and cons that you might want to consider:
Pros
Unique rating structure
Available in high-risk states
Landlord, condo, high-value and customizable policies available
Cons
Limited state availability
No mobile app
Limited third-party ratings and reviews
Kin customer satisfaction
Third-party insurance ratings can be helpful when deciding between companies, and there are a couple of key ones to take note of. J.D. Power is a consumer data and analytics company that publishes customer satisfaction surveys for the insurance industry (among other industries). For home insurance, J.D. Power scores each company for overall claims and customer satisfaction. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) keeps track of the number of formal complaints filed against an insurance company and assigns each company an index. A score of 1.00 indicates that a company received an average number of complaints expected for a company its size, while a higher index indicates that a company received more complaints (and vice versa).
Kin homeowners claims satisfaction
Because Kin is a smaller insurance company, it was not included in the J.D Power 2024 Home Insurance Study or the 2025 Property Claims Satisfaction Study. AM Best similarly doesn’t rate Kin Interinsurance Network or Kin Interinsurance Nexus Exchange for financial strength. Demotech — another financial strength rating company — gives Kin Interinsurance Network and Kin Interinsurance Nexus Exchange an A (Exceptional) financial stability rating. This rating indicates that Kin has historically been considered reliable in regard to paying claims and remaining financially solvent. Given that the insurer specializes in high-risk properties that are likely to be hit with natural disaster damage, this score is important. After a flood or hurricane, an insurance company may be hit with thousands of claims at once.
Kin homeowners insurance complaints
Kin’s NAIC company complaint index for homeowner’s insurance shows a below-average score for 2022 with a spike of complaints in 2023 followed by a return to below-average complaints for 2024. In some ways, this lines up with Kin’s overall complaint index across all products, which was very high for 2022 and 2023 before dropping in 2024. Taken together, these complaint scores might suggest that Kin has been attempting to improve its customer service recently.
Kin home insurance cost
Nationally, home insurance costs an average of $2,304 for $300,000 in dwelling coverage as of May 2025. Average rates aren’t available for Kin, so homeowners will need to contact an agent to get a personalized quote. Your rates will vary based on the features of your home, your coverage amount, your claims history and the company you choose.
Kin home insurance discounts
Kin offers a variety of discounts that may help you save on your premium and get cheaper home insurance. As with any company, discount eligibility and qualifications vary. Getting a quote from Kin is the best way to find out which discounts you’re eligible for.
Some discounts on offer from Kin are common within the industry — like opportunities to earn a discount for being claims-free, installing a security alarm or paying electronically — but the company offers a few more unusual discounts as well:
Age or senior discount: If you’re over 55, you might qualify for this discount, as older homeowners tend to be viewed as less risky.
Non-smokers discount: Since non-smokers are at lower risk of accidentally starting a house fire, you can earn a discount on your insurance premium.
Water leak detection and mitigation device discount: If you have a device that can alert you to potential leaks, you might save money. Some devices can automatically shut off leaking water systems to prevent further damage.
Wind mitigation credits: Wind damage is common in Florida and Louisiana, so homeowners who install certain wind mitigation features may qualify for savings.
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Get personalized home insurance quotes
Answering a few quick questions to check your availability with Kin
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare Kin with other insurers
If you’re interested in Kin but not sure it’s quite right for you, you might want to also get quotes from these companies:
Kin vs. State Farm
If you’re in the market for a more traditional insurance company, State Farm could be a good choice. Coverage is sold through a network of local agents, so it could also be ideal if you prefer to handle your insurance needs face-to-face.
If you’re looking for a company familiar with selling insurance in high-risk areas, Progressive — which sells home insurance through American Strategic Insurance (ASI) — may be an option worth considering. The company sells insurance in 40 states, including Florida and Louisiana. ASI’s rating model is more standard than Kin’s, though, so if you are looking for a company that is shaking up the industry, Kin may be the better choice.
If you live in the Sunshine State, Tower Hill could be a good option. The company was founded (and is based) in Florida, which means its agents may be more familiar with the unique needs of homeowners there. Tower Hill offers robust coverage options and policies tailored to high-value homes, and the company also offers flood insurance as a home endorsement, a separate policy or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, Tower Hill is a more traditional carrier and doesn’t have a website quite as robust and functional as Kin’s.
The insurance market can be complicated, but Bankrate's insurance editorial team used our unique perspective to bring readers the information they need to make educated decisions when shopping for a policy.
78
years of industry experience
9
licensed staff
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
120
carriers reviewed
Is Kin a good insurance company?
Kin services some of the most hard-to-insure states in the country, which could make it a good option for homeowners having a hard time finding insurance. Average rates from Kin are not available, but the company advertises savings of upwards of $900 for customers who switched. However, many online reviews mention feeling duped or baited by Kin’s initial affordable rates, only to be met with a pricey renewal when their policy is up. Kin also offers a healthy list of discounts, although product availability is somewhat limited. Kin takes an online-first approach to insurance, which could make it a good fit for more tech-savvy homeowners. However, those looking for a specific someone to call for all their insurance needs might want to look elsewhere.
What are real-life customers saying about Kin?
Although Kin does not have a strong representation in third-party rating systems, such as J.D. Power and AM Best, we can still find information regarding how real-life customers feel about their experience with Kin Insurance. Below, we’ve compiled real comments from Kin insurance customers from internet forums such as Reddit and Trustpilot:
Reddit
Although it is not a formal review site, Reddit’s geographical, personal finance and insurance forums generate discussion about specific insurance companies, Kin among them. The Reddit reviews skewed more negatively, with many customers complaining of difficulty in filing claims and receiving payouts.
Reddit User 1*
Mar 9, 2025
Difficulty with claims payout
Stay away from Kin Insurance. They do not pay their claims. Ours is 5+ months and no payment and there amount keeps reducing?? What the heck?
I recently had a disappointing experience with Kin Insurance regarding a claim for water damage in my home. My property has been well-maintained with no history of leaks since the roof was replaced in 2015. While the initial response from Kin Insurance was prompt, the follow-up has been unsatisfactory. An inspector was sent to my home, but after that visit, I faced significant difficulties reaching the inspector despite multiple phone calls and emails. The eventual decision to deny my claim was based on an assertion of "improper installation" of the gutter, which was not supported by any evidence provided to me…
The Trustpilot reviews were, as a whole, much more positive. Kin has over 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot, 90 percent of which are five stars. The vast majority of those five-star reviews name and praise members of Kin’s customer service team. But, like some of the more negative reviews on Reddit, many of the one-star TrustPilot reviews were about rate raises Kin customers experienced upon policy renewal.
Trustpilot User 1*
Mar 30, 2025
Satisfied experience
Very quick to answer all questions and solve all problems. Very reasonable prices compared to others. Very respectful representatives. This is my third year with Kin Insurance, and I have been super satisfied and hope to stay with them in the future.
Kin Insurance is a scam. When I purchased my home, Kin was the lowest quote so I went with it. One year later, Kin tripled my rate without warning. $5,000 a year went to $15,300 a year. No claims. No warning. No discussion. CEO Sean Harper brags about honesty and integrity in his ads but he is a liar. I recently started receiving ads from Kin Insurance and I cannot stop it so every time I see an ad from Kin Insurance I will submit a new review. Kin insurance sucks.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Kin company details
For those interested in Kin or current policyholders seeking assistance, here are the essential contact details:
Quotes: 1-855-717-0022 Mon-Fri 7 am-7pm CT, Sat 8 am-3pm CT; or sales@kin.com
Customer support: 1-855-216-7674, Mon-Fri 7 am-7pm CT, Sat 8 am-3pm CT; or via online form
Kin is available inAlabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Kin tools and benefits
In addition to home insurance, Kin also offers insurance coverage for:
Mobile homes: Kin offers extensive coverage options for mobile and manufactured homes, largely independent of where you park them. These policies include coverage for fire and lightning, theft and vandalism, wind, hail and more. However, flood insurance must be purchased separately.
Condos: If you own a condo, you’ll need an HO-6 policy, which is a special type of home insurance geared specifically toward condo owners.
Rental homes: Landlords who own and rent homes might be interested in Kin’s landlord policies. These provide coverage for the structure of the home, as well as liability coverage for injuries for which the landlord is liable.
Flood insurance: Kin’s private flood insurance offers higher limits than an NFIP policy and no waiting period as an optional endorsement to home insurance.
House & Property insurance: This offering provides a flexible policy that can be used for multiple purposes. Kin’s policy can be used for your home whether you live in it full-time, use it as a secondary home or rent the property out to others. The House & Property insurance policy can handle any combination of these situations with one plan.
Frequently asked questions about Kin
Kin was founded in 2016, making it one of the newer insurers in the U.S. It has grown rapidly since its founding, and recently added several states to the portfolio of regions where it operates. The company has nearly 600 employees and has written more than 160,000 policies since its founding.
In short, yes — Kin home insurance is legitimate. Homeowners may be leery when considering insurance from a new insurance company, though, so it’s understandable to question whether Kin is legit. However, there are ways to check the validity of any insurer. Insurance companies must have a license to do business in any state where they offer insurance. So, you can check with your state's insurance commissioner's office to inquire about an insurance company's licensing status and license number. According to industry experts, if your state's insurance commissioner does not have the license number of a company you are considering, it is a red flag, and you may want to look elsewhere for insurance coverage.
Kin was founded by Sean Harper, Sebastian Villarreal, Lucas Ward and Stephen Wooten under the name Kin Insurance Technology Hub, LLC. Currently, Kin has many investors but is still a privately owned company that is not publicly traded.
Once your claim has been filed, a claims specialist will typically contact you to review the loss. Then, they’ll do some research into the damage and your policy, determine if you have coverage and release a payment to you if applicable.
At the same time, Kin also uses technology to monitor homes in the path of storms and pinpoint houses that may have sustained damage. Then, Kin contacts policyholders proactively, warning them that they may have damage and asking them to inspect their homes. This process can help customers identify damage early, which may prevent issues from worsening.
Methodology
Bankrate Score
Our 2025 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach.
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. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
50% Cost & ratings
50% Cost & ratings
30% Coverage & savings
30% Coverage & savings
20% Support
20% Support
Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed average 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, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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 in 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.
What policyholders are saying about Kin
Kin has 50 reviews
Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about Kin.
4.0
50
ratings
Star ranking and total number reflects the lifetime customer reviews received while this lender has been an advertiser on Bankrate.
To help serve you with relevant information, the customer reviews shown are limited to only those that this advertiser has received during the past 12 months.
76% of consumers recommend this insurer
Score breakdown
5 stars
38%
4 stars
38%
3 stars
16%
2 stars
4%
1 star
4%
Score by category
Overall rating4.0 / 5
Original cost3.9 / 5
Coverage4.2 / 5
Customer Support4.0 / 5
How we got these ratings
In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with market research firm SliceMR to survey over 1,500 insurance customers nationwide, asking policyholders to rate their insurer’s cost, coverage, customer support and overall experience on a five-point scale. Bankrate and SliceMR collected and analyzed these customer ratings, along with website analytics and responses to three open-ended questions regarding customer experience. Responses are based on individual policyholders’ policy details and personal experience, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. All ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by insurance carriers. User-generated ratings are separate from carrier Bankrate Scores — which are calculated based on our proprietary methodology — and may not match.
Community Reviews
See what users like you are saying about Kin.
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
I would stay with them because their services stand out among others.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage5/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
I recommend it because of very easy experience and good rates. I'm not switching for anything unless they have major changes in how they treat their customers and the rates skyrocket.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost5/ 5
Customer Support5/ 5
Coverage5/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
I chose them because of a friends recommendation.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
It was the best company to use. It had better and cheaper prices
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support3/ 5
Coverage3/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
My main reason for sticking with a insurer is because they provide you with financial support and another reason that would make me want to leave a insurer would be if they were bad with financial support
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage5/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
If the insurer offers excellent customer service—quick responses, knowledgeable agents, and an easy-to-navigate claims process—it’s a major selling point. For instance, when I filed a claim, the insurer processed it efficiently and kept me informed throughout the process. This transparency and reliability make me trust them to handle any future issues smoothly.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support1/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
The price is great and great customer service
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
Because it was trustworthy
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
April 10, 2025
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
Mariah Posey is an auto, home and life insurance editor and writer for Bankrate.com. She aims to make the insurance journey as convenient as possible by simplifying industry lingo and implementing thoughtful content design to provide readers clear answers to their questions.
