Kin Insurance review 2023

Kin home insurance

Kin could be a good choice for Florida and Louisiana homeowners looking for an insurance company that does things differently. Homeowners in these states often pay high premiums due to the risk of widespread storm damage. Many third-party ranking companies like J.D. Power and AM Best have yet to assign a score to Kin, and because we use these ratings in our own scoring method, the lack of third-party scores brought our Bankrate Score down. If you value a more traditional approach to insurance, Kin may not be the best choice, but if you’re willing to try something a little different, you may find that Kin’s home insurance fits your needs.

One of the more unique aspects of Kin’s underwriting approach is that it pulls data that other insurance providers typically overlook. For example, when calculating quotes, Kin factors in property records, permit data and aerial imagery. Kin also considers the more standard data points that most other insurance companies do, such as roof characteristics, construction type and location, which, when combined, make its quoting algorithm unique. Kin’s approach to quoting helps it offer affordable coverage for homeowners in Florida and Louisiana. In fact, the company claims that customers save an average of $500 when switching their home policies to Kin from more traditional insurers. And what’s more, Kin only offers replacement cost policies (compared to actual cash value policies), so if your home or belongings are damaged, you’ll get the full replacement cost.

Kin home insurance discounts

As with any company, discount eligibility and qualifications vary. Getting a quote from Kin is the best way to know what discounts you’re eligible for.

Kin home services

One of Kin’s most unique features is its flood insurance program. Standard home insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding. Homeowners generally have to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. However, Kin offers flood insurance as an endorsement to its home insurance policies. Because flood damage can be common in the coastal states where Kin operates, this coverage add-on could be impactful for many homeowners.

Kin also has software that monitors weather systems and can help determine which homes are most likely to be damaged by a storm. If your home is flagged for potential damage, Kin may reach out to you directly. You can then inspect your home and file a claim if necessary.

Other Kin perks worth considering

In addition to home insurance, Kin also offers insurance coverage for:

• Mobile homes
• Condos
• Rental homes

Kin corporate sustainability

Kin does not list information about giveback programs on its website. However, the fact that Kin operates solely in the high-risk states of Louisiana and Florida (where the home insurance market may be on the brink of collapse) is, in a way, a social responsibility. Especially in Florida, homeowners may struggle to find insurance coverage, and Kin provides a potential solution.

Not sure if Kin is right for you? Consider these alternatives

If you’re interested in Kin but not sure it’s the best home insurance company for you, you might want to also get quotes from these companies:

• ASI (Progressive Home): If you’re looking for a company familiar with selling insurance in high-risk areas, ASI may be an option worth considering. The company began in the Sunshine State and today sells insurance in 40 states, including Florida and Louisiana.
• Tower Hill: If you live in Florida, Tower Hill could be a good option. The company was founded in and is based in the Sunshine State, which means its agents may be more familiar with the unique needs of Florida homeowners.
• State Farm: If you’re in the market for a more traditional insurance company, State Farm could be a good choice. The carrier tied for the best overall home insurance company in our 2022 Bankrate Awards due to its local agent network and high customer satisfaction.

Bankrate Score 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 an auto and 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.