Home insurance in Alabama

The average cost of Alabama home insurance premiums is $4,132 per year for a home with a replacement cost value of $350,000*. Alabama’s home insurance rates are typically higher than the national average because of the increased risk of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Your home insurance rates will depend on your home’s location and other characteristics.

^{*Based on data from the Consumer Federation of America.}

Many factors, including the following, can impact the cost of home insurance in Alabama:

• Total rebuild value of your home. Also known as replacement cost, this is the amount it would cost to rebuild your home after a covered disaster. The higher your home’s replacement cost, the more expensive your premium. 

• Amount of coverage in your policy. The amount of coverage you have and any add-ons or policy endorsements will impact the cost of a policy.

• Age of your home. Older homes are often more expensive to insure than newer ones, as they may be at a higher risk for claims or be composed of rare or hard-to-find materials.

• Age of your roof. You may see higher rates if your roof is in poor condition or over 15 years old.

• Location of your home (down to the ZIP code). Insurers consider risks specific to your property’s exact location, such as crime levels, natural disasters, and proximity to fire services. 

• Your deductible. The higher your deductible, the cheaper your home insurance will be, but you’ll have higher out-of-pocket expenses after a claim. 

• Claims history. You may see higher premiums if you’ve filed a home insurance claim in recent years. The same may be true if your property has a history of frequent claims. 

• Your credit history. Alabama permits insurers to use your insurance-based credit score to help determine your premium. A higher score can yield lower rates.

Standard home insurance in Alabama provides financial protection against many different perils, but it typically does not cover:

• Flood and mudflow damage

• Earthquakes

• Pest infestations

• Wear and tear

• Most instances of mold and rot

• Business activity 

• Sinkholes

In Alabama, homeowners may be subject to a hurricane or wind/hail deductible. Depending on the insurer and where you live, wind coverage may be limited or excluded from your home insurance policy. If you live in an area of Alabama that is high-risk for tornadoes, hurricanes, or wind and hail damage, discuss hurricane coverage with your insurer.

No, home insurance is not required by law in any state, including Alabama. That said, if you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will likely require you to have a home insurance policy for the duration of your loan. 

You should still consider purchasing home insurance in Alabama even if you don't have a mortgage. Without home insurance, you’ll be on the hook for all repair and rebuild costs. You also won’t have any financial protection if someone gets injured on your property. 

The amount of home insurance you need is deeply dependent on a variety of factors, including your property, assets, and associated risks. However, the following general recommendations can help you get started.  

• Dwelling coverage. Enough to fully cover the cost of rebuilding your home back to its prior condition before the loss. Consider the cost of building materials, labor rates, and your home’s square footage when determining how much dwelling coverage you need. It is not based on your home’s market value. 

• Other structures coverage. Typically set at 10% of your dwelling coverage limit. Consider the value of the detached structures on your property to determine if you need to up the percentage. 

• Personal property coverage. Set at 50% of your dwelling coverage limit. Take a home inventory of your belongings to learn if you need more contents coverage. 

• Loss of use coverage. Usually set at 20% of your dwelling coverage limit. This pays for additional living expenses while you’re temporarily living elsewhere as your home is being repaired. 

• Medical payments to others coverage. Standard home insurance typically offers $1,000 to $5,000 medical payments to others coverage. It pays for a guest's injuries if they are hurt on your property, regardless of who was at fault.

• Liability coverage. Consider getting at least $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage, though you may need more if the value of your assets, including savings, investments, and real estate, exceeds that amount. You should always carry enough liability insurance to protect your assets if you're sued after a covered incident. 

If you live in Alabama, consider purchasing the following coverages: 

• Flood insurance. Home insurance never covers damage caused by flooding, including storm surges, heavy rainfall, and overflowing bodies of water.  A flood insurance policy or endorsement can be especially beneficial if you live in a flood-prone area. 

• Windstorm or hurricane insurance. Alabama experiences frequent severe windstorms. If wind and hail damage coverage is limited or excluded from your home insurance policy, consider purchasing windstorm or hurricane insurance to be protected against those risks. 

• Water backup coverage. If a sump pump fails or your property is damaged due to a sewer backup, your home insurance policy likely won’t cover the damage. Consider adding a water backup coverage for added protection. 

• Extended replacement cost coverage. This coverage add-on increases your dwelling coverage limit if rebuild costs exceed your original amount. Material and labor costs often skyrocket after a natural disaster, leaving many homeowners without sufficient dwelling coverage to rebuild their homes fully. This endorsement kicks in when that happens. 

• Ordinance of law coverage. If a covered peril damages your property and inspectors discover that major systems, such as plumbing or electrical, don’t meet current codes, your standard policy won’t cover the cost of upgrades. A building ordinance or law endorsement can help cover the additional expense of bringing your home up to code.