Home insurance in Tennessee

The average cost of Tennessee home insurance premiums is $2,912 for a home with a replacement cost value of $350,000.^* The average home insurance premium in Tennessee is slightly lower than the national average, but your home’s premiums and risks depend on its location and other characteristics, so the best way to see if you can save is to get a quote.

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

A variety of environmental, personal, and property-related factors impact the cost of home insurance in Tennessee, including:

• The replacement cost value of your home. One of the most influential factors used to determine your home insurance premium is the estimated cost to rebuild your home based on local labor and material costs. The higher your home’s replacement cost, the higher your home insurance premium.

• The amount and type of coverage you purchase. The more coverage included in your policy, the more expensive your home insurance will be. Similarly, any add-ons, also called endorsements, can lead to a higher rate. 

• The age and building materials of your home. Newer homes tend to be cheaper to insure. If your home is built with vintage or hard-to-find materials, you’ll likely pay a higher premium. 

• The condition of your roof. If your roof is older or in poor condition, you’ll likely see a higher home insurance rate. They can also lead to coverage exclusions or lower limits for roof claims.

• The ZIP code you live in. If you live in an area of Tennessee that experiences severe weather or high crime rates, you’ll likely have more expensive home insurance than someone in a less high-risk area of the state. 

• Your deductible. If you choose a higher deductible, your home insurance will be cheaper, but you’ll receive a lower payout after a claim. Lower deductibles often lead to higher premiums, but you’ll have lower out-of-pocket expenses after a claim.

• Your claims history. Filing a claim within the last five years tends to lead to more expensive home insurance. You may also see higher rates if there were recent claims filed against your property, even if you weren't living there at the time. 

• Your credit history. Tennessee permits insurers to use parts of your credit score to calculate your insurance-based credit score. A poor credit history may result in higher premiums.

Standard home insurance does not cover the following risks in Tennessee or any other state:

• Earthquakes

• Flood damage, including heavy rainfall, storm surges or water runoff, or overflow

• Sinkholes

• Muflow

• Pest infestations

• Maintenance issues

• Replacement or repairs to systems, components, or materials after wear and tear

• Intentional damage

Home insurance is not required legally in Tennessee. But if you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to carry a home insurance policy. 

If you don’t have a mortgage, you should still consider maintaining a home insurance policy. If your home is damaged or destroyed, you’ll be on the hook for repair, replacement, or rebuilding costs. Further, if you’re liable for someone else’s injury — whether they slip and fall on your stairs or your dog bites them in the park — you’ll have to cover their medical expenses and your own legal representation if they sue you. 

Though coverage needs vary by your property, location, and risk tolerance, here are some coverages and recommendations to keep in mind as you shop for a policy:  

• Dwelling coverage. Limits should typically cover100% of the cost to rebuild your home back to its prior condition before a loss. 

• Other structures coverage. Typically set to at least 10% of your dwelling coverage limit. Consider increasing the limit if the value of your detached structures exceeds the 10% limit. 

• Personal property coverage. Usually, at least 50% of your dwelling coverage limit. Take a home inventory of your belongings to determine if you need to purchase more coverage.

• Loss of use coverage. Commonly set to at least 20% of your dwelling coverage limit. Covers additional living expenses, like meals and lodging, if your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss. 

• Medical payments to others coverage. Policies generally include $1,000 to $5,000 in coverage. This part of a policy can help cover a guest’s medical expenses if they are injured on your property, regardless of whether you were responsible.

• Liability coverage. You should carry at least $100,000 to $300,000, but you may need more. Consider the total value of your assets when choosing how much liability coverage to buy. It covers another party’s medical expenses if you’re found to be liable, as well as your legal expenses if they take you to court over the matter. 

As a Tennessee homeowner, you may want to consider the following endorsements or stand-alone insurance policies. 

• Water backup coverage. Pays to repair your home or replace property if a sump pump or sewer backup damages it. This type of water damage is typically excluded from a standard home insurance policy. 

• Extended replacement cost coverage. Extends your dwelling coverage limit, such as by 25% or more, if you find yourself underinsured due to a surge in construction or labor costs.

• Flood insurance. Pays for damage caused by flooding, which is never covered by home insurance. Ask your insurer if you can add a flood endorsement or look into buying standalone flood insurance. 

• Ordinance or law coverage. After a covered event, this endorsement can help cover additional costs if your home needs to be brought up to current building codes during reconstruction.