Erie is an insurance company that provides homeowners insurance in 12 states and Washington, D.C. Year after year, Erie has earned high marks for customer satisfaction. Although it lacks online quote tools like some of its competitors, the ability to work directly with local agents adds a personal touch that many of the larger insurers often lack.
Business Insider compared Erie Homeowners Insurance to the best homeowners insurance companies and found it to be an industry leader. Erie offers above-average coverage at an affordable price. Here's what you need to know before buying.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Pros and Cons
Erie Homeowners Insurance Pros
- Relatively low premiums
- Discount opportunities up to 25%
- Ranked fourth in customer satisfaction for JD Power home insurance
- 100% guaranteed replacement cost cover with base plan
Erie Homeowners Insurance Cons
- Only available in 12 states
- Quotes unavailable online
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#3
A+ (Superior)
Pros
Cons
- Gives discounts for safety systems like fire alarms, sprinkler, and burglar systems. It also offers multiple policy discounts and offers guaranteed replacement value for your damaged belongings.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Overview
Erie offers regional coverage in the Eastern United States. It started with its flagship auto insurance and has since expanded in both insurance products and markets served.
Buyers can purchase an Erie homeowners insurance policy for qualifying homes in 12 states and Washington, D.C., at the time of this review. An agent can advise you on your homeowners insurance needs along with auto, motorcycle, and other bundling options.
This Erie homeowners insurance review finds the company operates through licensed insurance agents. So you can request a quote and find an agent in your area. This also means that online quotes are not available with Erie.
Likewise, you must contact your chosen insurance agent to file a claim. For some homeowners, the extra support comes in handy to answer common questions. However, you cannot check on your claims or other data online.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Plans and Coverage
Erie HO-3 Insurance
Erie homeowners insurance offers all standard coverages you'd expect from HO-3 insurance, including:
- Dwelling coverage: Covers your house and any attached structures, like a garage, in the event of damage. Erie offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which means you're covered even if the cost to rebuild your home exceeds your policy's claim limits. Speak to your agent as there may be extra costs for this.
- Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or replace other structures not attached to your home, like gazebos or sheds
- Personal property coverage: This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your personal belongings, from furniture to clothing.
- Liability coverage: Pays for property damage and medical expenses if someone is injured on your property. It also covers legal fees in case of a lawsuit resulting from the incident.
- Loss of use coverage: Pays for any living expenses you incur while unable to live in your home after a covered loss, such as hotel stays and restaurant meals.
However, in addition, Erie's base policy comes with a few coverages not usually included in a homeowner's policy, such as:
- Gift card reimbursement: Offers reimbursement for unused gift cards from local establishments that have permanently closed.
- Animals, birds, and fish: Provides up to $500 in coverage.
- Cash and precious metals: Provides up to $500 in coverage for cash and other items that may be stolen but are challenging to prove. A typical deductible on a home would be above $500. So, this often falls into theft or other more significant claims.
- Hard-to-replace items: Coverage for the cost of replacing documents like deeds, bills, and passports.
Erie HO-4 Insurance
Here's what's covered on a standard Erie renters insurance policy:
- Personal property coverage: If any of your possessions in your rental unit are damaged, lost, or stolen, Erie has you covered. Depending on your policy limits, Erie will pay to replace or repair your belongings.
- Loss of use coverage: In the event you need to temporarily relocate, Erie will cover the cost of additional living expenses while your rental is being repaired.
- Personal injury liability coverage: This coverage can protect you from issues like slander, discrimination, and cyberbullying.
- Medical payments coverage: This is different from traditional liability coverage and provides coverage if someone else is injured during an accident in your rental home. Limits for medical payments typically range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Erie HO-6 Insurance
Here's what's covered with a condo insurance policy from Erie:
- Personal property coverage: This will help you pay for your personal belongings, such as clothes and electronics if they are damaged or lost by a covered peril.
- Interior unit coverage: This protects the interior structure of your condo, such as the walls, floors, and ceilings. It also covers any upgrades or renovations you might've made.
- Loss of use coverage: Erie will cover your additional living expenses while your home is being repaired, including the cost of living somewhere else.
- Liability coverage: This protects you if someone else is hurt or harmed on your property.
- Medical payments coverage: Erie covers medical payments in the event someone else is accidentally hurt in your home, and you're at fault.
Erie HO-7 Insurance
Here's what's covered with an Erie mobile home insurance policy:
- Dwelling coverage: This covers the cost of repairs or rebuilding your home. Mobile homes have what's called open peril coverage. This means that the policy will cover damage even if it's not explicitly listed in your policy.
- Personal property: This protects anything you keep in your mobile home, including personal possessions and home furnishings.
- Loss of use coverage: This covers the cost of having to temporarily live elsewhere while your home is being repaired.
- Liability coverage: This protects you if someone else is harmed on your property.
Additional Cover Options (Riders) Offered by Erie Homeowners Insurance
In addition to its base policy, Erie also offers additional coverage riders, which provides extra protection and enhanced claim limits. Here's a look at what it has to offer:
- Scheduled items: Coverage for higher-end items, such as jewelry, watches, and fine art or collectibles. Depending on the article, you may need an appraisal when you get the policy.
- Water backup: Coverage for burst pipes and unexpected flooding not caused by natural disasters. Your flood policy will not cover water damage not associated with an approved flood, while water backup coverage does not include those floods. So, if you live in a designated flood zone, you will need both this rider and a complete policy.
- Identity theft recovery: Identity theft can stress you out and interfere with your ability to buy a home, get credit cards, and insurance. Identity theft recovery coverage helps victims fight to correct their credit history, shut down fraudulent accounts, and change their social security numbers in extreme instances.
- Home Sharing: Provides coverage if you rent out all or part of your home. A typical example would be running an Airbnb.
- Earthquake: Coverage for earthquake damage.
- Flood: Coverage for flood damage.
Erie home insurance also offers bundles to combine multiple riders you might be interested in:
- Advantage bundle: Assists you with protecting your identity and provides recovery assistance if you become the victim of identity fraud. It also offers higher claim limits for theft and valuables.
- Plus bundle: Offers all the coverages in the Advantage Bundle, plus coverage for damage to underground service lines and sewer or drain backups.
- Select bundle: Provides all the coverages in the Advantage and Plus bundles and equipment breakdown coverage, which covers major appliances and home systems when they break. It also includes criminal defense cost reimbursement.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Cost
You may wonder how to estimate homeowners insurance costs. To give you an idea of how much a home insurance policy from Erie costs, we reached out to representatives at the company to request a quote for a home that:
- Costs $400,000
- Was built in 2018
- Is located in Kentucky
- The homeowner is 38
- The homeowner has a very good credit score and no prior claims history
The premium estimate based on the information given was approximately $1,200.
The representative did note that pricing could be lower based on available discounts and bundling. Customers should speak with their local Erie Insurance agent to find the appropriate coverage for their needs.
The average homeowners insurance cost is higher at $1,411 annually. However, homeowners premiums are variable based on where you live. Some states also require multiple types of insurance (ex: hurricane, earthquake, or flood insurance for certain flood zones), which may drive up the total cost of homeownership.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Discounts
Here's a list of discounts offered by Erie Insurance. Keep in mind that not all discounts may be available to you. We recommend speaking with your local Erie agent to discuss potential savings opportunities.
- Multi-policy discount: You can save between 15% and 25% by bundling home and auto coverage with Erie. You can also bundle an Erie life insurance policy with your home and auto insurance.
- Advanced quote discount: Erie will reward you with a discount when you request a home insurance quote at least one week to 60 days before your policy renews.
- Home safety discount: When you install smoke alarms, burglar alarms, or an automatic sprinkler system in your home, you may be eligible for a discount from Erie.
How to Purchase and Manage an Erie Homeowners Insurance Policy
To purchase an insurance policy from Erie, you'll need to call your local Erie agent or submit an online form to find an agent and get a quote. You can call Erie at (800) 458-0811, or you can click on "Get a Quote" on the official Erie Insurance website.
To complete the online form, you'll have to provide your address, city, state, or ZIP code. The website will then give you a list of available agents in your area and their contact information.
You can also click on the "Choose agency" button, which will take you to an online request for a quote form. On this page, you'll have to enter your full name, preferred contact method, phone number, email, and a message explaining what you're looking for. Once you submit the form, the agent will contact you with a quote.
Erie offers homeowners insurance in 12 states, including Washington, D.C. The states where Erie provides policies are Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
While you won't be able to file a claim with Erie online, you will be able to view your policy and make payments through your online account. Erie also has a well-rated mobile app that lets you view your policy details, share your ID card, make payments, monitor billing activity, and check the status of a claim.
How to File a Claim with Erie Homeowners Insurance
Erie homeowners insurance does not give you the option to file a claim or manage existing claims online. If you need to file a claim, you can start by either contacting your local agent or calling (800) 367-3743. Erie homeowners insurance has support available 24/7.
For some, this may lead to a higher level of service. But, others may not like being unable to check on their claims progress from a computer or mobile device.
The insurer also recommends that if your claim involves a theft or burglary, you contact the police to report the incident. In addition, it may help speed up the claims process if you make a list and take photos or videos of what's damaged or missing. You'll want to include details such as brand names, manufacturers, serial numbers, and an approximation of what you paid for the damaged belongings.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Customer Reviews and Ratings
Erie Insurance ranks highly for overall customer satisfaction. In fact, the insurance company ranked fourth on the most recent JD Power U.S. Home Insurance Study and third on the JD Power U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study.
This insurer received an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best. This demonstrates that the insurance company is financially stable and should pay out claims as expected.
Although Erie Insurance is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the insurer received an A+ rating from the non-profit organization. The BBB determines ratings based on factors like the amount of customer complaints, how quickly the business responds to complaints, and transparency in business practices.
Erie also has a highly-rated mobile app. On the Apple App Store and the Google Play store, the Erie app has 4.4 stars out of five. Many customers claim the app is helpful and easy to navigate.
Additionally, Erie has a slightly below-average complaint index rating from the NAIC of 1.63. This means the insurer has had more complaints filed against them than expected given their share of the market. However, many customers have wonderful things to say about the company. Here's a testimony from an Erie homeowners insurance customer:
Chuck of Evanston, IL, told ConsumerAffairs: "Disastrous house fire required major cleaning and reconstruction, as well as contents cleaning. This was a miserable experience, and we were unprepared. How to clean up the mess? How to salvage the contents? How to arrange reconstruction? Who to hire? Where to stay while the house is uninhabitable? We were fortunate to have coverage with Erie. Their adjuster guided us [through] the process, including arranging alternative accommodation. They paid nearly all the costs."
Erie Homeowners Insurance Alternatives
See how Erie compares to three other options for home insurance coverage: State Farm, Nationwide, and Lemonade.
Erie vs. State Farm Homeowners Insurance
State Farm's and Erie's offerings are very similar. Both provide the standard home insurance coverages and add-on options for identity theft protection, water backups, and appliance repair or replacement. However, Erie's base plan is a bit more robust because it includes guaranteed replacement cost coverage and coverage for special items like jewelry and passports.
Still, it's essential to recognize Erie is a regional insurer, which means you may not be able to access their coverage if you live in other states. State Farm, meanwhile, is a national provider. So you'll be able to purchase a policy no matter where you live.
Read our State Farm homeowners insurance review.
Erie vs. Nationwide Homeowners Insurance
Nationwide and Erie products seem very similar at first glance, but ultimately, Erie's may offer more customization for customers in its covered states. Nationwide's pricing to enjoy the benefits of replacement cost coverage may be a bit higher. So, in certain states, Erie may be a much cheaper alternative.
However, Nationwide has a Better Roof Replacement option that allows you to rebuild your roof with more robust and safer materials and a Brand New Belongings option, which reimburses the cost of replacing irreparable belongings after a covered loss. More importantly, Nationwide operates almost exclusively online. You can find some local agents, depending on where you live. But most quotes, claims, and policy management are done online. Erie does not have an online portal. Nationwide also offers coverage in all 50 states.
Read our Nationwide homeowners insurance review.
Erie vs. Lemonade Homeowners Insurance
Lemonade and Erie are similar; the most significant difference between them is how you purchase a policy and submit claims. With Erie, the experience is relatively traditional. You can handle these tasks over the phone or visit a licensed Erie insurance agent at one of its brick-and-mortar office locations. All transactions should go through your agent, with no online portal for day-to-day management or claims.
In contrast, with Lemonade, everything happens through an app. As such, the company prides itself on providing home insurance "for the 21st century" and promises to deliver a fully digital experience as part of that mission. With this hard line drawn between the two companies, target buyers do not often overlap.
Read our Lemonade homeowners insurance review.
Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our Erie Homeowners Insurance Review
Business Insider reviewed Erie homeowners insurance by comparing it against other major insurance providers within the industry. Our research examines the standard coverages provided, including any optional riders, claim limits, exclusions, and typical policy costs.
Selecting the right insurance for you and anyone else in your household is a matter of choosing a policy with the necessary types of coverage. It offers coverage limits to meet your needs. In addition, you should also work to find a premium that fits well within your budget and a company that allows you to submit and process claims efficiently.
Many customers also prefer to track their coverage online to keep themselves up-to-date at their convenience. However, while we make recommendations, choosing the homeowners insurance company that meets your needs is up to you.
Read more about how Business Insider rates homeowners insurance.
FAQs
Does Erie have good homeowners insurance?
Yes, Erie Insurance Group has good homeowners insurance with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a decent reputation among its consumers.
Is Erie homeowners insurance reliable?
Erie homeowners insurance is ranked third in the latest JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction Survey. It indicates claims are handled quickly and fairly.
Where does Erie provide home insurance coverage?
Erie homeowners insurance is available in 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
What other types of coverage does Erie homeowners insurance offer?
Erie homeowners insurance provides its consumers with a range of insurance options to choose from. It also offers renters, condo, boat, umbrella, auto, and business insurance policies.
Does Erie homeowners insurance pay out on claims?
Yes, Erie homeowners insurance has an AM Best rating of A+ (Superior), which means the insurer is financially stable and likely to pay out claims.
