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Erie home insurance review
Last updated:
Extensive homeowners coverage with reasonable rates, but limited to 12 states.
Get a quote if you want a comprehensive policy without overpaying for home insurance.
Pick something else if you don’t live in one of the 12 states Erie serves.
Homeowners with pets will like the extra coverage and lax breed restrictions.
DC, IL, IN, KY, MD, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WI
Available states
24/7 claims
Online quotes
Details
Pros
- Good reputation
- Personalized service
- Competitive rates
Cons
- Not available in every state
- Limited online capabilities
- Questionable claims service
| New home discount discount | No |
|---|---|
| New homeowner discount | No |
| Home safety features discount | Yes |
| New policy discount | No |
| Bundling discount | Yes |
| No claims discount | No |
| Other discounts | Advanced quote discount. |
| Dwelling coverage | Yes |
|---|---|
| Personal property coverage | Yes |
| Valuable personal property | Yes |
| Theft coverage | No |
| Fire coverage | No |
| Flood coverage | Yes |
| Identity theft coverage | Yes |
| Homesharing | No |
| Dwelling coverage | Yes |
Expert review
Review by
Andrew Flueckiger
andrew.flueckiger@findercrew.comAndrew Flueckiger is a licensed insurance agent and Certified Insurance Counselor with experience in insurance and finance. A graduate of Indiana University, Andrew contributes a wealth of knowledge and experience to Finder. When Andrew isn’t writing, reading or practicing insurance, he can be found spending time with his family and playing the guitar.
Expert review
Erie is a financially sound company that has received awards from various industry publications, such as the Confirmit Achievement in Customer Excellence award in 2016 and 2017. However, there are also many negative reviews on sites such as Consumer Affairs from customers with regards to poor claims service.
Erie offers comprehensive coverage options on your home insurance, such as guaranteed replacement cost on your home,s but it’s only located in 12 states and has limited online capabilities.
To help decide if Erie is the best option for you, be sure to compare other homeowners insurance companies.
What home insurance coverage does Erie offer?
Erie offers a standard homeowners policy that you can customize with endorsements. Its endorsement options also come in tiered packaged bundles with higher limits and better coverage.
Included coverage
- Contents replacement cost. Gives you the money to replace your contents, such as your furniture, appliances and clothing without depreciation.
- Detached structures. An automatic 10% of your home coverage, this covers any outbuildings or detached garages.
- Home replacement cost. Insure your home for 100% of its replacement cost and receive up to your policy limits to rebuild.
- Living expenses. In the case of a total loss on your house, this automatic coverage pays you to temporarily live somewhere else, like a hotel.
- Medical payments. This covers someone else’s medical expenses if they get hurt on your property, typically for a few thousand dollars.
- Personal liability. This covers legal costs if someone sues you for a covered reason.
- Pet coverage. Coverage against damage caused by pets is included automatically for up to $500.
Optional or endorsements
- Earthquake. Available as an endorsement, this coverage typically comes with a much higher deductible than the rest of your policy.
- Flood. Buy a flood policy from Erie that’s underwritten by either a third party or the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Guaranteed replacement cost. Available in most states, this guarantees that you’ll receive the full cost to rebuild your home, even if it costs more than your policy limits.
- Home business. Add this endorsement to your small, in-home business. Erie determines what small businesses qualify.
- Identity theft. If someone steals your identity, this coverage helps reimburse you for things such as attorney fees, lost wages, transportation and phone expenses.
- Service line. This endorsement extends coverage to your entire property, including ruptured service and utility lines.
- Valuables. Coverage for possessions such as jewelry or watches, without a deductible.
- Water backup. Cover the cost of repair and replacement of damaged personal items for water damage if your sump pump fails or due to a piping issue.
What home insurance discounts can I get?
Erie’s offers competitive rates, which helps explain why it only offers three discounts on its homeowners insurance.
- Advanced quote discount. Get a quote at least seven days before your effective date can get you a discount to be deducted over time.
- Alarm system discount. If you have a central alarm system, smoke alarms or a sprinkler system in your home, you’re eligible for this discount.
- Multipolicy discount. Bundle your home and auto with Erie and save between 16% and 25%.
Pros and cons of Auto-Owners
Pros
- Strong reputation. Erie enjoys one of the best reputations in the insurance industry, with top marks in customer service and strong financial ratings. And despite its limited geographic area, it’s one of the largest insurance companies in the US.
- Personalized service. You can get professional advice from the network of independent agents Erie works through.
- Competitive rates. According to online reviews, customers claim Erie’s rates are competitive compared to other insurance providers.
Cons
- Limited availability. Erie home insurance is only available in 12 states, and Washington DC, mostly in the Great Lake and Eastern US.
- Limited online capabilities. You can’t get a homeowners quote online, nor can you file a claim online.
- Spotty claims reviews. Erie has a number of negative claims reviews, particularly with homeowners claims. Many people report fighting claim denials or poor service and communication after a claim.
How to apply for Erie home insurance
You can’t get a homeowners quote online, but you can go to Erie’s website to find a local agent.
- Go to the Erie website.
- Select homeowners insurance from the Get a quote box and enter your ZIP code.
- Enter your address and click Find an agent.
- Browse agents near you and click Select agent.
- Fill out the contact information, along with a brief message, and submit it to the agent.
- An agent will contact you shortly with questions to provide you with a homeowners quote.
What info do I need to apply for home insurance with Erie?
An Erie agent will need the following personal and property information to give you a quote:
- Name and contact info
- Marital status
- Occupation
- Type of house
- Address of home
- Year of home updates
- Age of house Age of roof
- Pets
- Prior insurance company
- Prior claims in the last five years
- Detached structures
- Square footage