Florida’s homeowners insurance market has faced some turbulence in recent years. Many homeowners find it increasingly difficult to get coverage for their homes, much less at an affordable rate. Fortunately, Tampa residents still have options.
Travelers, Security First Insurance, and American Integrity Insurance of Florida are the cheapest home insurance companies in the city. These companies offer home insurance at a significantly lower rate than the average cost of home insurance in Tampa, which is $6,066 per year for a $300,000 policy with a $1,000 deductible.
It’s important to compare all your options, so keep reading to learn more about the best companies for homeowners insurance in Tampa, Florida.
Tampa’s weather risks, like hurricanes and the high likelihood of flooding, may require homeowners to purchase flood insurance.
On average, home insurance in Tampa costs $6,104 yearly for a $300,000 policy with a $500 deductible.
A high population density and Florida’s precarious insurance market contribute to Tampa’s high home insurance costs.
Best home insurance companies in Tampa
Although some home insurance companies no longer provide new policies in Florida, many quality insurers still serve homeowners in Tampa. The right policy for you won’t be the same as your neighbor’s, so it’s important to evaluate your individual situation to find the best home insurance company for you.
The table below shows the best companies for home insurance in Tampa and their premiums with a $300,000 policy.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Cheapest rates: Travelers
Best insurer for flood insurance: Nationwide
Best insurer for senior homeowners: Security First Insurance
Security First Insurance, based in Florida, offers unique policy discounts. People 65 years and older account for 13.4% of Tampa residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.5 If you’re 55 or older, you can snag a senior discount on your Security First Insurance policy.
Coverage offerings catered to Florida residents
Wide array of discounts
No home and auto bundling discount
No financial stability rating from AM Best
Best insurer for military personnel: Armed Forces Insurance Exchange
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay employs more than 15,000 military and civilian personnel.6 If you’re an active-duty military member, veteran, or family member of one, look into home insurance by Armed Forces Insurance Exchange for coverage that aligns with your unique needs.
Flood and earthquake insurance add-ons available
Hurricane and flood mitigation discounts
Requires military affiliation to apply
AM Best withdrew its financial strength rating7
Cheapest home insurance in Tampa
The cheapest homeowners insurance company in Tampa is Travelers, offering coverage at $1,402 per year, or $117 per month. The table below illustrates the average annual premium for several popular insurance companies in Tampa.
Cost of homeowners insurance in Tampa
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Tampa is $6,085 per year. But the cost of your policy depends on your home’s age, value, and location. For example, an older home with a higher replacement cost in a high-risk area will likely have increased home insurance premiums.
Cost of homeowners insurance by dwelling coverage amount
Many different types of homeowners insurance coverage are available. Homeowners typically focus on basic (HO-1), broad (HO-2), and special (HO-3) form coverage; these policies cover common perils that can damage your dwelling (such as your home’s foundation and structure). The more it costs to replace your dwelling, the more coverage you require, leading to higher premiums.
Here’s the average annual cost of home insurance for varying coverage limits in Florida.
Cost of homeowners insurance by deductible
A deductible is the amount you must pay before your insurance company pays out your home insurance claim. Choosing a lower deductible leads to higher premiums, and a higher deductible means lower premiums. While a higher deductible may save you money month to month, you should be financially able to pay out the deductible in case of a claim.
Take a look at the annual cost of a policy for different deductible amounts on a $300,000 policy in Tampa.
How to get cheap homeowners insurance in Tampa
With rising prices in Tampa, finding affordable home insurance can be challenging. Fortunately, you have ways to score cheaper rates on your coverage:
Florida homeowners insurance rates by city
Different cities and ZIP codes within a city yield different home insurance quotes. Natural disasters, a high population density, and increased insurance fraud activity make homes in Tampa particularly risky to insure.8 As a result, homeowners in this area will likely pay higher insurance costs.
Take a look at the table below for the average annual premium of a $300,000 policy in various cities in Florida.
How much homeowners insurance do you need in Tampa?
The state of Florida doesn’t require you to carry homeowners insurance. But if you have a mortgage on your house, your lender will likely require you to purchase an insurance policy. Carrying homeowners insurance is still a good idea even if you’ve paid off your loan.
The amount you need in homeowners insurance depends on your home’s replacement value, the value of your personal belongings, assets, and additional living needs, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Before purchasing a policy, you should understand what your home insurance policy covers. An insurance agent can work with you to determine a coverage amount that fits your needs.
What are some of the biggest risks when owning a home in Tampa?
Owning a home in Tampa poses several risks.
Tampa homeowners insurance FAQs
Buying home insurance in Tampa can be difficult and expensive. Here’s some additional information to help guide your search.
How much is home insurance in Tampa?
Home insurance in Tampa costs an average of $6,066 annually for a policy with a $1,000 deductible. With a $500 deductible, homeowners pay an average of $6,104 annually for coverage.
Tampa homes are particularly vulnerable to flooding, with 45.5% of homes at risk.11 Flooding isn’t included in standard home insurance, so homeowners in these areas should consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy.
Which company has the cheapest homeowners insurance in Tampa?
Travelers, Security First Insurance, and American Integrity Insurance of Florida offer the cheapest rates for home insurance in Tampa. For a $300,000 policy, their annual rates average $1,402, $2,089, and $2,289, respectively.
Does Tampa require homeowners insurance?
No. Homeowners insurance isn’t a legal requirement in Tampa. But your mortgage company or lender will probably require you to have it. Home insurance can be a valuable protection even if you’ve paid off your loan because your home may be your largest asset. It can protect you from financial ruin in the event of a natural disaster, protect your valuables, and help you repair your home after a covered event.
Why is homeowners insurance so high in Florida?
Florida has the highest home insurance rates in the country for a few reasons. One is that many insurers are pulling out of the state or sending non-renewal notices because of financial risks and rampant fraudulent practices.8 Another is that much of the state is vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, like hurricanes. Insurance companies have to offset the financial risk by charging more. Lastly, much of the state is at a high risk of flooding.11 Florida saw two-thirds of all NFIP claims in 2023.
These factors make Florida homes very risky to insure, so homeowners face high premiums.