Erie home insurance is a type of property insurance that covers your home and personal belongings from damage or loss caused by natural disasters, theft, vandalism, fire, and other perils. They also provide liability coverage if someone gets injured on your property or sues you for damages.
Erie home insurance is one of the cheapest home insurance companies in the U.S., according to ConsumerAffairs and Policygenius. They offer a range of coverage options and discounts that can help you save money and protect your home better.
Coverage Options
Erie Home Insurance offers a base policy that provides more comprehensive coverage than many other companies(1). The base policy includes:
- Dwelling coverage: This covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered loss, such as fire, wind, hail, or water damage.
- Personal property coverage: This covers the cost of replacing your personal belongings, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, or appliances, after a covered loss.
- Liability coverage: This covers the legal expenses and damages if you are sued for injuring someone or damaging their property.
- Medical payments coverage: This covers the medical bills of someone who gets injured on your property, regardless of who is at fault.
- Additional living expenses coverage: This covers the extra costs of living elsewhere, such as hotel bills or food expenses, if your home is uninhabitable due to a covered loss.
Erie home insurance optional coverages
In addition to the base policy, Erie home insurance offers optional coverages to add to your policy for extra protection. Some of the optional coverages are:
- Guaranteed replacement cost coverage: This covers the full cost of rebuilding your home after a covered loss, regardless of the policy limit or depreciation. This means you will not have to pay anything out of pocket if your home is destroyed.
- Personal articles policy: This covers the loss or damage of your valuable items, such as jewelry, art, or collectibles. You can choose the amount and type of coverage for each item.
- Identity theft recovery coverage: This covers the expenses related to restoring your identity if it is stolen or compromised. This includes legal fees, credit reports, lost wages, and more.
- Service line protection: This covers the repair or replacement of damaged underground service lines, such as water, sewer, gas, or electric lines. This can save you thousands of dollars in case of a leak or break.
- Water backup and sump overflow coverage: This covers the damage caused by water backing up from drains or sewers or overflowing from sump pumps. This can protect you from costly water damage and mold issues.
| Bundle | Service Line Coverage | Equipment Breakdown Coverage | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Not included | Not included | $1,050 |
| Plus | Up to $10,000 | Not included | $1,240 |
| Select | Up to $10,000 | Up to $50,000 | $1,400 |
Erie Homeowners Insurance Discounts
Discounts can lower your premium and make your policy more affordable. Some of the Erie home insurance discounts are:
- Multi-policy discount: This applies if you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie. You can save up to 25% on your premium depending on your state.
- Safety device discount: This applies if you have smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, or security systems in your home. Depending on your state, you can save up to 5% on your premium.
- Advance quote discount: This applies if you get a quote from Erie at least seven days before your policy effective date. You can save up to 5% on your premium depending on your state.
- Claims-free discount: This applies if you have no claims or few claims in the past. You can save up to 20% on your premium depending on your state.
Erie Homeowners Insurance Pros and Cons
Erie Home Insurance Pros
- Strong Financial Stability: Erie consistently receives high financial strength ratings from A.M. Best (A+ Superior), indicating a strong ability to pay out claims.
- Excellent Customer Satisfaction: Erie often ranks highly in customer satisfaction surveys conducted by J.D. Power, particularly for claims satisfaction.
- Fewer Complaints: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index shows that Erie receives fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Erie’s standard homeowners policies often include more coverage than competitors, potentially including guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the dwelling at no extra charge (though this may vary by state). This can pay the full cost to rebuild your home, even if it exceeds your policy limits.
- Affordable Rates: Many reviews and analyses indicate that Erie’s home insurance rates are often lower than the national average.
- Local Agents: Erie operates through a network of independent agents, which can provide personalized service.
- Unique Coverage Options: Erie offers some unique add-ons like service line protection and identity recovery. Their standard policies may also include coverage for things others charge extra for, like loss of belongings and even pet injuries due to a covered accident.
Erie Home Insurance Cons
- Limited Availability: Erie is only available in a limited number of states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as Washington, D.C.).
- No Online Quotes: You typically need to contact an agent to get a quote, as online quotes are not usually available.
- Limited Online Policy Management: Erie may not offer the same level of online policy management and claims filing as some larger, national companies. Some customers have noted the website and app could be more user-friendly for these tasks.
- No mobile app: for managing home insurance policies
- Mixed Customer Reviews: While many customers praise Erie’s service, some online reviews mention issues with claims handling, policy management, and communication. It’s important to note that individual experiences can vary.
- Fewer Discounts: Erie may not offer as many discount options compared to some other insurance companies.
Erie home insurance reviews
Erie Home Insurance has a high customer satisfaction rating and a low complaint ratio compared to other home-owner insurance companies. According to J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study, Erie scored 839 out of 1,000 points in customer satisfaction, ranking second among 23 companies. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Erie had a complaint ratio of 0.20 in 20232, which is much lower than the national average of 1.00. See also USAA Home Insurance Reviews, Costco homeowners insurance, Citizens insurance reviews
Psitive Reviews
Here are some Positive customer testimonials:
- I have had Erie for over 20 years for both auto and homeowners insurance. They have always been fair with me when I had claims and their rates are very reasonable.
- Erie has been great to work with. They have always been responsive and helpful when I had questions or needed to file a claim. Their rates are competitive and their coverage is comprehensive
- Really nice people. Prompt. Inexpensive. Willing to help you however they can. It was only a slight increase to my policy to add special. For example, Coins, Stamps, etc… Thankfully, I have not needed to file a claim.
- Erie is the best home insurance company I have ever dealt with. They are easy to reach, friendly, and professional. They handled my claim quickly and efficiently. I highly recommend them.
- Disastrous house fire required major cleaning and reconstruction, as well as contents cleaning. This is a miserable experience, and we were unprepared. How to clean up the mess? How to salvage the contents And 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 thru the process, including arranging alternative accommodation. They paid nearly all the cost. Interesting fact: Erie paid the estimated cost to replace all our stuff — not the depreciated value, but the cost (not always including sales tax) of buying new. You do not think about this until you actually have to do it.
- Erie agents have been very helpful when I need to file a claim for homeowners or for my auto insurance. They listen to my concerns and had the adjuster to come out immediately. Assured that the rental car was available when needed. My roof was damaged. The adjuster was thorough in explaining what would need to be done. Allowed me to select the company I wanted to use. They are helpful and most of all you are made to feel guilty for filing a claim. I recommend them to my friends and family.
- Originally I chose Erie because of their coverage and price and I continue to use them because of their service and their price. Additionally, they beat all of the other companies when I compared prices. Plus their service is great. I also like their local agent.
Negative Reviews and Complaints
- We had Erie Insurance since 1976 with no claims, either Home Owner Insurance or Car Insurance. We had roof damage recently and the adjuster that was sent out only wants to cover us for 1/2 of a roof. How do we match up the shingles on the other half? This company is devaluating our house. Bad Company. Would not recommend them to anyone.
- Have had claim in 45 days and have not been paid full replacement cost for personnel….Property damaged. Cannot reach adjuster and she does not return my calls. Adjuster had poor attitude. Took surveys–does not matter. I am sure this ERIE insurance co. enjoyed my payments —But I feel I have been shorted money, and they have poor adjusters with poor attitudes.
- Erie Insurance is the worst company to deal with when you claim, the adjuster Danika and her supervisor Mr. ** both trying to rip me off and making me pay additional $6000 for my roof repairing. They try to do their best when you claim them – they also overcharged me and collected the entire amount of insurance. Stay away from.
- We had a huge storm come through with hail, tornados, etc. House was pounded. Roof had a hail damage and about a dozen shingles torn off. The house to the left was missing none. Got a new roof. House to the right of me missing none. Got a new roof. I got the worst of it due to how my house sets, I got DENIED. Good bye Erie. Incredibly bad.
- Avoid Erie Insurance. They will actively work towards denying your legitimate claims. I have a home auto bundle for the last 4 years and had a wind event in Feb 2020 due to which I had to file a claim for my roof. It’s been 8 months I have been going back and forth to resolve my claim. They just will not pay my legitimate claim. Horrible insurance company.
- I have been a loyal customer for 20+ years and put in my first claim for roof damage. I was treated condescendingly and chauvinistically. They only paid for half of the roof replacement and told me that I only need to get half replaced even though 3 contractors said the whole roof was damaged and needed to be replaced. I would call customer service and they would get the adjustor or his manager on the other line and when they would patch me over to them they would both send me directly to their email. I was told in an email that “I already discussed this with your husband when I did the estimate.” Wow. Very disappointing as I am the home owner and policy holder. I am in the process of changing my home and car insurances due to this treatment.
- USAA Home Insurance complaints
Overall: Is Erie home insurance good?
Erie home insurance is generally considered a good option for homeowners in the 12 states and Washington, D.C. where it is available. Erie home insurance appears to be a strong contender for homeowners in its service areas, particularly for those who value good customer service, comprehensive coverage, and potentially lower rates. The company’s strong financial standing and reputation for handling claims well are also significant advantages. However, its limited availability and less robust online services might be drawbacks for some. To determine if Erie home insurance is good for you, consider the following:
- Availability: Do you live in one of the states where Erie offers coverage?
- Coverage Needs: Does Erie’s standard coverage meet your needs, or do you require many specific add-ons?
- Price Sensitivity: Getting a quote from Erie and comparing it to other insurers in your area is crucial.
- Service Preference: Do you prefer working with a local agent, or do you prioritize online convenience?
- Reviews in Your Area: Look for reviews specific to your state or region to get a better sense of the local customer experience.
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