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Having a pitbull can affect homeonwers insurance, with insurance companies raising rates or refusing to insure your dog. Even though your dog is like a family member, dog accidents can still happen and leave you with huge out-of-pocket costs.
Your pitbull might damage your neighbour's property or cause bodily injuries to a guest in your home. Dog bites can be very costly for homeowners insurance provides, sometimes even millions of dollars. That's why the average cost of a claim is high.
It's important to let your homeowners insurance company know you have a dog, however (Read More:Do I have to add my dog to my homeowners insurance?). If you don't, you may not be covered in the event you need to file a liability claim involving your dog.
To find home insurance with a pitbull, try our free tool to compare home insurance rates.
What You Should Know
- It can be hard to find home insurance that covers pitbulls due to breed restrictions
- Some states do not allow homeowners insurance dog breed restrictions
- You may have to shop around to find homeowners insurance that allows pitbulls
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Homeowners Insurance and Pitbulls: How Pitbulls Affect Insurance
Pit bull homeowners insurance is harder to come by than regular homeowners insurance. Your pit bull may be a sweet dog and unlikely to bite anyone, but your homeowners insurance company may have different thoughts.
Unfortunately, some home insurance companies have breed restrictions on certain dog breeds they deem a higher risk for a liability claim from a dog bite.
Because of breed restrictions, pit bull owners may have difficulty finding a policy that will cover their dog at a reasonable rate. When looking for an insurance company, be sure to shop around. Some companies refuse to cover pitbulls or may charge a higher insurance rate.
The best way to find a company that will cover your pit bull at a reasonable rate is to shop around and get quotes from multiple homeowners insurance companies. It also helps if you live in a state that bans breed discrimination.
| State | Monthly Cost | Breed Discrimination | Cost to Add Dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $120 | Allowed | $40 |
| Alaska | $90 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| Arizona | $95 | Allowed | $25 |
| Arkansas | $100 | Allowed | $35 |
| California | $110 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| Colorado | $105 | Allowed | $30 |
| Connecticut | $130 | Not Allowed | $40 |
| Delaware | $115 | Allowed | $35 |
| Florida | $150 | Allowed | $50 |
| Georgia | $115 | Allowed | $40 |
| Hawaii | $125 | Allowed | $40 |
| Idaho | $85 | Allowed | $30 |
| Illinois | $110 | Allowed | $30 |
| Indiana | $100 | Allowed | $35 |
| Iowa | $90 | Allowed | $30 |
| Kansas | $105 | Allowed | $35 |
| Kentucky | $95 | Allowed | $30 |
| Louisiana | $140 | Allowed | $50 |
| Maine | $80 | Not Allowed | $25 |
| Maryland | $120 | Not Allowed | $40 |
| Massachusetts | $130 | Not Allowed | $40 |
| Michigan | $95 | Allowed | $35 |
| Minnesota | $110 | Allowed | $30 |
| Mississippi | $110 | Allowed | $40 |
| Missouri | $100 | Allowed | $30 |
| Montana | $90 | Allowed | $30 |
| Nebraska | $95 | Allowed | $30 |
| Nevada | $105 | Allowed | $25 |
| New Hampshire | $95 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| New Jersey | $115 | Not Allowed | $40 |
| New Mexico | $100 | Allowed | $35 |
| New York | $120 | Not Allowed | $40 |
| North Carolina | $110 | Allowed | $40 |
| North Dakota | $85 | Allowed | $25 |
| Ohio | $95 | Allowed | $30 |
| Oklahoma | $130 | Allowed | $45 |
| Oregon | $90 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| Pennsylvania | $105 | Allowed | $35 |
| Rhode Island | $115 | Not Allowed | $35 |
| South Carolina | $110 | Allowed | $40 |
| South Dakota | $85 | Allowed | $25 |
| Tennessee | $105 | Allowed | $35 |
| Texas | $140 | Allowed | $50 |
| Utah | $85 | Allowed | $25 |
| Vermont | $90 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| Virginia | $100 | Not Allowed | $30 |
| Washington | $95 | Not Allowed | $25 |
| West Virginia | $90 | Allowed | $30 |
| Wisconsin | $90 | Allowed | $30 |
| Wyoming | $85 | Allowed | $25 |
Some states will make it easier on you with pitbulls and homeowners insurance by banning breed discrimination.
Read More: Top 10 States With the Happiest and Least Happy Homeowners Insurance Policyholders
As well, some companies may make exceptions to breeds they normally restrict.
A risk some pit bull owners take is excluding their pit bull from coverage. This means if the dog bites someone, their homeowners insurance will not cover it so the owner is responsible for paying all associated expenses out of pocket.
While some homeowners insurance companies allow policyholders to do this, it can be very risky and could put you in a difficult financial situation as dog bites can be very pricey.
When you find an insurance company that will cover your pit bull, you should expect a representative from the company to visit your house to evaluate your dog.
Companies that don’t have specific breed restrictions often insure dogs based on the case rather than the breed. The company may need to have evidence that the pit bull does not express aggressive behavior or have any history of aggression or biting, whether you are buying home or renters dog insurance.
If you own a dog, always be sure to disclose that information with your homeowners insurance company. If you don't discose that you need aggressive dog insurance, you could risk being dropped by your homeowners insurance company.
Home Insurance Companies that Cover Pitbulls
You may have to jump through a few hoops to find homeowners insurance that covers pitbulls. While a lot of companies restrict coverage based on the breed, there are a number of companies out there that’ll provide you insurance coverage with your pit bull, and they’re sure to get your tail wagging.
Based on reviews from Clearsurance users about their insurance company discussing dog breed restrictions, customers have not experienced breed restrictions by the following companies:
- State Farm
- Amica
- Farmers
- USAA
State Farm was the most talked about company that covers pit bulls. The company follows the motto “It’s not the breed, it’s the bite,” recognizing that any breed of dog may bite and breed is not a good indicator to insure by.
One reviewer wrote, “I have always been happy with State Farm as my homeowner's insurance company. They have great service and do not discriminate against "aggressive" dog breeds, like pitbulls”
Another user had a good experience with Farmers insuring their bully breed. The user wrote, “As we own a bully breed, this provides us with the most comprehensive coverage for our needs. We have not had to use claim services, but feel secure that we have the option to feel a sense of security if we needed to use it.”
According to reviews, Liberty Mutual is another company that may cover your pit bull but may charge you a higher rate.
Home Insurance Companies that Don't Cover Pitbulls
There are also a few homeowners insurance companies that reviewers had difficulty getting coverage for their pit bull from. Those companies include American Family, Horace Mann, Progressive and The Hartford.
One Clearsurance user wrote a Progressive review saying, “Progressive has a no dangerous breed policy. Once they found out that I had a Pittbull, they gave me 30 days to find another policy - because they had no problem cancelling me immediately. My dogs are harmless and lovers. It's disappointing to see a company be so discriminatory. I've switched to Statefarm now, and their company motto is: "It's not the breed, it's the bite!" Statefarm does not discriminate against my dogs, nor do I get punished as their owner before they commit any sort of trouble.”
Do you have pitbull homeowners insurance? Write an insurance review of your experience with the company (whether it was good or bad) to help other pit bull owners find a company.
Dogs Banned by Insurance Companies
When you own a dog, your liability coverage on your homeowners insurance policy may cover dog-related injuries or damage caused by your dog, for example if it bites someone. But pit bull owners know that’s unfortunately not the case for pitbulls and house insurance.
Some homeowners insurance companies restrict certain dog breeds from coverage because they consider them a higher risk to cause a liability claim. The average cost of a dog bite claim is more than $37,000.
Read More: Homeowners Insurance Claim Check Questions
While it may not seem fair, insurance companies that discriminate by breed typically have a blacklist of breeds they won’t cover. All companies make their own blacklist of breeds based on what they consider high risk.
Pit bulls are among the most common breeds discriminated against and banned from coverage by homeowners insurance companies. The reason the ban on bully breed insurance goes back to the breed’s history of being used in dogfighting and the frequency of improper training practices that leads to biting.
It's important to note that "pit bulls" aren't actually a breed. It is an informal term used to describe a group of breeds.
These breeds were sometimes used in dogfighting. Also, pit bulls are not the only breed often blacklisted. Other common breeds blacklisted by insurance companies include rottweilers, great danes, huskies, Presa Canarios, chow chows, German shepherds and wolf hybrids.
Often, dogs that are mixed breeds with any of these will also be seen as high risk by some insurance companies.
Finding the Best Homeowners Insurance that Covers Pitbulls
For most dog owners, a homeowners or renters insurance policy provides coverage against unwanted actions, however, some insurance companies deny coverage specifically to pit bull owners or set up restrictions.
However, while finding an insurance policy with a pittie is more difficult, it’s not impossible.
Choosing the right company and understanding how home insurance coverage works will help you find the right fit for you and your pitbull (Learn More: A Practical Guide for Understanding Homeowners Insurance).
Do your research and get quotes from multiple companies with our free tool to find one that will cover your pit bull at a reasonable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get homeowners insurance if I own a pitbull?
Yes, you can still get homeowners insurance with pitbulls, but you may not be able to include your pitbull on your home insurance policy, which means you won't be covered for dog bites.
What dog breeds affect homeowners insurance?
Dog breeds that owners may find hard to insure or that that owners may have to pay extra for dangerous dog breeds insurance include bully breeds, rottweilers, great danes, huskies, Presa Canarios, chow chows, German shepherds and wolf hybrids.
Does having a pitbull raise homeowners insurance?
Yes, adding any dog onto your home insurance policy will raise your monthly payments.
While increased rates are one of the most common consumer homeowners insurance complaints, customers can usually lower rates by comparison shopping. Enter your ZIP in our free tool to find dog-friendly homeowners insurance at an affordable price today.
What homeowners insurance companies do not discriminate by dog breed?
Popular home insurance companies that allow pit bulls in most cases are State Farm, Amica, Farmers, and USAA.
Does Farm Bureau have dog breed restrictions?
Farm Bureau may have breed restictions in some states, but it isn't known for having a dog breeds insurance blacklist.
Does Geico homeowners insurance cover pitbulls?
Geico may insure some pitbulls, but it does have Geico renters insurance and home insurance dog restrictions that can make insuring a pitbull more difficult in some states.
Are there Liberty Mutual homeowners insurance dog breed restrictions?
Yes, like most companies, Liberty Mutual has dog breed restrictions. While it still offers pitbull home insurance to some customers, it charges high rates.
What states are pitbulls illegal in?
A few states with cities and counties that have pitbull bans or strict regulations include: Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Arkansas, Michigan, Louisiana, and Kentucky.
Does renters insurance cover dog bites?
Pitbull renters insurance works similarly to home insurance. Your pitbull must be on your renters policy for dog bites to be covered. Read our practical guide for understanding renters insurance to learn more about how renters insurance works.
What is the best pet insurance for pitbulls?
In addition to home insurance on your dog, you may also want to consider pet insurance for pitbulls to pay for any future medical needs.
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The content on this site is offered only as a public service to the web community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an insurance company or an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the insurance company or any individual attorney.