If you currently have different insurance providers for homeowners/renters insurance and auto insurance, you might be overpaying.
That’s because most insurance providers will offer you a nice bundling discount if you purchase both your home and auto policies through them. Even companies many consider to be auto-only offer home and auto bundles (think GEICO).
So how big are the discounts? Is bundling always worth it? Which providers offer the best deals?
Here’s my home and auto insurance bundle comparison.
Best Home and Auto Insurance Bundles Overview
Best for Hybrid-Electric Car Owners
Best for Discounts
Best for Loyal Policyholders: Progressive
Best for Fast Claims Process: State Farm
Best for Comparing Home and Auto Bundles: Policygenius
Liberty Mutual
Best for: Hybrid-electric car owners
Bundle discount: Up to 30%
Liberty Mutual’s premium rates start out notoriously high but tend to quickly fall within a competitive range once you chisel away at them with their laundry list of discounts. Member of a fraternity or sorority? Safe driver? Drive a hybrid or electric vehicle? Discount, discount, discount.
That last one is worth highlighting because, to the extent of my nerdy insurance knowledge, Liberty Mutual is the only insurance provider that offers a discount for driving a “green” car. It seems like an apparent discount, but why would your provider care how many MPG you get? For that reason, Liberty Mutual deserves kudos.
Regarding their bundle options, Liberty Mutual offers them but doesn’t broadcast how much you’ll save. I called a few agents and averaged their claims to around 30%. That’s pretty darn high (the industry’s highest, in fact), but I don’t think it’s unrealistic given Liberty Mutual’s penchant for generous discounts.
Allstate
Best for: Long discount list
Bundle discount: Up to 25%
Allstate is your all-in-one one-stop shop for insurance. Heck, the number of discounts, perks, and features they offer customers probably couldn’t fit onto a CVS Pharmacy receipt.
But to me, the one-perk-to-rule-them-all is their Claims Satisfaction Guarantee. Insurance companies tend to lure customers in with low premiums and slick technology, but the romance quickly fades during the tedious, painful claims process. With Allstate, if you’re dissatisfied with the process of filing your insurance claim, they’ll comp your six-month premium. Bundle-wise, Allstate offers discounts of up to 25% plus an online quote wizard just for bundles.
Progressive
Bundle discount: Customers save 12% on average
Progressive heavily advertises its multi-policy discounts, which apply when you combine any of its products. That means you can bundle auto and home, whether that home is a single-family house, a condo, or a rental unit.
But Progressive’s bundling doesn’t end there. You’ll also get discounts for bundling insurance on your RV, boat, motorcycle, and more. Whatever’s parked in your driveway is likely covered by Progressive.
As you add on policies later, you’ll continue to enjoy discounts for bundling. Progressive will apply your discount to any new policies you set up.
In addition to multi-policy discounts, Progressive also issues deals for multiple cars, as well as loyalty discounts that even apply to the time you were with your previous insurer. This gives you an extra incentive to switch from a previous insurer, especially if they’re giving you a discount for being a longtime customer.
State Farm
Best for: Fast claims process
Bundle discount: Up to $854
State Farm is another “big box store” provider offering all kinds of insurance and discounts. What makes them stand out are their below-average renter’s insurance premiums and huge discounts for young/safe drivers.
Likely in an effort to attract younger buyers, State Farm’s renter’s insurance rates compete even with online-only providers. Bundle-wise, State Farm claims that you can save up to $854 on a home and auto bundle. They do disclaim, however, that this number reflects how much new po
policyholders saved when switching in 2018, not necessarily how much State Farm discounts their own bundles. Still, the savings surely exist, and you can find out how much by calling an insurance agent.
Learn more about State Farm or read our full review.
Policygenius
Best for: Automatically comparing home and auto bundles
Bundle discount: Varies by lender
Policygenius, an insurance marketplace, makes finding the best home and auto insurance bundles easier than ever. After going through Policygenius’s quick application, a handful of lenders will be presented to you with rates and terms laid out in easy-to-read language.
Policygenius partners with a large number of reputable, big-name lenders, so there’s a little something for everyone. Plus, getting quotes through Policygenius will never affect your credit. And, when you’re ready to apply through a direct lender, Policygenius is there to help walk you through the process.
Learn more about Policygenius or read our full review.
How I Came Up with This List
When creating this list I looked at which insurers offer bundles to begin with, how much their potential savings are, and also the reputation of the insurance company.
Potential Savings
I focused on companies that offer at least one of the following:
- A generous expected bundle discount.
- A bundle-exclusive perk.
- Low premiums to begin with.
Good Reputation
I only included insurance providers with an A.M. Best rating of Excellent or higher.
Should I Bundle Home and Auto Insurance?
While it may seem like a no-brainer, bundling home and auto doesn’t make sense in every case. In fact, some “bundles” aren’t even real bundles.
Here are the pros and cons of bundling home and auto together.
Benefits of Bundling Insurance
It’s (Often) Cheaper
As mentioned, you can save up to 25% in a bundle versus paying for your home and auto separately. Allstate, known for having generous multiple-policy discounts, is currently offering up to 10% off of auto and a whopping 25% off of home when bundled together
It Simplifies Things
Bundles typically enable you to manage both your home and auto policies through the same provider. Plus, they let you see all of your insurance coverage at a glance from a single web portal, like Liberty Mutual’s Service.
It Strengthens Your Relationship with Your Provider
Bundles make you a more valued customer. Your provider may offer you extra discounts, perks, and better service. Plus, they’ll probably fight harder to keep your business (more on that later).
But, like the most recent Star Wars flick, home and auto bundles aren’t as flawless as the glitzy marketing would have you believe.
Here are some lesser-known drawbacks to bundling home and auto.
Drawbacks of Bundling Insurance
It’s Not Always Cheaper
Discounted” doesn’t always mean “best deal.” A bundle may still be more expensive than purchasing multiple policies. If you drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year, for example, you may save much more than a bundle discount by insuring with a pay-per-mile provider like Metromile.
Bundles Are Subject to Creeping Rates
A few reasons why your provider would hike up your rates are: having an accident, moving into a less safe neighborhood, driving a fancier car, and loyalty (yes, If you stick around, your insurer might assume you can’t be bothered to shop around for a better deal, so they might raise your premiums by up to 15%).
Some “Bundles” Aren’t Even Real Bundles
When you read the fine print, you may discover that the auto or home coverage in your “bundle” is given to an affiliate of your provider. This means you may still have the hassle of dealing with two separate insurance companies: filing claims through two apps, calling two agents, etc.