The Best Home Insurance in Virginia for 2024

Chubb and Erie are among the best home insurance companies in Virginia, according to our analysis.

We analyzed data from more than 30 insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in Virginia. Below are the insurers that earned 4.5 stars or more in our analysis. Rates are based on a sample homeowner with good credit, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.

Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

» MORE: The best home insurance companies

The best home insurance companies in Virginia

Here's more information about the best homeowners insurance companies in Virginia.

Amica stands out for its customer service and broad range of coverage options. The company has drawn far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

You can customize your policy with extra coverage above your dwelling limit, in case your house costs more to rebuild than expected. You may also want to add coverage for damage from water backups or recovery from identity theft.

» READ MORE: Amica homeowners insurance review

Auto-Owners has been in business for more than a century. Its homeowners policies include all the basics, but you can also add coverage for things like identity theft or the failure of major appliances. Guaranteed replacement cost coverage is another optional add-on, enabling you to rebuild your home after a total loss even if your dwelling coverage limit is too low.

Auto-Owners sells homeowners insurance through independent agents.

» READ MORE: Auto-Owners homeowners insurance review

Chubb caters to owners of high-value homes and draws far fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the NAIC. Its home insurance policies come with some great perks, including extended replacement cost coverage in case it costs more than your dwelling limit to rebuild your home after a disaster.

Chubb policyholders may also be able to take advantage of the company’s HomeScan service, which uses infrared cameras to look for problems behind the walls of your home.

» READ MORE: Chubb homeowners insurance review

Erie offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home. With this coverage, the company will pay to rebuild your home completely after a disaster, even if the amount exceeds your dwelling limit.

Got a car to insure, too? If you bundle your home and auto insurance with Erie, you could get a discount of 16% or more. You may also be able to save if your home has certain safety and security features such as smoke alarms or sprinkler systems.

» READ MORE: Erie homeowners insurance review

Allstate is one of the largest home insurance companies in the U.S. The company offers many ways to customize your policy, including replacement cost coverage for your personal property and coverage for water damage caused by backed-up drains. Other, less common options may include home-sharing coverage and reimbursement for replacing damaged items with energy-efficient versions.

You may also be able to upgrade your policy with the Enhanced Package. One benefit of this package is Deductible Rewards, which takes $100 off your deductible for signing up, plus an additional $100 off for each year you go claim-free. And if you do file a claim, your rates won’t go up.

» READ MORE: Allstate homeowners insurance review

Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners policies through independent agents, with various options for standard and high-value homes. You may be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, personal cyber attacks or certain types of water damage.

Cincinnati may offer you a discount for bundling home and auto insurance, having a newer home or installing a centrally monitored alarm system.

» READ MORE: Cincinnati Insurance homeowners insurance review

Farmers stands out for its lengthy list of discounts, including ones for installing protective systems like fire alarms and sprinklers, not smoking for the past two years, and paying your premium on time.

Add-on options include personal property replacement cost coverage, which will fully reimburse you for the cost of replacing a stolen, damaged or destroyed item. You may also want to buy water backup coverage, which applies if sewer lines or sump pumps back up and damage your home.

» READ MORE: Farmers homeowners insurance review

The Hanover gives homeowners lots of choices. You can opt for an auto/home package, a policy designed for high-value homes or a standalone policy for a standard house. You can further customize your policy with a range of options such as guaranteed replacement cost coverage, which will pay as much as it takes to rebuild your home after a disaster.

The Hanover sells policies exclusively through local independent agents. That means online quotes aren’t available, but you can get personal service to help you choose the right coverage.

» READ MORE: Hanover homeowners insurance review

We like Nationwide for its wide variety of coverage options. For example, its standard homeowners insurance policy generally includes ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay to bring your home up to current building codes after a covered claim. You can add other coverage for things like identity theft and damage from backed-up sewers and drains.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.

» READ MORE: Nationwide homeowners insurance review

Openly offers homeowners insurance with generous coverage. Its policies include guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home, which means the company will pay whatever it takes to rebuild your home if it’s destroyed.

Unlike many other insurers, Openly doesn’t have dog breed restrictions that could affect your ability to get liability coverage. It may also be a good bet for homeowners with collections of jewelry or other valuables, with up to $100,000 of blanket coverage available for these items.

» READ MORE: Openly homeowners insurance review

As America’s largest home insurer, State Farm stands out for its long list of coverage options. Its policies generally include extra dwelling coverage in case it costs more than expected to rebuild your home after a covered disaster. You may also be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, damage from backed-up drains and personal injury liability.

State Farm offers a free Ting device as a perk for home insurance policyholders. Ting is a smart plug that monitors your home’s electrical network to help prevent fires.

» READ MORE: State Farm homeowners insurance review

Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments, and learn about insurance basics.

Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.

» READ MORE: Travelers homeowners insurance review

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.

» READ MORE: USAA homeowners insurance review

How much does homeowners insurance cost in Virginia?

The average annual cost of home insurance in Virginia is $1,445. That’s 25% less than the national average of $1,915.

In most U.S. states, including Virginia, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score. 

In Virginia, those with poor credit pay an average of $2,905 per year for homeowners insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s more than twice what those with good credit pay.

» MORE: Does your credit score affect home insurance rates?

Average cost of homeowners insurance in Virginia by city

How much you pay for home insurance in Virginia will depend on your ZIP code. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Richmond is about $1,475 a year, while homeowners in Virginia Beach pay an average of $2,425 per year.

» MORE: What’s the average cost of homeowners insurance?

The cheapest home insurance in Virginia

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates below the Virginia average of $1,445.

» MORE: The cheapest homeowners insurance

Common risks for Virginia homeowners

Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating home insurance options in Virginia.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Wind and water are two major causes of hurricane-related damage. Standard policies often cover wind damage but may have a separate deductible for wind claims. (A homeowners deductible is the part of a claim you’re responsible for.)

Say you have a $1,000 deductible for most claims but a 2% deductible for wind claims. If your home has $250,000 of dwelling coverage and a tropical storm causes wind damage, you’ll be responsible for the first $5,000 of the claim.

You’ll typically need separate flood insurance to be covered for damage caused by storm surge and flooding. Read on for more details.

Flooding

A standard homeowners policy won’t cover damage from floods, surface water or storm surges, so you may want to consider additional coverage.

To assess your flood risk, look up your address on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps. However, FEMA’s maps don’t always capture all types of flood risk, so you may also want to check the website of the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which models climate risks. Enter your address in the top left corner to see your home’s flood risk rating on a scale of 1 to 10.

» MORE: How to choose the best flood insurance

Tornadoes

As long as you have wind coverage in your homeowners policy, you have coverage for tornadoes. Most standard policies include wind coverage as long as you don’t live in a high-risk coastal location.

Make sure you have enough dwelling coverage to pay for full reconstruction of your house. (Dwelling coverage is the part of your policy that pays for damage to the structure of your home.) Your insurance agent can help you choose the right limit.

» MORE: Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?

Winter weather

A standard homeowners policy covers many causes of winter damage to a house, such as burst pipes and fallen trees. However, it won’t cover flood damage from melting snow; for that you’ll need flood insurance.

» MORE: Home insurance calculator: Estimate your rate

Virginia insurance department

The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance oversees the insurance industry in Virginia. Through the Bureau’s website, you can look up an agent’s license or file a complaint about your insurance company. You can reach the agency through its toll-free helpline at 877-310-6560.