Kin Home Insurance Review 2024
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Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Kin
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
About Kin home insurance
Kin homeowners insurance earned 3 out of 5 stars for overall performance. Founded in 2016, Kin Insurance seeks to lower costs for high-risk homes by relying on technology and selling directly to consumers instead of through agents. Its home insurance is currently available in only a handful of states, but it's worth considering if you live in one of them.
Where Kin stands out
User-friendly website. You can get quotes, file claims and find information without having to work with an agent, though personalized assistance is available as well.
Private flood insurance option. Kin offers private flood insurance with more generous coverage limits and shorter waiting periods than policies from the federal government.
Where Kin falls short
Availability. The company's limited reach is the biggest drawback, as most Americans don't live in a state where they can buy a Kin policy.
Bundling. Because Kin doesn’t offer auto, boat or many other types of insurance, you’ll need to seek that coverage elsewhere.
State availability
Kin currently offers new homeowners policies in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Kin home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
---|---|
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. | |
Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. | |
Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. | |
Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. | |
Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. | |
Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to the basic coverage above, Kin may also offer:
Replacement cost coverage for personal property. Many insurance companies cover your belongings on an “actual cash value” basis unless you choose otherwise. For example, if a fire destroys your 15-year-old sofa and you have actual cash value coverage, your insurer will pay out only enough to buy another 15-year-old sofa. With replacement cost coverage, you’d receive enough money to buy a brand-new sofa.
Ordinance or law coverage. This pays expenses associated with rebuilding your home to comply with the latest building codes.
Extended dwelling coverage. If you select this option, Kin will pay more than your dwelling coverage limit if rebuilding your home after a disaster costs more than expected.
Identity fraud insurance. This coverage pays for fees and lost income associated with recovering your identity.
Animal liability coverage. If your dog bites someone outside your household, many insurance companies would pay for ensuing medical or legal expenses as part of their standard liability coverage. But with Kin, you have to add this coverage to your policy as an endorsement if you need it.
Water backup coverage. This type of insurance pays for damage due to backed-up drains or sump pump failures.
Hurricane screen enclosure coverage. This endorsement provides coverage for the frame of a swimming pool’s screen enclosure.
Personal injury liability coverage. This endorsement expands your liability coverage to include scenarios such as libel or slander.
Discounts
Discounts vary by state, but you may be able to save on your Kin premium by:
Having security or fire alarms.
Taking wind mitigation measures.
Having a new or hip-shaped roof.
Going without a claim for a set amount of time.
Opting to get your insurance documents electronically.
Having a water detection device.
Agreeing not to turn over your claims benefits to contractors.
Living in a neighborhood with a security guard.
Being a new homebuyer.
Living in an area with a private fire company.
Having a newly constructed home.
Being a senior or retiree.
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
Consumer complaints
Kin received more home insurance complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, according to NerdWallet's analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)
Consumer experience
Website: It takes only a couple of minutes to get a quote on the Kin website. Its FAQ section offers useful information on homeowners coverage. You can also make payments, file claims and view policy information on the Kin website.
Claims: You can file a homeowners claim online or by phone. If you choose the online option, you can upload damage photos and other documentation. Learn more about how to file a home insurance claim.
Customer service: You can get help from Kin's support staff by submitting an email form on the website, calling 855-216-7674 or using the site's chat feature. Customer service is available every day but Sunday.
The bottom line
If you live in Kin's coverage area and are looking for an insurer with a strong online presence, Kin may be a good choice. However, it may not be a good fit if you’re looking to buy multiple insurance policies from the same place, such as auto, home and umbrella.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
Current Product
NerdWallet rating 3.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 4.5 /5 | NerdWallet rating 4.0 /5 |
Complaints to NAIC More than expected | Complaints to NAIC Fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC More than expected |
Coverage Below average | Coverage More than average | Coverage About average |
Discounts Great set of discounts | Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Great set of discounts |
Bottom line Provides homeowners insurance in high-risk states. | Bottom line Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options. | Bottom line Widely available across the U.S. with lots of ways to customize your policy, but receives more complaints than expected. |
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.