American Family
- Low rate of consumer complaints.
- Free wildfire prevention services in select states.
- Discounts available for qualifying smart-home devices.
- May restrict liability coverage for certain dog breeds.
- Available in only 19 states.
About American Family home insurance
American Family homeowners insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance.
Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family sells homeowners insurance and other policies in 19 states. You can customize an American Family home insurance policy with a variety of add-ons, including coverage for identity theft, valuable jewelry or the breakdown of major appliances.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Where American Family home insurance stands out
Customer satisfaction. American Family receives fewer customer complaints than expected, suggesting that policyholders tend to be happy with their coverage.
Wildfire prevention services. American Family has partnered with Wildfire Defense Services to offer free assistance in protecting your home from wildfires. The company includes these services with homeowners policies in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Discounts for smart-home devices. You may be able to save on your insurance premium if you have motion sensors, water leak detectors or other smart-home devices.
Where American Family home insurance falls short
Restricted dog breeds. If your dog injures someone outside your household, the personal liability coverage in your policy can often help pay their medical expenses. But American Family may not extend this coverage to certain dog breeds considered higher-risk.
Availability. American Family’s homeowners policies generally aren’t available in certain parts of the U.S., including most of the East Coast.
What American Family home insurance covers
These types of home insurance coverage generally come standard:
- Dwelling
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered event. It also covers attached structures, such as porches.
Typical amount: Enough to rebuild your home.
- Other structures
Other structures coverage pays to repair or rebuild stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed.
Typical amount: 10% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal property
Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings. Personal property coverage comes in one of two options: actual cash value or replacement cost.
Typical amount: 50-70% of dwelling coverage.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage, sometimes known as additional living expenses coverage, helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired. This can cover hotel stays, home rentals and meals.
Typical amount: 20% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal liability
Personal liability coverage pays if you injure someone or cause property damage unintentionally or through neglect.
Typical amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. It also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone away from your home.
Typical amount: $1,000 to $5,000.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to the standard coverage above, American Family includes extended replacement cost coverage for your dwelling as long as you insure your home for its full estimated rebuilding cost. With this coverage, you’ll have a financial cushion in case it costs more than expected to rebuild your home after a disaster.
Optional American Family home insurance coverage
American Family Insurance offers the following types of optional coverage:
Sump pump failure and water backup. Pays to repair water damage if your sump pump overflows or your sewer backs up.
Identity theft. Covers costs associated with restoring your finances if someone steals your identity.
Home-based business. Provides extra liability and personal property coverage if you run a business from your home.
Equipment breakdown. Pays to repair or replace appliances, home systems or smart-home devices that experience a sudden failure.
Flash flood. Covers damage to your home and belongings due to inland flooding.
Matching siding. When an event like a storm or fire damages your siding, your home insurance will cover the cost of replacing it. Matching siding protection pays to replace undamaged siding so everything matches.
Service line. Pays for repairs to water, power or other underground lines that run to your house.
Senior living. Covers liability and personal belongings for older adults in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Vacant home. Available for three-, six- or 12-month periods, this coverage pays for damage if your house is unoccupied.
Hidden water. Covers damage, including mold, resulting from hidden water leaks.
Temporary rental. If you rent your home out to others (no more than 62 days a year total), this coverage pays for damage that happens during those rentals.
Scheduled personal property. If you have valuable items such as an engagement ring or musical instrument, this insurance covers them for a wider range of scenarios.
What’s not covered
Standard American Family homeowners policies don’t cover:
Hidden water damage.
Mold and rot.
Infestations.
Wear and tear.
Lack of maintenance.
Extra coverage may be available for some of these scenarios.
Flooding is the most common disaster in the U.S., and you don’t have to live near the beach to be at risk. Discover why you might need flood insurance, even if your mortgage lender doesn’t require it.
Where American Family home insurance is available
American Family homeowners insurance policies are available in 19 states.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
- Find the best home insurance in your state
American Family home insurance rates
American Family homeowners insurance costs $2,745 per year, on average, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s more than the national average of $2,110 per year. American Family’s average rates were higher than the state averages in nearly all the states we analyzed.
Our sample rates are for 40-year-old homeowners with good credit, a $1,000 deductible, $300,000 in dwelling coverage and $300,000 in liability insurance. Your own rates will be different.
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a discount for:
Having safety features or smart devices such as a video doorbell.
Having multiple American Family policies.
Going paperless, setting up automatic payments or paying your premium in full, upfront.
Being insured with American Family for at least a year.
Insuring a home that's less than 15 years old.
Being between 18 and 30 years old and having a parent who’s an American Family customer.
Replacing your home’s plumbing, heating or electrical systems within the past 15 years.
Consumer satisfaction
Complaints: One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. American Family scores highly on this measure, drawing a low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums.
Third-party ratings: American Family scored just below average in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study. Its score for customer satisfaction was also right below average in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Home Insurance Study.
How to file a claim with American Family
American Family offers a variety of ways to file home insurance claims, including online, through the app and by phone at 800-692-6326. You can track claim status on the company’s website or app.
Here are some key things to remember when filing a home insurance claim:
Document the damage. Take photos and create an inventory of damaged items. Provide details like labels and model numbers if possible, especially for more expensive items. Once you've documented the damage, you can make temporary repairs if it's safe to do so.
File your claim as soon as possible. This is especially important if the damage was caused by a storm, as it likely means other homes in the area were also affected.
Save your receipts. You may end up spending money on temporary repairs or living expenses before getting a payment from your insurance company. Keep all receipts so you can submit them for reimbursement later.
For more information, see how to file a home insurance claim.
How to contact American Family customer service
Phone: You can call American Family at 800-692-6326 or reach out to a local agent.
Email: You can send an email through American Family’s contact page.
Online tools
Website: The American Family website offers details on the company’s coverage and discounts, plus general insurance advice. You can use the site to get a quote, file and track claims, and find a local agent.
Mobile app: The MyAmFam mobile app is available for Android and iOS. Use it to make payments or set up autopay, view policy information, file and track claims, and reach out to your local agent.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
- See all NerdWallet home insurance reviews
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as consumer experience, coverage, discounts and financial strength.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does American Family offer?
What other types of insurance does American Family offer?
American Family also sells auto, renters, boat, RV, umbrella and life insurance, among other products. Learn more by reading our American Family auto insurance review.
How long has American Family been around?
How long has American Family been around?
American Family was founded as Farmers Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in 1927. The company has had its current name since the 1960s.
Does American Family home insurance have dog breed restrictions?
Does American Family home insurance have dog breed restrictions?
American Family may have restrictions on certain dog breeds. If your pet has a history of biting or other aggression, liability coverage for dog-related claims may be limited to $25,000. Learn more about dog bites and homeowners insurance.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Sep 8, 2025.
- 2.J.D. Power. 2024 U.S. Home Insurance Study. Accessed Sep 8, 2025.
Star rating 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, claims process and website functionality. 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 or star ratings.
Here’s how we weighted each category to come up with our list of the best home insurance companies:
Consumer experience (40%).
Financial strength (30%).
Coverage (25%).
Discounts (5%).
Read our full home insurance ratings methodology for more details.
Homeowners insurance rates methodology
NerdWallet calculated median rates for 40-year-old homeowners from various insurance companies in the 25 largest cities in each U.S. state by population. All rates are rounded to the nearest $5.
Sample homeowners were nonsmokers with good credit living in a single-family, two-story home built in 1984. They had a $1,000 deductible and the following coverage limits:
$300,000 in dwelling coverage.
$30,000 in other structures coverage.
$150,000 in personal property coverage.
$60,000 in loss of use coverage.
$300,000 in liability coverage.
$1,000 in medical payments coverage.
We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.
In states where credit is a rating factor, we changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor,” as reported to the insurer, to see rates for homeowners with poor credit.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
Complaint methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare with 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.
