Cincinnati Insurance
- Various coverage options.
- Far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
- Coverage available for higher-value homes.
- No online quotes.
- Very little information on website.
About Cincinnati home insurance
Cincinnati homeowners insurance earned 4.7 out of 5 stars for overall performance.
Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners insurance policies through local independent agents. Despite the company’s name, Cincinnati homeowners insurance is available in most U.S. states. It offers a range of ways to save on your policy, as well as comprehensive coverage for high-value homes.
Cincinnati Insurance has taken steps to reduce emissions and fossil fuel usage at its headquarters in Ohio.
Based on these considerations, Cincinnati Insurance is among NerdWallet's Best Homeowners Insurance Companies for 2025.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Where Cincinnati home insurance stands out
Various coverage options. You can customize a Cincinnati policy with extra coverage for things like identity theft recovery and damage from backed-up drains.
Customer service. The company’s ultra-low rate of consumer complaints suggests that it treats its policyholders well.
Options for high-value homes. Cincinnati Insurance offers comprehensive policies for expensive houses.
Where Cincinnati home insurance falls short
No online quotes. Cincinnati homeowners policies are available only through agents.
Little information on website. Cincinnati’s site is short on coverage details. You’ll need to speak with a representative to find out which options may be available to you.
What Cincinnati 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?
Optional Cincinnati home insurance coverage
You may be able to add the following options to your policy:
Identity theft coverage. Helps with expenses related to regaining your identity.
Personal cyber coverage. Pays to restore lost data, respond to extortion demands or recover from online fraud.
Extra coverage for valuables. Offers more expansive coverage for items such as jewelry, fine art or collectibles.
Water damage coverage. Pays pays for damage from backed-up drains or a malfunctioning sump pump.
Service line coverage. Pays to repair or replace damaged underground utility lines connected to your home.
Equipment breakdown coverage. Pays for repairs when a home system or appliance has a mechanical failure.
Extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Both of these options give you extra insurance for the structure of your home in case it costs more than expected to rebuild after a claim. Extended replacement cost coverage offers a certain amount of extra dwelling coverage. Meanwhile, guaranteed replacement cost coverage will pay as much as it takes to restore your home.
Replacement cost coverage for personal property. Pays to buy brand-new replacements for items that are damaged or destroyed. Without this type of coverage, your claim payout would be reduced to reflect the fact that many items lose value over time. Learn more about the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost.
Green upgrade. Pays to rebuild or make repairs with eco-friendly materials after a covered claim.
For policyholders with higher-value homes, Cincinnati Insurance offers more comprehensive policies with higher limits and a wide range of optional add-ons.
What’s not covered
Most homeowners insurance policies, including those from Cincinnati, won’t cover damage from:
Floods.
Earthquakes.
Neglect or lack of maintenance.
Infestations.
Where Cincinnati home insurance is available
Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners insurance policies in all states except Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
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
Discounts
Depending on where you live, you may be able to save money on your homeowners policy by:
Bundling home and car insurance with Cincinnati.
Having a newer house.
Installing protective devices such as sprinkler or central burglar alarm systems.
Having no history of recent claims.
Signing up for autopayments.
Consumer complaints
One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. Cincinnati Insurance scores highly on this measure, drawing a very 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.
How to file a claim with Cincinnati Insurance
You can report a homeowners claim through your online account, on the mobile app or by phone at 877-242-2544. You can also call your agent. Once you’ve filed your claim, you can check its status in the 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 Cincinnati Insurance
Phone: You can get help with your policy by contacting your independent agent or calling the company directly at 888-242-8811. Customer service is available every day but Sunday.
Email: There are email contact forms available on the company’s main contact page.
Online tools
Website: The Cincinnati Insurance website offers an agent search feature plus basic information on homeowners and other types of insurance. Create an online account to make payments, view policy documents and report claims.
Mobile app: Cincinnati’s app offers policy information, bill payments, claims reporting and agent contact details. It’s available for both iOS and Android.
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 Cincinnati offer?
What other types of insurance does Cincinnati offer?
Cincinnati Insurance sells auto, umbrella, watercraft, renters, life and business insurance, among other products.
Is Cincinnati Insurance a good company?
Is Cincinnati Insurance a good company?
Cincinnati Insurance has been in business since 1950, and it's earned high financial strength ratings from agencies such as AM Best and Fitch. It also draws significantly fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size.
How do I get a Cincinnati homeowners insurance policy?
How do I get a Cincinnati homeowners insurance policy?
Cincinnati Insurance sells its policies through independent agents. You can search for one near you on the company’s website.
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.
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.
