Kin Home Insurance Review 2023
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Kin
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Kin
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
If you live in an area prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, it can be tough to find an affordable homeowners policy. Kin Insurance, founded in 2016, seeks to lower costs for high-risk homes by relying on technology and selling directly to consumers instead of through agents.
Kin home insurance is currently sold only in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina, but if you live in one of those states, it’s worth considering for its wide range of coverage and discount options.
Kin home insurance star rating
Kin homeowners insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The homeowners insurance scoring formula takes into account policy coverage options and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, the financial strength of the company, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
Based on these ratings, Kin is among NerdWallet’s Best Home Insurance Companies for 2023.
State availability
Kin currently offers new homeowners policies only in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina.
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 a shed or fence. | |
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. | |
Medical payments | 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
In Florida, you can get discounts for:
Having security and fire alarms.
Taking wind mitigation measures.
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.
In Louisiana, you can save money by:
Having wind mitigation features or a hip-shaped roof.
Going without a claim for a certain period of time.
Being a new homebuyer.
Choosing an electronic policy.
In South Carolina, you can get a discount for:
Having a home security system.
Going without filing a claim for a given period.
Taking steps to prevent wind damage.
If you use Kin’s Managed Repair Network for repairs after a claim, you can save 10% on your deductible. Contractors in this network are fully licensed and vetted.
» MORE: The best cheap home insurance
Consumer complaints
Kin received far fewer 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 only takes 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, by phone or by email. If you choose the online option, you can upload damage photos and other documentation. Kin can recommend a contractor to help fix your damage through its Managed Repair Program. 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.
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.
Customer satisfaction. Kin’s low rate of consumer complaints suggests that most of its policyholders are happy with their coverage.
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.
Is Kin home insurance right for you?
If you live in Florida, Louisiana or South Carolina 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:
Farmers: Policies may include claim forgiveness and diminishing deductibles.
Hippo: Digital-first insurance that comes with free smart-home technology in many states.
State Farm: Well-established insurer with a lengthy list of coverage options.
Travelers: Decent coverage, plus options for eco-conscious homeowners.
Homeowners insurance 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 2019-2021. 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.
