Lowering Your Premium Without Losing Protection

Picture a retired firefighter and his wife who have had the same insurer for 30 years. They have never filed a claim, and they have never asked for a discount. Their premium, the yearly price of the policy, has gone up every year.

There are real ways to pay less for homeowners insurance without giving up the coverage that protects your home. Many of them only show up if you ask. This guide lists the discounts to ask for by name, the grants that help pay for a stronger roof, and what to do if no company will insure the home.

What a discount is, and what it is not

A discount is a lower price for something that makes a claim less likely or smaller. A monitored alarm, a newer roof, or years without a claim all lower the insurer's expected cost.

Homeowners insurance generally does not offer discounts based on income. State rate laws say rates must not be unfairly discriminatory, so price differences need a reason tied to risk¹. That is why savings come through discounts and programs that lower risk.

How the cost is set

Your premium starts with the rates your insurer files with your state. Then it depends on what it would cost to rebuild your home, where the home is, your deductibles (the part of a claim you pay yourself), and the discounts on your policy. Our guide Why Your Home Insurance Premium Went Up explains the larger forces, and our Staying Home research shows how they weigh on older homeowners in each state.

What you get in return

A good discount lowers the price and keeps your protection whole. Two cuts can look like savings but leave you exposed:

• A dwelling limit set too low. Your dwelling limit, the most the policy pays to rebuild the house, should match the cost to rebuild, not what the home would sell for. Rebuilding can cost more than the sale price².
• A deductible higher than you could pay. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but you pay more after a claim. Choose an amount you could cover if the home were damaged³. Our guide Reading Your Renewal covers this trade-off.

Discounts to ask for by name

Not every company offers every discount, and not every discount is offered in every state. Ask your agent about each one:

• Age. Some insurers offer a discount starting around age 50. The age varies by insurer, so ask⁴. Age itself generally does not set your rate.
• Claims-free. You may get a discount for few or no claims in the last five years⁵.
• Protective devices. Ask about smoke alarms, deadbolts, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and security systems⁶. A monitored burglar or fire alarm may count for more⁷.
• Water leak sensors and shutoff valves. Some insurers offer discounts for smart home devices⁸. One insurer lists a discount for an approved whole-home water shutoff system⁹.
• A newer or stronger roof. Companies often discount newer roofs and roofs made of materials that resist damage⁸.
• Paid in full, autopay, and paperless. The same insurer lists discounts for paying the year in full, for paperless billing, and for having no mortgage⁹.
• Bundling. Buying home and auto from one company may bring a small discount¹⁰. Compare prices with and without the bundle, since it is not always cheaper.
• Wind and hail protection, including FORTIFIED roofs. FORTIFIED is a stronger roofing standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety¹¹. Some states require discounts. In Alabama, for example, licensed insurers must discount the wind portion of the premium for FORTIFIED homes¹², and Louisiana law requires rate adjustments for FORTIFIED roofs¹³.
• Making the home safer from wildfire. Where offered, credits can follow steps like a fire-rated roof, mesh over vents, and clearing a 5-foot zone around the house. California's "Safer from Wildfires" program is one example¹⁴.

Shop every few years

Prices for the same coverage vary widely from company to company¹⁰. An independent agent can sell policies from many companies and compare them for you¹⁵. Compare the same dwelling limit, deductibles, and roof terms, not just the price.

Grants that help pay for a stronger roof

Some states help pay for a stronger roof, which can then earn a discount. Programs open, close, and run out of money, so check first. Four examples:

• Strengthen Alabama Homes pays 100% of the work, up to $10,000, for qualifying homes where the owner lives. As of October 2026, it says funds are still available¹².
• My Safe Florida Home offers free wind inspections and grants up to $10,000¹⁶. Homeowners usually pay part of the cost, but households with low incomes do not have to¹⁷.
• Louisiana Fortify Homes awards grants up to $10,000 by lottery. Registration ran in June 2026¹³.
• SC Safe Home in South Carolina offers grants of $3,000 to $7,500. The share you pay depends on household income¹⁷.

Rules and programs vary by state. To find what exists where you live, including insurance help, see Help with housing costs, state by state. For safety repairs more broadly, see Paying for Home Safety Changes: Programs That Can Help.

If no company will insure the home

Most states have a FAIR Plan, an insurer of last resort for homes that regular insurance companies will not cover. As of October 2024, 33 states had some form of FAIR or similar plan. These plans usually cost more and cover less. Many leave out liability coverage (help if you are sued over an injury), so you may need a separate policy¹⁸. Your state insurance department can tell you how to apply.

Do not drop coverage. Homeowners without a mortgage are uninsured far more often than those with one, 14% compared with 2%¹⁹. Going without saves the premium and risks the whole house. If you have a reverse mortgage, you must keep paying homeowners insurance²⁰.

What can change it

A new roof, a monitored alarm, or leak sensors can each earn a discount, so tell your insurer when you add one. An addition or a small second home on the lot raises the cost to rebuild, so your coverage should rise too.

If someone is moving in, call your agent before they do. Our guide The Call to Make to Your Insurance Agent lists the questions. If they will pay rent, also read Will Sharing My Home Affect My Benefits? and Taxes on Rent From a Room, in Plain Words.

An extra set of hands

Some discounts depend on upkeep. Another person in the home, or a family member, friend, or neighbor, can help keep them:

• What it accomplishes. Clearing gutters on a one-story home, clearing brush away from the house, placing battery leak sensors under sinks, and testing smoke alarms. As of October 2026, hired gutter cleaning averages about $37 an hour, or $130 to $250 for a single-story home²¹.
• What it protects. Someone at home can catch a leak early. Water damage and freezing claims averaged about $15,400 from 2019 to 2023²².
• What it preserves. A claims-free record, and money that stays in your budget.

Help is optional and agreed in advance. Skilled or risky work, such as roofs, trees, electrical, plumbing, gas, and anything on a ladder above the first floor, belongs to licensed professionals. Being present is not caregiving. See Help Around the House Is Not Caregiving.

Watch for

• Roofing pitches at the door. Be wary of anyone who is "in the area," wants payment up front or in cash, or pushes you to decide now²³.
• Prices too good to be true. The company and the agent must be licensed in your state. Your state insurance department can check²⁴.
• Savings that cut protection. A lower dwelling limit or a deductible you could not pay is not a discount.

Conversation starters

If you are an adult child or friend talking with an older adult:

• "Would you like help making a list of discounts to ask your agent about?"
• "When did you last compare quotes? Want to do it together?"
• "Could I help with the gutters this fall, if that keeps a discount?"

If you are an older adult talking with family or caregivers:

• "I've never asked for a discount. Will you sit with me while I call?"
• "I'm thinking about a stronger roof. Can you help me check for a grant?"
• "I want to save money, but I'm not willing to go without coverage."

Going without saves the premium and risks the whole house.

Last reviewed October 14, 2026