| Want to know where to find the best | | | | They rate companies according to coverage |
| homeowners insurance companies with the best | | | | options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with |
| rates? Here's where to find them. | | | | company representatives, and overall experience. |
| Homeowners Insurance Company Ratings | | | | These ratings give you a good idea of how a |
| There are a number of sources for homeowners | | | | company treats its customers and how reliable it |
| insurance company ratings. Here are three of the | | | | is in paying its claims. Ratings go from "Among |
| best ... | | | | the best" (highest) to "The rest" (lowest). Choose |
| Your State's Department of Insurance | | | | companies that are rated "About average" or |
| All states maintain a department of insurance | | | | higher. |
| website, and most compile a yearly list of | | | | A.M. Best (ambest.com) |
| complaints that have been made against insurance | | | | A.M. Best rates insurance companies based on |
| companies. These complaints are a good way to | | | | their financial strength. This measures an insurance |
| judge a company's reliability. Most companies have | | | | company's ability to pay its insurance claims. A |
| complaints filed against them, but if a company | | | | high rating means a company has plenty of |
| has a large number of complaints as opposed to | | | | assets to pay it's claims. |
| other companies, you should avoid doing business | | | | A.M. Best rates companies from A++ (the |
| with them. | | | | highest) to D (the lowest). When you buy |
| If your state doesn't list complaints, you can go | | | | insurance you should pick a company that has a |
| to the California Department of Insurance website | | | | B+ rating or higher. |
| (insurance.ca.gov), or the New York State | | | | Best Homeowners Insurance Rates |
| Insurance Department website (ins.state.ny.us) to | | | | Because homeowners insurance rates can vary |
| get this information. | | | | as much as $1,000 or more between insurance |
| In addition to listing consumer complaints, these | | | | companies, the best way to get the best |
| sites also list other information such as consumer | | | | homeowners insurance rate is to compare rates |
| information guides, insurance FAQs (frequently | | | | at an insurance comparison website. |
| asked questions), and insurance updates. | | | | Some of these sites offer a chat service and a |
| J.D. Power & Associates (jdpower.com) | | | | toll-free telephone service so you can get |
| J.D. Power & Associates rates insurance | | | | immediate answers to your homeowners |
| companies based on the opinions of its customers. | | | | insurance questions (see link below). |