Home and Auto Insurance Bundling - Saving on Insurance

Home and Auto Insurance Bundling

Bundling your auto and auto insurance policies under the same company is a convenient way to save hundreds on your insurance.

More than half of Americans bundle their auto and home insurance. Those who aren't doing so are handing over more money to their insurers.

Bundling your policies aren't always the best choice. You may get lower rates by buying separate policies from multiple companies, but it's a good idea to get a quote if you were to bundle policies.

To find out if bundling is right for you, compare car insurance rates with and without bundling.

What is bundling?

Most insurance companies offer bundling discounts, which just means getting two policies from the same company. It's also called a multi-policy discount and you can find it on your policy's declarations page.

Bundling has other advantages besides cheaper insurance:

  • You deal with only one insurance company.
  • You may be able to manage your policies online at the same place or through the same agent.
  • It’s easier to identify coverage gaps.
  • Depending on the company, you may be able to align the renewal periods and effective dates of both policies or combine your billing statements.

There may be other perks as well, depending on the company and state you live in. For example, Safeco offers some customers who bundle a single-loss deductible. That means, if your car is damaged in the same even that damages your home, such as a fire, your auto deductible is waived after your homeowners deductible has been paid.

How much can bundling save you?

Here are the national averages for auto insurance when you bundle your auto policy with another type of insurance.

Bundled discounts vary by company and state. No matter where you live bundling your homeowners policy will get you larger savings that a condo, renters or life policy. Why such a big break for multiple policies? It’s not just that insurance companies can make a profit off two policies. Customers who bundle are also seen as more likely to renew, and homeowners file fewer claims on their auto insurance policies.

And that is just your auto insurance discount.

Many insurance companies throw in a discount for the other insurance policy you’re bundling with your auto policy. For example, Travelers showcases discounts of up to 13 percent off of your auto policy and up to 15 percent off of your home insurance when you bundle the coverages. On average nationwide, the homeowners insurance discount savings by bundling with auto is 20 percent.

Depending on where you live, your homeowners or auto insurance rates could be higher or lower compared to other parts of the country. Let's take a look at the differences by state.

What information do you need to bundle your policies?

To get a quote and buy an auto insurance policy, either online, over the phone or in person, you will need:

  • Vehicle identification number(s) for vehicle(s)
  • Lienholder information (if applicable)
  • Driver’s license number(s) for driver(s)
  • Credit/debit card for down payment

To obtain a homeowners quote, it will be helpful if you have your current homeowners policy handy so the agent can try to match coverage. You’ll also need to answer questions specific to your home, such as:

  • Value of your home
  • Year home was built
  • Square footage

To purchase a homeowners policy, the agent will need information on:

  • Your mortgage company
  • Your loan number
  • Escrow account (if applicable)

You can bundle more than home and auto

Multi-policy discounts can also apply to other types of insurance policies that you buy from the same insurance company. Depending upon the insurer, you may also be able bundle these types of insurance policies:

  • Auto
  • Homeowners
  • Renters
  • Motorcycle
  • RV
  • Life

Some auto insurance companies don't write homeowners insurance, but some may align themselves with a home insurer to offer a discount. Ask you agent or customer service representative to see if you can bundle multiple insurance policies, so you can save hundreds of dollars.

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