Insurance
Insurance guides
Homeowners and auto coverage for every resident, plus the extra discounts available to teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police
Pick your path
Full guides go live on a rolling basis, city by city and state by state.
Featured guides
Our most in-depth coverage so far, added as each region is fully researched.
Los Angeles Homeowners Insurance Guide
Who is still writing policies after the 2025 fires, wildfire and earthquake risk by neighborhood, and what coverage actually costs.
The California FAIR Plan, Explained
What it actually covers, why most homeowners on it also need a second policy, and what it costs.
TFPA vs TWIA in Texas
Texas runs two separate last-resort insurers, and coastal homeowners sometimes need both at once.
Florida Citizens Property Insurance, Explained
How the state's largest insurer went from a 91 percent rate hike to cutting rates in three years.
New York's NYPIUA, Explained
A smaller last-resort system, and the new NYC subsidy program that works nothing like it.
Auto Insurance Minimums by State
Legal liability limits, required extras, and average rates for all 50 states and DC in one table.
What is actually required by law
Auto insurance is mandatory almost everywhere. New Hampshire is the only state that does not legally require drivers to carry liability insurance, and even there, drivers must prove they can cover damages out of pocket if they cause an accident. Virginia closed its own exception in 2024, so every other state now requires proof of liability coverage to register a vehicle. Minimum coverage limits are set state by state and can differ by a wide margin, so the amount that satisfies the law in one state may leave you underinsured in another.
Homeowners insurance is not legally required the way auto insurance is, but nearly every mortgage lender makes it a condition of the loan, so in practice most homeowners carry it whether or not the state mandates it. A standard homeowners policy also does not automatically include flood or earthquake coverage. Both are sold as separate policies, and if your home sits in a FEMA-designated flood zone with a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance becomes a lender requirement of its own.
What to look at before you buy
Price is the easiest thing to compare and the least useful thing to compare on its own. A few factors matter more once two quotes are close:
Financial strength. An AM Best rating tells you whether the insurer will still be solvent enough to pay a large claim years from now, not just whether it can handle routine ones today.
Complaint history. The NAIC publishes a free Complaint Index for every licensed insurer, showing how many complaints a company receives relative to its market share. A score above 1.0 means more complaints than expected for its size.
Deductible versus premium. A lower monthly premium paired with a high deductible can cost more the moment you actually file a claim. Run the math on your worst realistic scenario, not just the monthly bill.
Discount stacking rules. Bundling, safe driver, and profession-based discounts do not always combine. Ask directly whether discounts stack before assuming they add up.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
Insuring the home for its market value instead of its rebuild cost. Land value does not need to be rebuilt after a fire, but construction costs do, and the two numbers are often far apart.
Letting a policy auto-renew for years without re-shopping. Insurers frequently price new customers more aggressively than returning ones, so loyalty alone rarely earns the best rate.
Assuming a wildfire, flood, or earthquake is covered by a standard policy. These are the exclusions that surprise people most often, usually after it is too late to add coverage.
Comparing only the sticker price of a quote. Two policies at the same monthly cost can carry very different coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions.
Currently live: Hero Auto and Hero Home discounts by state (all 50 states each), auto insurance minimums for all 50 states, a full California auto insurance guide, a Los Angeles homeowners insurance guide, and last-resort insurer explainers for California, Texas, Florida, and New York. More cities and states are added on a rolling basis as each one is fully researched.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to carry car insurance in every state?
In every state except New Hampshire, yes. New Hampshire drivers still have to prove they can pay for damages they cause, so going without insurance there is riskier than it sounds.
Does my homeowners policy cover flooding?
No. Flood coverage is a separate policy, typically through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer, regardless of what your standard homeowners policy includes.
Will bundling and a hero discount both apply to my policy?
It depends on the insurer. Some apply both, some cap the combined discount. Ask directly before assuming the savings stack.
Rates and discounts shown across this section are informational estimates. Confirm current pricing and eligibility directly with each insurer before purchasing a policy. This is not insurance advice.
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