Homeowners insurance rates have climbed significantly over the past few years — up roughly 20–30% nationally since 2022, driven by inflation in construction costs, increased weather events, and reinsurance costs. But while you can't control macro trends, you can control whether you're getting every discount available to you. Most people aren't.
We compiled 14 discounts that major insurers offer — some automatically, many only if you ask. Going through this checklist with your insurer takes one phone call and could save you hundreds per year.
The average homeowner qualifies for 3–5 discounts they're not currently receiving. A single phone call to your insurer asking about each one below could cut your annual premium by $200–$600.
Bundling Discounts
Biggest SavingsMulti-Policy Bundle (Home + Auto)
The single biggest discount available. Bundle your homeowners and auto insurance with the same carrier and save 15–25% on both policies. If you're paying $1,800/year for home and $1,200/year for auto, that's $450–$750 in annual savings. Every major insurer offers this.
Add an Umbrella Policy
Counterintuitively, adding an umbrella policy ($150–$300/year) can sometimes trigger an additional multi-policy discount that partially or fully offsets the umbrella cost. Ask your insurer: "If I add an umbrella, does my bundle discount increase?"
Home Security & Safety
Most Commonly MissedSmart Home Devices
Water leak sensors, smart smoke detectors (like Nest Protect), smart locks, and security cameras can qualify you for discounts — especially with tech-forward insurers like Hippo, which specifically incentivizes smart home devices. Some even provide free devices when you sign up.
Monitored Security System
A professionally monitored alarm system (Ring, ADT, SimpliSafe with monitoring) qualifies for a discount with virtually every insurer. The key word is "monitored" — a DIY camera without monitoring typically doesn't count. Provide your monitoring certificate to your insurer.
Smoke Detectors & Fire Extinguishers
Most homes already have smoke detectors, but not all homeowners have reported them to their insurer. Fire extinguishers on each floor, deadbolt locks, and fire sprinkler systems all qualify for additional discounts. Call and confirm they're noted on your policy.
Impact-Resistant Roof
If your roof was replaced or installed with impact-resistant shingles (Class 3 or 4 rated), you may qualify for a significant discount — especially in hail-prone and storm-prone states. This is one of the largest single-item discounts available. Check your roofing documentation.
Payment & Policy Structure
Easy MoneyPay Annually Instead of Monthly
Monthly payment plans typically include installment fees or surcharges of 5–10%. Paying your annual premium in one lump sum eliminates these fees. If your premium is $2,000/year, that's $100–$200 saved just by changing the payment schedule.
Paperless / Autopay
Many insurers offer a small discount (typically $20–$50/year) for enrolling in paperless billing and automatic payments. It's free money for something you'd probably prefer anyway.
Raise Your Deductible
Going from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save 8–15% on your premium. Going to $2,500 saves even more. Since most homeowners never file a claim (the average homeowner files one every 10 years), a higher deductible is often a smart bet — just make sure you can cover it from savings if needed.
Personal Qualifications
Ask If You QualifyClaims-Free Discount
If you haven't filed a homeowners insurance claim in 3–5+ years, you may qualify for a claims-free discount. Some insurers apply this automatically; others don't. Ask explicitly: "Do I have a claims-free discount on my policy?"
New Home Discount
Homes built within the last 10 years (and especially within the last 5) qualify for new-home discounts because newer construction uses updated building codes, materials, and wiring. If you bought new construction, make sure this discount is applied.
Good Credit Score
In most states, insurers use credit-based insurance scores to price policies. A good-to-excellent credit score (700+) typically results in lower premiums. If your credit has improved since you first purchased your policy, ask for a re-rate.
Retiree / Work-From-Home
If someone is home during the day — whether you work remotely, are retired, or are a stay-at-home parent — some insurers offer a discount because an occupied home is less likely to be burglarized and any issues (water leaks, fires) are caught sooner.
Loyalty Discount
Some insurers offer increasing discounts the longer you stay with them (3, 5, 10 years). However — and this is important — loyalty discounts are often smaller than the savings from switching insurers entirely. Always compare annual renewal quotes against fresh quotes from competitors before accepting a loyalty discount as "good enough."
Your One-Call Action Plan
Call your insurer and say: "I'd like to review all available discounts on my homeowners policy. Specifically, can you check whether I'm receiving discounts for: multi-policy bundling, security system, smart home devices, claims-free history, new home construction, and my current credit score? I'd also like a quote with a $1,000 deductible if I'm currently lower." This single conversation takes 15–20 minutes and captures most of the savings above.
When to Shop Instead of Discount-Hunt
Discounts help, but sometimes your current insurer is simply more expensive than competitors — discount or not. Re-shop your homeowners insurance every year at renewal. Get quotes from at least 3 carriers, including: your current insurer (with all discounts applied), a tech-forward option like Hippo or Lemonade, and a traditional carrier with strong bundling (Liberty Mutual, Allstate). Compare the total annual cost including all applicable discounts from each.
If you're also looking to optimize your full insurance portfolio, our homeowner bundle guide covers what to buy, what to skip, and how to save the most across all your policies.