California / 2026 Tracker
California home insurance renewal increases.
Anonymous community reporting for homeowners reviewing wildfire, nonrenewal, replacement-cost, and availability signals.
Published median change
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RateReceipt asks for California, renewal month, and two annual premium totals for premium reports. You can also report a nonrenewal, coverage restriction, or deductible increase without entering your insurer, ZIP code, address, or documents.
Why California home insurance is changing
California renewals are driven by wildfire risk and by how the state regulates rates. Under Proposition 103, the Department of Insurance must approve homeowner rates, which historically slowed increases but also led some insurers to pause new business.
The Department's Sustainable Insurance Strategy, phased in through 2024–2026, lets insurers use catastrophe modeling and reinsurance costs in rate filings in exchange for writing more policies in wildfire-distressed areas. The practical effect for homeowners is more carriers re-entering, but also more attention to each property's wildfire score.
Wildfire risk scores and mitigation discounts
Many California insurers assign a property-level wildfire risk score, and that score can affect both price and whether they renew. The state's “Safer from Wildfires” framework requires insurers to recognize mitigation, so documented hardening can earn a discount.
Defensible space and home hardening are the levers you control. Use the renewal tools to track the changes that matter.
- Clear defensible space (California generally requires 100 feet under PRC 4291)
- Ember-resistant vents, Class A roof, and enclosed eaves
- A 5-foot noncombustible zone immediately around the home
- Ask your insurer which mitigation discounts you currently receive
Replacement cost and underinsurance
After a total wildfire loss, the gap between your dwelling limit and the real rebuild cost is the number that hurts most. Construction-cost inflation has pushed many California homes into underinsurance even when the premium looks adequate.
Ask whether your policy includes extended or guaranteed replacement cost, and whether the dwelling limit reflects current local rebuild costs rather than market value.
Requested rate changes in California
California runs a prior approval process under Proposition 103: the Department of Insurance has to review and approve a homeowners rate change before an insurer may use it. The figures below are what each insurer asked for — the Department can approve less, or nothing at all.
These are market-wide filings, not the change on your own policy — yours can land above or below them.
Median across 20 requested rate changes: +7.0% (range +2.7% to +44.4%).
| Insurer | Requested change | Program | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company | +44.4% | SAFETY PAYS | 25-1832 |
| Cincinnati Insurance Company (The) | +35.0% | HOMEOWNER | 25-1759 |
| American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida | +20.0% | CONDOMINIUM | 25-1942 |
| Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company | +12.8% | California Home Multiple Peril | 26-513 |
| Integon National Insurance Company | +11.8% | ONECHOICE | 25-2008 |
| Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange | +11.8% | PURE HIGH VALUE HOMEOWNERS | 25-2526 |
| Horace Mann Insurance Company | +8.5% | California Home Multiple Peril | 26-514 |
| Mid-Century Insurance Company | +7.0% | Farmers Next Generation® Homeowners, Smart Plan Ho | 25-2528-B |
| Farmers Insurance Exchange | +7.0% | Farmers Next Generation® Homeowners, Smart Plan Ho | 25-2528 |
| Fire Insurance Exchange | +7.0% | Farmers Next Generation® Homeowners, Smart Plan Ho | 25-2528-A |
| CSAA Insurance Exchange | +7.0% | HO-3 | 25-1987 |
| Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club | +6.9% | HOMEOWNERS | 26-822 |
| California Casualty Indemnity Exchange (The) | +6.9% | HOMEOWNERS & DWELLING PROPERTY | 25-2170 |
| California Automobile Insurance Company | +6.9% | ALL PROGRAMS | 25-2014 |
| USAA Casualty Insurance Company | +6.9% | OWNERS, UNIT-OWNERS | 25-2139 |
| USAA General Indemnity Company | +6.9% | NONE | 25-2140 |
| United Services Automobile Association | +6.9% | HOMEOWNERS | 25-2125 |
| Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company | +6.9% | HOMEOWNERS | 25-2124 |
| Pacific Specialty Insurance Company | +6.8% | PREFERRED | 25-1984 |
| Standard Fire Insurance Company (The) | +2.7% | Quantum Home 2.0 | 26-748 |
Every row links to its own record in the regulator's public filing data. The rate rules above are described by California Department of Insurance, Web Access to Rate Filing Forms. See methodology.
California issue watch
Homeowners in California should compare the new price with limits, deductibles, settlement terms, endorsements, exclusions, discounts, and any notice language that changes coverage availability.
Use the renewal tools, open California nonrenewal help, or read California renewal and nonrenewal guide.
Official California resources
Use official regulator resources when you need consumer assistance, complaint information, or state-specific explanations.
Common questions
Can my insurer drop me right after a wildfire?
Often no. California Insurance Code §675.1 bars nonrenewal or cancellation for one year after a declared wildfire emergency for homes within or adjacent to the burn area. Check the Department of Insurance ZIP-code list.
What is the California FAIR Plan?
It is the state's insurer of last resort for fire coverage. It offers a basic fire policy that is narrower than standard homeowners insurance, often paired with a separate wrap policy.
Do wildfire mitigation steps actually lower my premium?
Under the state's Safer from Wildfires framework, insurers must recognize qualifying mitigation such as defensible space and home hardening, so documenting that work can earn discounts.
Read results carefully
Community reports are self-submitted and can vary with coverage, deductible, rebuilding costs, mitigation, location, and hazard exposure. Review the methodology and data standards before drawing conclusions.