It is generally not known that owning a dog can dramatically affect homeowners insurance quotes. You could be surprised with a rate hike if you have recently purchased a dog or failed to report a dog you currently own to your homeowners insurance company.
It can already be a significant expense between food, vet visits, toys, etc., to own a pet. A recent article on InsuranceAgents.com reports that many homeowners insurance companies consider certain types of dogs to be something of a risk, and they are raising premiums on the homeowners policies.
According to the article there are companies that offer homeowners insurance that have developed varying policies with regard to canines and home insurance policies. The article also says that some companies will insure clients, but at a higher premium, and that there are other companies that refuse to do business with homeowners that have dogs. Regardless, it is always a good idea to shop around for homeowners insurance quotes, so that in any event if an insurer gives you a high premium, you can still move on to another provider and get the coverage you need.
There are an estimated 4 to 5 million Americans who are bitten by a dog every year. This results in nearly a million injuries requiring medical attention. Considering the high cost of medical care in the US, many insurance companies have begun to take into account possible homeowners insurance costs that might be associated with owning a dog.
According to the article printed on InsuranceAgents.com there are certain breeds including Rottweilers, German Shepards, Pit Bulls and Dobermans that are being targeted as being of high risk. It is therefore a good idea to ask a homeowners insurance agent about the bite history of your dog’s breed, in order to see if he or she can come up with a policy that both you and the homeowners insurance company can be satisfied with.
You still are free of course, to shop around and compare insurance quotes. This way you may find a policy that will offer you a better rate. The bad news however, is that many companies have begun to refuse to insure certain breeds of dogs or if they do, charge very expensive premiums.
Thus when you purchase a pet you need to also consider how this may affect your homeowner rates and factor this in to the overall cost of owning a dog, along with feed, shots and general overall care.