Finding new home insurance after a nonrenewal notice

A nonrenewal means the company won't renew your policy when it expires. The coverage you have now stays in place until that date, and then it stops. The time between the letter and that date is the time you have to find a new policy, so start the search right away.

Read the notice

Find two things in the letter: the date the policy ends, and the reason the company gives. The date sets your deadline. The reason tells you what other companies are likely to ask about. A roof's age, a claim, wildfire exposure or a change in what the company insures in your area each lead to a different conversation.

Ask the insurer what would change it

You can ask the insurer for its reason. Ask what it would need to see to change its decision, by when, and in what form.

Start looking the same week

An independent agent represents several companies and can bring back several quotes, while an exclusive agent sells only one company's policies.

• Local agents and brokers. Contact agents and brokers near your home.
• Agents who represent other companies. If your agent can't place you with another insurer, contact agents and brokers who represent other insurers.

Give each one the list of coverages from your current declarations page.

The last-resort options

When the regular market says no, ask your state insurance department whether your state has a FAIR Plan, a wind pool or a market assistance program, and what it covers. Read what that coverage includes before you rely on it.

An annotated example

What to do next

Write the end date where you'll see it. Then make two calls in the same week, one to the insurer about what would keep the policy and one to an agent who represents other companies. When a new policy is offered, check that it starts on or before the day the old one ends, so there's no day without coverage.