Question 1

Why did my premium go up if Florida rates are supposedly falling?

Accepted Answer

Rate filings and renewals move on different clocks. In May 2026 the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said it had received more than 190 residential filings for rate decreases or no increase since the 2022 and 2023 reforms, with the average homeowners rate request over the prior 180 days a 2.9 percent decrease, and Citizens' first homeowners decrease since 2015, about 8.8 percent on average, takes effect July 1, 2026. But a filing only reaches you when your own carrier's approved rates hit your renewal date, and your premium also reflects your home, your roof, your claims history, and any coverage changes. So a market where filed rates are falling can still hand you a higher renewal, which is exactly why it's worth reviewing rather than assuming.

Question 2

Should I just accept my renewal?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes accepting is the right call, and a review is how you find out. It answers two questions before your date: what actually changed in the policy, in price and in coverage, and how the offer compares to the rest of the market. If the renewal holds up, you renew knowing you checked. If it doesn't, you still have time to switch.

Question 3

What changes should I look for besides the price?

Accepted Answer

The big ones in Florida right now: deductibles (both hurricane and all other perils), roof payment terms moving from replacement cost toward an actual cash value schedule, water backup coverage being dropped or reduced, and ordinance or law limits changing. Renewal packets typically show the new terms without flagging what's different, which is why lining the renewal up against your current declarations page matters.

Question 4

When should I start my renewal review?

Accepted Answer

About 30 to 60 days before your renewal date. Carriers typically mail renewal notices ahead of the date, and starting early leaves time to line the renewal up against your current policy, get quotes from other Florida carriers, and bind a replacement if you choose one. Date already passed? You're generally not locked in for the year: homeowners policies can typically be cancelled mid-term with unearned premium refunded, as long as the replacement policy is bound first so there's no gap.

Question 5

Can I switch if my mortgage pays through escrow?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your servicer pays whichever carrier your declarations page names. When you switch, the new policy's declarations page goes to your servicer so it pays the new carrier instead, and unearned premium from the old carrier is typically refunded. Your agent coordinates the handoff, and it's worth confirming with your servicer that the right carrier and amount are on file so nothing is double-paid or missed.

Question 6

Will switching carriers reset my coverage or cause a gap?

Accepted Answer

Not if it's sequenced right. The replacement policy is bound before the old one is cancelled, so coverage stays continuous. A licensed agent lines the new policy's coverage up against your current one so you can see any differences before you commit, and handles the cancellation and refund paperwork with you.

Question 7

What is a wind mitigation inspection, and can it cut my premium?

Accepted Answer

It's a standardized inspection that documents features like roof shape, roof-to-wall attachments, and opening protection. Florida law requires insurers to offer premium credits for qualifying wind mitigation features. Whether an inspection pays off depends on your home and your carrier's filed credits, so no discount is guaranteed, but if your form on file is years old or missing, it's one of the first things a review checks.

Question 8

My increase seems to be about my roof. Is this still the right place?

Accepted Answer

Roof age and roof payment terms are behind many Florida renewal increases, and a renewal review still helps: an agent checks whether your roof documentation and wind mitigation form are current and shops carriers with different roof appetites. If your carrier nonrenewed you over the roof or you're struggling to get covered at all, our roof-age page at truscott.insure/roof-age-insurance is built for exactly that.

Question 9

I was moved off Citizens and this is my first private renewal. Is this page for me?

Accepted Answer

It works, but we built a more specific one for you: the takeout renewal check-up at truscott.insure/takeout-renewal-checkup. It covers what's unique to a first renewal after a Citizens takeout, including the 20% price comparison that applied only on assumption day, why there's no automatic way back to Citizens, and lining the renewal up against your old Citizens policy.

Question 10

Is this really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the renewal review is free with no credit card required. We're an independent insurance agency: if you later choose to get quotes or buy a policy through us, we're paid a commission by the carrier, like any agency.

Question 11

What documents do I need?

Accepted Answer

Ideally two: your renewal notice and your current policy's declarations page. The renewal shows where your price and coverage are headed; the current declarations page is the baseline that shows what changed. Both uploads are optional, and you can start with just your renewal date. Paper only? Take a photo of it with your phone: Ava reads a clear photo (JPEG or PNG) just like a PDF.

Question 12

What happens to my data?

Accepted Answer

Your renewal notice and policy documents are encrypted in transit and at rest, and we never sell your personal information. You can ask us to delete your files at any time, no account required.

Home insurance renewal gone up? Don't accept it before you've seen the market.

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