Flood insurance
Primary flood coverage for your home. Start here if you have no flood policy yet.
Excess Flood Insurance for Homes Worth More Than Your Flood Policy Covers
An NFIP flood policy stops at $250,000 for a home and $100,000 for what is inside it. If your house would cost more than that to rebuild, the rest is on you after a bad flood. Excess flood picks up where your primary policy ends. You keep the flood policy you have and add more on top of it.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
How it works
10 minute form
A few questions about your business or home.
We shop the market
We compare carriers and read the forms line by line.
Quote and bind
We pick the best policy and get you covered.
When your flood policy runs out before your property does
Take a home that would cost $7.25 million to rebuild. NFIP pays the first $250,000 and excess can cover the next $7 million. For $600,000 of belongings, NFIP pays $100,000 and excess can cover the other $500,000.
Higher value homes
Your home would cost more than $250,000 to rebuild and your NFIP policy is already at its maximum.
Commercial and apartment buildings
Your building is worth more than $500,000, which is as far as NFIP goes for commercial and apartment buildings.
Condo associations
Each unit in the building is worth more than the $250,000 NFIP counts per unit, so the association can add a layer for the whole building.
A grandfathered NFIP rate
You have an older NFIP policy at a grandfathered rate and want more protection without giving it up.
What each half of this policy covers
What it usually covers
- More coverage for the building itself, above what your primary policy pays
- More coverage for your belongings or business contents, on the same terms
- For homes, a place to stay during repairs, basement contents, a detached garage or shed, and pool repair and refill, usually as options
- Lost rent if you rent the property out, or business interruption for a commercial building, depending on the market
- Replacement cost on contents and upgrades you made to the building, depending on the market
What it does not cover
- The first part of the loss. Your primary flood policy still pays that
- The space below the NFIP maximum if your primary limit is set lower. Excess usually still starts at the maximum, so raise the primary first
- A single condo unit on its own, which is often not eligible
- A flood in the first 10 days after you buy, usually, unless the policy starts at a real estate closing
Limits and terms
- 01
Homes
Up to $7 million on the building and up to $500,000 on contents, above NFIP, depending on the market.
- 02
Commercial and apartment buildings
Up to $10 million on the building. Contents go up to $1 million for a commercial building and $500,000 for apartments, where a minimum per unit applies.
- 03
Condo association buildings
Up to $15 million on the building and $500,000 on contents, depending on the market.
- 04
Deductible and minimums
Usually no deductible on the excess layer. The smallest amounts are usually $50,000 on the building and $10,000 on contents, and a minimum premium applies.
Who can apply
- Properties in California
- You already have a primary flood policy in place, NFIP or private
- Homes, commercial buildings, apartment buildings and condo association buildings
- Buildings that cost up to about $15 million to replace, depending on the market
- Extras like temporary living costs come only with building or contents coverage, not on their own
Coverages that go with it
Commercial flood insurance
Primary flood review for a business property.
What to have ready
- The declarations page from your current flood policy, so we can see where it stops
- A rough cost to rebuild and a rough value for everything inside
- What kind of property it is: your home, a rental, a commercial building, apartments or a condo association
- Your closing date if you are buying, since coverage can usually start that day
Questions we get asked
How is this different from regular flood insurance?
Your regular flood policy, usually NFIP, pays first and tops out at $250,000 for a home. Excess flood only pays once that is used up. Think of it as a second layer, so you need the first one in place. No flood policy yet? Start with primary flood and we can add excess after.
When does coverage start?
Usually 10 days after you buy it. If you are buying the property, it can usually start on the day you close.
My flood policy is below the NFIP maximum. Can excess fill the gap?
Usually not. Excess starts at the NFIP maximum even when your own limit is lower. We would raise your primary policy first and then add excess above it.
Will I lose my grandfathered NFIP rate?
No. Excess sits on top of your NFIP policy, so you keep it as is. That is a common reason people add excess instead of switching.
I own a condo. Can I buy this for my unit?
A single unit is often not eligible. If your association's building is worth more than NFIP covers, the association can usually buy excess for the whole building.
What happens after I start a quote?
Tell us about the coverage you need and complete the application. We use those details to approach suitable markets and may ask follow-up questions. Requesting a quote does not put coverage in force.
Review your coverage options.
A licensed broker can review eligibility and policy terms with you.