Pets and Home Insurance: What to Know
Homeowners insurance may cover pet-related injuries under liability protection, but exclusions often apply for certain breeds, aggressive behavior, or incidents involving pets not listed on your policy.
When are pets covered by homeowners insurance?
Depending on the situation, your pets may be covered by your home insurance. For example, if your dog bites someone not listed on your insurance policy, your homeowners liability coverage would cover any medical expenses or legal bills.
However, if your dog or cat destroys your carpet or personal belongings, your home insurance usually will not cover the damage.
You might also be wondering if your pet itself has coverage if something happens to them on your property. This would be an example of when pet insurance could be a great extra policy for you, because your home insurance isn't applicable.
In 2024, there were 22,658 dog bite claims in the United States. California and Florida topped the charts with the number of claims per state, but New York and Pennsylvania had the highest cost of dog bite-related claims.[1]
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is one of the best ways to ensure your pet's health and wellness. Review our guide to pet insurance coverage below to see which plan might be best for you and your pet.
Will home insurance exclude pet damage?
Pets are part of the family. As such, damages they inflict on others' persons or property may be covered under home insurance policies via liability coverage — the part of your insurance policy that applies if you're held liable for property or bodily injury damage suffered by someone else.
Unless your policy comes with pet-specific endorsements, an insurance company may deny any coverage for damages inflicted by pets occurring on your property. Learn more about excluded pet breeds.
While you’re shopping for home insurance, an insurer might ask whether you have a dog and inquire about the dog’s breed. In the eyes of an insurance company, certain dog breeds pose more risk than others. Which brings us to the next question — which pets are commonly excluded from home insurance policies?
Does home insurance cover pet damage to your house?
If your pet damages your own property — say your dog chews up an expensive rug — home insurance will not cover the damage. Since pets are considered property, insurance companies regard pet owners as responsible for their pets' actions.
However, if someone else's pet damages your home or injures you, you can file a claim with your insurance. This goes both ways, so if your own pet causes property damage or bites someone, they could file a claim against you.
Common examples of covered pet claims:
- Your Golden Retriever bites a neighbor, resulting in hospitalization
- Your Husky injures the neighbor’s cat*
- Your cat damages a neighbor's expensive rose garden
*The cat is considered the personal property of your neighbor. In this case, if you’re found liable for the damage, i.e., veterinary bills, your home insurance policy may step in to cover the cost. Generally, most insurance companies define a “pet” as a dog or a cat. Exotic pets may not enjoy the same coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover dog bites?
In many cases, yes. Homeowners or renters insurance liability coverage often pays for medical bills, legal fees, and other costs if your dog bites someone.
However, coverage depends on both state laws and your insurer’s rules:
- Some states only hold owners liable if they knew the dog was dangerous.
- Others impose liability for all bites, regardless of history.
- Certain insurers exclude specific breeds or require a waiver for dogs they deem high risk.
In most states (about 36), dog owners are legally responsible for bites or injuries caused by their pets, even if the dog never showed aggression before.[2]
⚠️ Dog-related injuries are a steadily rising source of insurance claims.
The number of dog bites in 2024 increased by almost 19% from 2023. [1] As such, pet owners with a dog who poses a potential risk should make sure to ask an insurance agent if your homeowners policy will cover dog bites.
If you have significant assets — or fear that the dog liability insurance typically included in your homeowners policy may not go far enough — you may consider adding an umbrella policy to increase your protection.
Which pets are excluded from homeowners insurance?
The main reason pets are excluded from insurance is because of the risk profile they present. Certain dog breeds and types of pets — usually exotic pets — may be eligible only for limited liability or no liability. If your dog has a history of bite incidents or aggressive behavior, it may be ineligible for home insurance coverage.
Insurance companies use historical data to categorize certain types of dogs as “risky” or “dangerous breeds,” and may impose breed exclusions. It’s generally not reflective of the individual dog’s temperament or the American Kennel Club’s description of the dog. Even so, historical data tells insurance companies these dogs are more likely to be involved in pet liability claims — most commonly, dog bite claims.
❌ Dog breeds often ineligible for home insurance:
- German Shepherd
- Akita
- Alaskan Malamute
- Cane Corso
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- Great Dane*
- Rhodesian Ridgeback*
- Mastiff
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
- Siberian Husky
- Wolf hybrid
*Insurance eligibility may vary.
Not every insurer will deny coverage because the breed is deemed "dangerous." Some insurance companies don't factor in the breed of your dog when they calculate your premium, while some companies may exclude the dog specifically from liability coverage. In this scenario, if your dog were to bite someone, you would have no coverage in the case of a lawsuit.
These dog breeds can also lead to higher homeowners insurance premiums. If your alternative is paying more for your pet to be covered by liability insurance, do so. This is much less risky than voiding coverage.
Are Pets Covered by Car Insurance?
Does car insurance cover injuries sustained by pets if they're involved in a car accident? Find coverage for your beloved dog or cat and make sure they're covered too.
How do certain dog breeds affect home insurance rates?
You may end up paying higher than the national average for a home insurance premium if your dog's breed is classified as "aggressive" or "restricted." Some insurance companies are more dog-friendly than others and are more concerned about dogs with bite histories than specific breeds. Some states — Michigan, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania — do not permit insurers to exclude dogs from liability coverage; in addition, they cannot deny coverage altogether because of a dog's breed.
Our data suggest there's not much of a difference in home insurance rates for owners of dogs considered "aggressive." The difference in premium is about 1 percent, on average.
Compare home insurance rates and find a policy that meets your family's needs.
What is the cheapest option for insurance if you have restricted or aggressive dog breed?
We surveyed major insurance companies to find the cheapest companies for homeowners insurance customers with dogs classified as "aggressive" breeds.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| AAA | $1,174 |
| Allstate | $1,394 |
| American Family | $1,730 |
| Amica | $1,986 |
| Farmers | $1,862 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,414 |
| Nationwide | $1,428 |
| Progressive | $1,738 |
| State Farm | $1,464 |
| Travelers | $1,498 |
| USAA | $1,526 |
We found AAA homeowners insurance was the most affordable for owners of aggressive-breed dogs, with Allstate in second. The homeowner profile we used might not match yours exactly. See our methodology, and use this data as a starting point when comparing quotes.
💡 Zebra Tip: How to get homeowners insurance if you have a dog with a bite history
If your dog has a bite history, regardless of its breed, finding home insurance will be tricky. Usually, an insurer will ask you during your quote process if your dog has a bite history. From there, the insurance company can either exclude the animal from coverage, deny coverage altogether or quote an expensive premium.
If they deny homeowners coverage, consider supplementary animal liability coverage. However, these insurance policies can be difficult to find and expensive.
Pet and home insurance bundles
Most insurance companies will provide coverage for your cat or dog if there is an injury to guests. If you’re looking for pet insurance plans specifically to cover medical issues for your pet, some of the top insurance providers offer coverage.
However, there are a lot of specific companies these days that offer only pet insurance (versus car or home) policies to help you save when it comes to vet care. Rates vary based on the insurance plan you choose, the age of your pet and the animal's medical history.
If you're interested in getting a pet insurance quote, consider Embrace, an award-winning pet insurance provider.
Why The Zebra? We partner with top companies to find you the coverage you need.
Pets and home insurance FAQs:
Spotlight on: dog bite liability. Insurance Information Institute
Table of Dog Bite Strict Liability Statutes. Michigan State University
About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
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