QBE home insurance review: Coverage available nationwide
QBE Insurance earns high marks for financial stability and a decent customer experience score, but it’s not transparent about coverages or discounts available.
By
Jessica OlivoJessica OlivoFreelance contributorJessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
Edited by
Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
3.9
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
NA
The bottom line
QBE home insurance is best suited for homeowners who prefer working with an agent to manage their policy. You can't get an online quote. And its difficult-to-navigate website lacks transparency around coverage and discount offerings — we had to dig to find the information in this review.
While there’s an option to file claims online, there’s no mobile app or chat option to make communication easier. Because of this, QBE is likely not for millennials or Gen-Xers who often prefer fast, tech-friendly service.
Strong financial strength rating with A.M. Best and established company history
Offers flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program
Cons
Limited information about discounts and coverage options available on its website
No online quote tool and difficult-to-navigate website
Basic coverages offered
QBE home insurance policies include these six standard coverages to protect your home, belongings, and personal liability:
Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered loss.
Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild other structures on your property not connected to your home, including detached garages, storage sheds, and fencing.
Personal property coverage: Pays to repair or replace your personal belongings after a covered loss, including furniture, clothing, tech gadgets, and other stuff you own.
Loss of use coverage: Pays for hotel stays, restaurant bills, pet boarding fees, and other temporary living expenses after a covered loss if you need to live elsewhere while your home is being rebuilt.
Personal liability coverage: Pays for legal and medical expenses if someone is injured or their belongings are damaged while at your home and you’re found legally responsible.
Medical payments coverage: Pays for small-dollar medical bills if someone is injured while at your home — regardless of who is at fault.
Additional coverages offered
You can add these additional coverages to your QBE homeowners insurance policy for even more protection:
Extended replacement cost for your home: Extends your dwelling coverage limit up to 20% or 25% in the event rebuild costs exceed your policy limit after a covered loss.
Equipment breakdown: Pays for repairs to your refrigerator, washing machine, water heater, and other home appliances due to mechanical or electrical breakdown.
High-value collections: Increases coverage limits for categories of high-value belongings, like art or jewelry collections.
Flood insurance: QBE offers flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a government program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Renters insurance: Includes coverage for the personal belongings in your rental home or apartment against fire, vandalism, theft, windstorms, and water damage, as well as personal liability and loss of use coverage.
Personal umbrella insurance: Provides additional liability protection for expensive medical or legal bills you’re found legally responsible.
Ratings methodology
Price
3.1/5
Our price rating scale looks at home insurance rates for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, as well as the total number of discounts offered. We didn't have cost information available for QBE Insurance as of February 2023, so its score is based solely on the four discounts the insurer has available.
Customer experience
4.4/5
Our customer experience scale uses data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. QBE Insurance has a score of 1.35, which means it receives slightly more complaints than expected for a company of its size. (The expected number would be 1.0.)
Coverage options
3.1/5
Our coverage options rating is based on both the number and quality of additional coverage and policy options offered by the company. QBE Insurance scores middle of the road compared to other home insurance companies.
Financial strength
4.3/5
Our financial strength rating is a weighted combination of three industry-leading metrics to measure a company’s financial health: AM Best, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s. QBE Insurance has an A rating from AM Best and an A+ rating from Standard & Poor’s, but it’s not rated by Moody’s.
How much does QBE Insurance home insurance cost?
The average cost of home insurance with QBE Insurance will vary depending on a variety of factors including:
Where you live
Your home’s age, condition, and claims history
Discounts you qualify for
Your coverages and policy limits
Your credit score
Compare home insurance quotes with top insurers in minutes
What discounts does QBE Insurance offer?
You can save on the cost of QBE home insurance if you qualify for the following discounts:
New home: If your home is less than eight years old.
Home security system: If you have a home security system installed in your home.
High-rated fire department: If you live in a community that’s served by a higher-rated fire department.
QBE home insurance state availability
QBE Insurance offers home insurance policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C..
What to expect with QBE home insurance
How to get a quote: You can get a QBE home insurance quote by contacting a QBE agent.
Customer service options: You can get in touch with a QBE Insurance customer service rep by calling 800-362-5448 or contacting your agent.
How to file a claim: You can file a QBE home insurance claim online or by calling 844-723-2524.
How to cancel your policy: You can cancel your QBE Insurance home insurance policy by calling your agent (their contact info should be on your policy declarations page) or calling 866-318-2016.
QBE Insurance vs. other home insurance companies
Compare QBE home insurance to other insurers in the industry:
Not only has QBE been in business for over 100 years, it has strong financial ratings with both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. But it's not the most tech-friendly insurer. Its website isn't user friendly, it doesn't have a mobile app to manage your policy, and you can't get a quote online.
Where is QBE Insurance based?
While QBE Insurance was founded in Australia, the company started doing business in North America in 1991. The U.S. headquarters are located in New York City.
How do I file a claim with QBE Insurance?
You can file a claim directly on the QBE Insurance website by visiting the claims page or by calling 844-723-2524.
Does QBE Insurance cover flood damage?
QBE Insurance offers flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a government program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Jessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.
After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
Ian Bloom, CFP®, RLP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, he was a financial advisor at MetLife and MassMutual.
