Paul Sanchez
Owning a house with a pit bull can be challenging when it comes to insurance. While some insurance companies deny coverage for certain dog breeds, others decide to cover homes with otherwise high-risk breeds on a case-by-case basis. Pit bulls are among the dog breeds that some home insurance companies consider high risk due to potential attacks, and this perception can lead to higher policy rates or even denial of coverage. However, there are a few insurance providers that are more lenient towards pit bull owners, such as State Farm, Allstate, and USAA, which take into account the dog's history of good behaviour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for insurance companies banning pit bulls | High risk of dog bite liability claims |
| Average cost of a dog bite claim | $49,025 in 2021 |
| Number of dog bite liability claims in 2021 | 17,989 |
| Total amount paid by home insurance carriers in 2021 | $882 million |
| States that ban breed discrimination | Michigan, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois |
| States planning to ban breed discrimination | Massachusetts, New York |
| Insurance companies that cover pit bulls | State Farm, Allstate, USAA |
| Insurance companies that may cover pit bulls | Auto-Owners, Chubb, NJM |
| Ways to increase chances of getting home insurance coverage for pit bulls | Enrolling in dog training classes, getting the Canine Good Citizen certificate, spaying or neutering |
| Alternative insurance options for pit bulls | Umbrella policy, canine liability insurance |
What You'll Learn
Some insurance companies will deny coverage for homes with pit bulls
Insurers that do not cover homes with pit bulls include Chubb, Auto-Owners, and NJM. However, some insurers, such as State Farm, USAA, and Allstate, make coverage decisions based on a dog's individual behaviour rather than its breed. State Farm, for example, does not require you to disclose the breed of dog you have when purchasing a home insurance policy. Instead, it makes a decision based on your individual pit bull's previous behaviour.
In certain states, such as Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania, insurers are not allowed to deny or cancel liability coverage based solely on breed.
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Some companies will cover pit bulls on a case-by-case basis
While some insurance companies deny coverage for certain dog breeds, others decide to cover homes with otherwise high-risk breeds on a case-by-case basis. These insurers include:
- State Farm: This insurer does not require you to disclose the breed of dog you have when you are purchasing a home insurance policy. Instead, it makes a decision based on your individual pit bull's previous behaviour. State Farm considers each dog's personal bite history to assess its insurance risk, rather than having a rule that impacts every dog from a specific breed.
- Allstate: Its practices involving dog breeds are similar to State Farm. Your pit bull can be included under your home insurance liability coverage, but that could change if your dog misbehaves in the future.
- USAA: It covers your pit bull if the dog has a history of good behaviour. However, USAA insurance is only available to U.S. military members and their families.
The practice of prohibiting coverage based on a dog's breed is slowly decreasing. Michigan and Pennsylvania have passed legislation that prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on breed alone. More states, such as Massachusetts and New York, are planning to pass similar legislation.
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Some companies will cover pit bulls with no history of biting
While most insurance companies deny coverage for pit bulls, some companies will cover pit bulls with no history of biting. These companies include State Farm, USAA, and Auto-Owners. State Farm does not restrict coverage or deny claims based on a dog's breed. Instead, they consider a dog's personal bite history to assess its insurance risk. USAA also does not enforce any dog breed restrictions and decides whether to provide coverage based on a dog's previous bite history. Auto-Owners does not restrict customers from owning pit bulls in some states, but in other states, they will limit coverage or deny policies for incidents caused by pit bulls.
In some states, breed blacklisting for insurance policies has been outlawed. For example, in Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania, insurance companies are legally prohibited from canceling or not renewing coverage based on a dog's breed alone. However, these states may still allow insurance companies to charge higher rates for certain dog breeds or deny coverage if the dog bites someone.
If your pit bull is not covered by your insurance company, you may want to consider purchasing a separate pet liability insurance policy or a stand-alone dog liability policy. These policies can provide coverage for all breeds of dogs in the event that your dog injures a person or another dog.
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Some companies will cover pit bulls with no history of aggression
While many insurance companies will deny coverage or restrict claims for pit bulls, some companies will cover pit bulls with no history of aggression.
State Farm, for example, does not ban any specific dog breed. Instead, they consider whether a dog has a history of biting or whether a liability claim has been filed due to the dog in the past. Similarly, USAA does not discriminate against any dog breed, but they may deny coverage if a dog has a history of biting or aggressive behaviour. Chubb is another company that only factors in a dog's biting and behaviour history.
In some states, Auto-Owners does not restrict customers from owning pit bulls. However, in other states, they will limit coverage for incidents caused by pit bulls or deny a policy altogether.
It is important to note that even if a company covers pit bulls, you may still face higher insurance rates due to the perceived risk associated with the breed.
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Some states have banned breed discrimination
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. In the United States, BSL is typically enacted at the county or municipal level, and it is not uncommon for certain states to enforce bans and restrictions on pit bulls. However, some states have taken steps to ban breed discrimination and protect the rights of dog owners and their pets. As of 2021, 9 states prohibited local governments from enforcing breed-specific legislation, and 12 states prohibited local governments from naming specific breeds in dangerous dog laws.
California, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and Florida are among the states that have laws prohibiting BSL or breed discrimination. Additionally, states like Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia, do not have any BSL being enforced or prohibit BSL altogether. For example, Utah has prohibited local governments from making their own BSL, protecting dog owners and their pets from unfair and inconsistent laws.
The movement against BSL has gained momentum, with social media and increased awareness playing a significant role in changing perceptions. Celebrities such as Cesar Milan have also contributed to the cause, helping pit bulls regain their reputation as beloved pets. Furthermore, organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society, and the American Bar Association have suggested that governments focus on problem animals rather than banning specific breeds.
The opposition to BSL is based on the understanding that breed-specific laws are ineffective in enhancing public safety and carry unintended negative consequences for both dogs and their owners. BSL can compromise public safety by shifting the focus away from effective enforcement of dog license laws, leash laws, anti-tethering laws, and other crucial regulations. Additionally, breed-specific bans may discourage responsible dog ownership and lead to a climate where adoptable dogs are destroyed instead of finding loving homes.
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Frequently asked questions
Many home insurance companies consider pit bulls to be too high-risk and dangerous, and therefore exclude them from coverage. This is due to the perception that pit bulls are more likely to cause expensive liability claims, such as dog bite incidents, which can cost insurance companies millions of dollars in payouts.
No, some insurance companies, such as State Farm, USAA, and NJM, make coverage decisions based on a dog's individual behaviour rather than its breed.
You can shop around for a different insurance company that does not ban pit bulls or offers coverage on a case-by-case basis. You could also consider purchasing a separate canine liability or umbrella insurance policy, which provides additional coverage for dog-related incidents.
Yes, certain states such as Michigan, Nevada, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania have passed legislation prohibiting insurers from denying or cancelling coverage based solely on a dog's breed.
You can demonstrate your pit bull's good behaviour by enrolling it in a dog training class, getting it certified by the American Kennel Club, keeping its vaccinations up to date, and socialising it with other dogs to reduce any feelings of threat or aggression.
