Do I Have to Tell My Homeowner's Insurance That I Have a Dog?
- An insurance contract is an agreement that means the insurance provider will indemnify you for consideration. In simple terms, it means you pay money, a premium, and the insurance company promises it will make you financially whole again within the terms of the contract and up to the limits of the contract. In the case of homeowner's insurance and dogs, what homeowners want is insurance that covers claims for damages that are a result of the homeowner's negligence. If you misrepresent anything in your insurance application and your misrepresentation is discovered, the insurance company can refuse to pay a claim and can cancel your policy. This could include stating that you do not have a dog when you do have a dog, or acknowledging that you have a dog but misrepresenting its breed or its history of aggression.
- According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance claims for dog bites exceeded $400 million in 2009, making dog bites accountable for more than one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that dogs bite about 4.5 million people each year. About 20 percent of those who are bitten require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries. The medical costs associated with dog bites and the sizes of settlements awarded to injured parties may influence insurance companies to ask homeowners questions about dog ownership in insurance applications.
- Insurance is regulated by states in the U.S., and the regulations can vary from one state to another. Insurance companies must adhere to their state's regulations. Additionally, some individual insurance companies have very tight guidelines for what constitutes an acceptable breed and size of dog. Breeds that statistics indicate are more prone to aggressive behavior expose the insurance company to greater risk and therefore are more likely to cost more to insure. Some companies refuse to provide insurance to homeowners who keep aggressive breeds. Others may insure breeds that are considered higher risk, but will charge a higher premium.
- If an insurance company refuses to offer or renew insurance, or imposes a higher premium cost because of the size or breed of dog you own, you may be able to convince the insurer to offer competitive coverage by taking a few steps. The steps do not ensure that the insurer will provide coverage, but it shows you are willing to mitigate risk for the insurer.
One action would be to have your dog trained for obedience by a certified trainer and offer your insurer evidence of your dog's completion of training. Another is to present verifying records of your dog's immunizations, local licensing and certification of having been spayed or neutered. If your dog has any history of biting or otherwise injuring other people or pets, disclose the facts about the incident and the response you made to prevent incidents in the future.