Florida Home Insurance Renewal Checklist
Florida home insurance renewal checklist: six things to find before you shop, and when to start. Each one helps you compare.
Some can lower your price or change which companies will quote you. Print it, check off what you have, and keep it by the phone when you call.
Want an agent to shop your renewal for you?
Call a licensed, independent Florida insurance agent.
The checklist
-
1. Your renewal notice
It shows your new price. Compare it to last year's price, and see why it went up.
It comes from your company. Your agent can send you a copy too.
Your company has to send your renewal price at least 45 days before your policy renews. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(2)(a), checked Oct 20, 2026.
The notice has to show how much of any price increase comes from a rate increase the state approved. It also has to show how much comes from changes to your coverage. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(7)(a), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 627.4133(2)(a) and (7)(a)
-
2. Your declarations page
A fair quote has to match the coverage you have now. This page lists it.
It comes with your policy and with each renewal. Your company's website or your agent can send a copy.
Your declarations page sums up your policy. It lists facts about your home, your deductibles, your coverage limits and the credits you get. Source: Citizens, Policyholder Newsletter, Welcome to Your Declarations Page, Sept. 24, 2021, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Citizens policyholder newsletter, Sept. 24, 2021
-
3. Your wind mitigation report
It can lower your price. Companies use it to give discounts for features that cut wind damage.
Look in your closing papers or ask your agent. Is it over 5 years old, or did you put on a new roof or shutters? Then get a new inspection.
Florida law says home insurers must give discounts for features that cut wind damage. Each company has to explain its discounts on its website. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.0629(1), checked Oct 20, 2026.
A wind mitigation report on the state form is good for up to 5 years. That holds as long as no big changes are made to the home. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Wind Mitigation Resources, checked Oct 20, 2026.
The state updated the form on April 1, 2026. Inspections done on or after that day use the new form. Source: Citizens, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form Changes, March 19, 2026, checked Oct 20, 2026.
The form looks at your roof cover and how the roof deck is held down. It looks at how the roof is tied to the walls. It checks for a second water barrier under the roof, and for covers on windows and doors. Source: Citizens, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form Changes, March 19, 2026, checked Oct 20, 2026.
My Safe Florida Home gives a free wind inspection to some owners. The home must be a site built, single family home you live in, with a homestead exemption. Condos, mobile homes and rentals do not qualify. Check its site to see if it is open. Source: My Safe Florida Home, Frequently Asked Questions, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 627.0629(1); Florida OIR; Citizens, Mar. 19, 2026; My Safe Florida Home
-
4. Your 4 point and roof inspections
Older homes and roofs may need them before a company will quote you.
Look in your closing papers or ask your agent for the last ones. A Florida licensed inspector can do new ones.
Citizens requires a 4 point inspection on applications for homes more than 20 years old. It checks the wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling, and roof. Source: Citizens, Inspections, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Is your shingle roof over 25 years old? Or is your tile, metal or other hard roof over 50? Then Citizens asks for proof that the roof has at least 5 years of life left. Source: Citizens, Inspections, checked Oct 20, 2026.
If your roof is under 15 years old, a company can't say no to a new policy or a renewal just because of roof age. If it is 15 or older, the company must let you get a roof inspection first, at your cost. If the roof has 5 or more years of life left, age alone can't be the reason for a no. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.7011(5), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Citizens, Inspections; Fla. Stat. s. 627.7011(5)
-
5. Your flood zone and elevation certificate
An elevation certificate can help. It may lower what you pay for flood insurance.
Look up your zone on FEMA's flood map. For the certificate, check your closing papers first.
With Citizens? You may need flood insurance too. See the Citizens flood rule.
You can look up the FEMA flood map for your address with FEMA's address search . Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center, Frequently Asked Questions, checked Oct 20, 2026.
An elevation certificate shows how high your home sits. It is optional, but giving one may get you a lower flood insurance price. Source: FEMA, NFIP Understanding Elevation Certificates fact sheet, March 2023, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Your local floodplain office or the home's past owner may have a copy. A land surveyor, engineer or architect can make one for a fee. Source: FEMA, NFIP Understanding Elevation Certificates fact sheet, March 2023, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center; FEMA fact sheet, March 2023
-
6. Your claims history
A new company may ask about past claims. Have your dates and amounts ready so your quotes are right.
Ask your current company or agent for a list of your past claims. This is often called a loss history.
A company can't cancel or drop you because of claims caused by an act of God. The one exception: it asked you to take steps to stop the damage from coming back, and you did not. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(3), checked Oct 20, 2026.
One water damage claim can't be the only reason either. The same exception applies: it asked you to take steps to stop a loss like it, and you did not. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(6), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 627.4133(3) and (6)
-
7. When to start shopping
Start the day your renewal notice comes. That leaves you at least 45 days to compare.
Keep your policy until a new one starts. Never let it lapse.
Your company has to send your renewal price at least 45 days before your policy renews. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(2)(a), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Is your company dropping you at renewal? In most cases it has to tell you in writing at least 120 days ahead. It has to say why. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(2)(b), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Source: Fla. Stat. s. 627.4133(2)
Questions? Call a licensed, independent Florida insurance agent: (727) 997-5999
Facts checked Oct 20, 2026. insurancecompaniesflorida.com/home-insurance-renewal-checklist/
Questions people ask about renewals
How early does my renewal price have to come?
At least 45 days before your policy renews. Florida law sets this for home, condo, mobile home and similar policies. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.4133(2)(a), checked Oct 20, 2026.
How long is a wind mitigation report good for?
Up to 5 years, as long as no big changes are made to the home. The state updated the form on April 1, 2026. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Wind Mitigation Resources, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Can my company drop me because my roof is old?
Not just for age if the roof is under 15 years old. If it is 15 or older, you can get a roof inspection first. If it has 5 or more years of life left, age alone can't be the reason. Source: Florida Statutes, s. 627.7011(5), checked Oct 20, 2026.
Do I need an elevation certificate?
No, it is optional. But it may get you a lower flood insurance price. Your local floodplain office or the home's past owner may have one. Source: FEMA, NFIP Understanding Elevation Certificates fact sheet, March 2023, checked Oct 20, 2026.
Ready to shop your renewal?
One call. A licensed agent shops other companies for you, free.