How to Check If You Have Homeowners Insurance

To find homeowners insurance by address, your mortgage lender is the fastest starting point. Lenders require proof of insurance and pay premiums from escrow, so your insurer's name, policy number and coverage amount are already on file. Log into your mortgage servicer's portal or call and ask for your escrow insurance details.

If you don't have a mortgage or lender records aren't available, try your county assessor's online property lookup tool. Not all counties display insurance details publicly, but those that do will show the insurer's name and sometimes the policy number.

The state's department of insurance is a third option. Consumer assistance lines can help identify whether a property has coverage on record and which insurer holds the policy. The NAIC's consumer portal at naic.org connects directly to each state's lookup tools.

Buyers seeking a property's current insurance status should request a copy of the homeowners insurance declarations page from the seller or listing agent. Disclosure is not always required, but providing it during the due diligence period is standard practice. 

Prior claims filed on the property can be reviewed through a CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report from LexisNexis. A CLUE report shows up to seven years of homeowners insurance claims tied to the property address, which can affect insurance rates after purchase.

The homeowners insurance declarations page is a one- to two-page summary of the entire policy and the fastest way to confirm coverage details. It lists the dwelling coverage amount (Coverage A), personal property coverage (Coverage C), liability coverage (Coverage E), the deductible, the annual premium and the policy's effective and expiration dates. When the declarations page shows a future expiration date and the premium is paid, the homeowners insurance is active.

The declarations page also shows any endorsements or riders added to the base policy, such as water backup coverage, scheduled personal property coverage for valuables or an umbrella policy link. Endorsements are listed separately from base coverages and include their own limits and premiums. This section should be reviewed to confirm that the additional protection paid for is in place.

Use this checklist to review your declarations page to make sure your coverage is active and adequate.

When the homeowners insurance policy cannot be located, the mortgage servicer's escrow department is the first place to contact. Lenders maintain the insurer's name and policy number on file since they require coverage and pay premiums from escrow.

The insurance agent is another efficient option. A single call with the policyholder's name and address retrieves current policy details, coverage amounts and the renewal timeline, even for policies purchased years ago.

When both approaches fail, bank or credit card statements should be checked for an annual premium payment within the past 12 months. The payee name identifies the insurer, and a direct call with the property address can confirm current coverage.