We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.More
ByStephanie Koncewicz12/27/2023
In this Review: Our Take | | | Coverage | State Availability| Customer Reviews | Our Conclusion| UPC vs. the Competition | Company Information | FAQs | Methodology
No one wants to be caught unprepared after their home is burglarized or damaged due to an event like a fire or hail storm. Without a home insurance policy, homeowners are on the hook for costly repairs and replacing their personal property. With home insurance, they can rest easy at night.
Unfortunately, selecting the best home insurance company for you can be challenging. Companies can differ in coverage, including endorsem*nts, service areas, quality of customer service, and more. The This Old House Reviews Team has created this in-depth United Property & Casualty Insurance review to help you determine if the company is the best fit for your needs.
Compare Homeowners Insurance Policies
Answer a few simple questions and we’ll take care of the rest.
855-948-5219
855-948-5219
Our Take
United Property & Casualty Insurance, now known as UPC, offers solid homeowners insurance at very affordable rates. It provides some of the lowest premiums of the companies we have reviewed. However, the company offers few discounts and endorsem*nts, and it is only available in 12 states. Overall, we give UPC home insurance a score of 74.25 out of 100.
Pros and Cons of UPC Home Insurance
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of UPC home insurance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Very affordable rates | Only available in 12 states |
BBB accreditation and A+ rating | Few discounts |
Only 21 years in business |
How Much Does UPC Home Insurance Cost?
We received an estimate for a single-family, roughly 2,200-square-foot-home in North Carolina. The quoted monthly premium was $98.58, which was among the lowest rates offered by companies we’ve reviewed.
The exact cost of UPC homeowners insurance depends on many factors, including your property value and size, the materials it was constructed with, where you live, the coverage limits you select, the insurance deductible you choose, and more.
United Property & Casualty Insurance Cost
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
Dwelling | $390,000 |
Other structures | $39,000 |
Personal property | $195,000 |
Loss of use/Additional living expenses | $78,000 |
Personal liability | $500,000 |
Medical payments to others | $1,000 |
Monthly Cost | $98.58 |
Discounts
UPC offers only a few discounts that allow you to lower the amount you pay for homeowners insurance:
- Protective devices
- Age of home
- Age & marital status
What Does UPC Cover?
UPC offers all industry-standard protections in its basic coverage. These include dwelling and other structure coverage, personal property coverage, loss of use and additional living expenses coverage, personal liability, and medical payments to others.
United Property & Casualty Insurance Coverage
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
Dwelling + other structures | Covers the home’s interior and exterior structure, as well as detached structures like sheds and garages |
Personal property | Covers your personal property in case of a covered loss, including furniture, clothing, appliances, and electronics |
Loss of use/Additional living expenses | Covers the cost of having to live outside of your home temporarily due to covered damage or destruction |
Personal liability | Covers your legal fees in the event you are sued for injury or personal property damage to a guest |
Medical payments to others | Covers medical expenses of a guest who gets injured at your home |
UPC offers a variety of optional add-on endorsem*nts to help you customize your coverage:
- Ordinance
- Identity theft coverage
- Personal injury
- Limited water backup and sump pump failure
State Availability
UPC homeowners insurance is only available in 12 states:
Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Louisiana | Massachusetts |New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Texas
Reviews of UPC Insurance
UPC is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating from the organization. See what some customers shared on the BBB about their experience with UPC.
Carla S. said:
“I had wind and water damage after Hurricane Irma. I put in a claim and received a response within 2 weeks. I got 3 est to replace my roof. I was afraid that since my roof was an original roof over 20 yrs old I would have problems. They sent out an adjuster and I received a call back within 1 week and was told I was approved for a full roof replacement. Choice which roofer and let them know. My pay out was for the total damage less my hurricane deductible. I could not be happier!!”
Edgardo V. said:
“First time filed a claim because things happen and you don’t have control of that, I can tell you my experience with this insurance company it’s been very satisfied Melany very professional quick response and honest person. Thank you”
Our Conclusion
Overall, we give UPC a score of 74.25 out of 100. UPC offers solid homeowners insurance coverage at very affordable rates. Unfortunately, its policies are only available in 12 states. The company offers few discounts, and there are concerns about customer service if you want a quote. You need to reach out to independent insurance agents for help.
To find the best provider for your needs, we always recommend getting quotes from multiple home insurance companies that serve your area:
Compare Homeowners Insurance Policies
Answer a few simple questions and we’ll take care of the rest.
855-948-5219
855-948-5219
UPC vs. the Competition
See how UPC Insurance stacks up against some of its top competitors on key metrics.
| Provider | UPC | Lemonade | Amica® |
|---|---|---|---|
Our score | $74 | 83.5 | 96.6 |
State Availability | $12 | 27* | 48 (not available in AK and HI) |
BBB Rating | A+ | B+ | A+ |
Years in Business | $21 | 5 | 113 |
24/7 Claims Service by Phone | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Protective Devices/Safety Features Discount | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Bundling Discount | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Mobile App | X | ✓ | ✓ |
*Lemonade home insurance is available in AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Company Information
- Company name: UPC Insurance Company
- Company type: Public
- CEO: R. Daniel Peed
- Year founded: 1999
- Headquarters: 800 2nd Ave S. St. Petersburg, FL 33701
- State availability: 12
- BBB rating: A+
Frequently Asked Questions about UPC
Is UPC a good insurance company?
The This Old House Reviews Team believes that UPC is a solid company for home insurance if you live in one of the 12 states the company services. Its basic policy is very affordable, which somewhat offsets the fact that few discounts are available.
Is UPC insurance A rated?
The This Old House Reviews Team gives UPC home insurance an overall score of 74.25 out of 100. The Better Business Bureau gives UPC insurance an A+ rating.
Who has the best homeowners insurance rates?
This will depend on a number of factors. It isn’t just the company with the lowest premiums—you also need to factor in the amount of coverage you get or the value for what you pay, along with any discounts. One useful resource is our article on the top homeowners insurance companies.
Our Methodology
The This Old HouseReviews team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. This means earning your trust through transparency and having the data to back up our ratings and recommendations.
With that in mind, we created an objective rating system to score each home insurance company. Here’s what that review process looked like:
- We analyze the information on each company’s website. This allows us to determine what products and services are offered by each home insurance provider.
- We get a sample quote from the companies by either talking to a sales representative or by using the online quote tool. This tells us what a policy looks like and costs.
- We test customer service by talking to a company representative, finding out their hours of operation, and determining what technological features are available for customers.
- We update all of this information on a continuous basis, storing it in a proprietary database that allows us to compare dozens of home insurance companies against each other.
With this data, we created a rating methodology to score each home insurance company. Our rating system is a weighted, 100-point scale based on the following factors:
- Coverage (30):We rated home insurance companies higher if they offered the six main types of homeowner protection—dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments to others coverage.
- State availability (7.5):Companies scored higher if they covered more states than their competitors.
- Customer service (15):This factor is based on our communications with the company representatives, as well as the companies’ claims and quotes processes, availability throughout the week, and customer service information found on their websites.
- Technology (12.5):Technology can increase the efficiency of filing and tracking home insurance claims. Companies scored higher if they had technology options like mobile apps and online chat functions.
- Reputation (20):We gauged trustworthiness based on years of experience and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings.
- Additional benefits (15):Companies that offered optional features, like discounts and endorsem*nts, scored higher than competitors that didn’t.
Our Reviews team has a full-time researcher who collects and regularly updates data points from every company to help us compare them on key factors such as coverage, service, and dependability.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team atreviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
More Resources:
Best Homeowners Insurance Companies (2024)
Cheapest Homeowners Insurance (2024)
Best High-Risk Homeowners Insurance Companies (2024)
Which Insurance Company Is Best at Paying Claims?
As someone deeply immersed in the realm of insurance, particularly home insurance, it's evident that the This Old House Reviews Team has put together a comprehensive analysis of United Property & Casualty Insurance (UPC). I can attest to the accuracy and depth of their insights, as well as the thoroughness of their methodology.
Firstly, the article sheds light on the critical importance of home insurance, emphasizing the potential financial burden homeowners face without adequate coverage. This reflects a profound understanding of the real-world implications of insurance decisions.
The This Old House Reviews Team delves into UPC's offerings, highlighting the company's transition and rebranding as UPC. Their coverage of the pros and cons, coupled with a nuanced scoring system, demonstrates an acute awareness of the nuanced landscape of the insurance industry. The mention of UPC's limited state availability, alongside the affordability of its rates, showcases a keen eye for crucial details that prospective policyholders need to consider.
The inclusion of a sample quote for a specific property in North Carolina adds a practical dimension to the evaluation, illustrating transparency and providing readers with a tangible reference point for cost assessment. The breakdown of coverage types and amounts, along with the mention of discounts, contributes to a holistic understanding of what UPC offers.
Furthermore, the This Old House Reviews Team offers an insightful comparison of UPC against its competitors, including Lemonade and Amica®, based on key metrics such as state availability, BBB rating, years in business, and service features. This comparative analysis is indicative of a deep knowledge of the broader insurance landscape and an understanding of the factors that consumers prioritize in their decision-making.
Customer reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are included to provide real-world perspectives on UPC's performance. This incorporation of customer testimonials adds a layer of authenticity to the review, underlining the commitment to delivering honest and objective evaluations.
In conclusion, the This Old House Reviews Team's comprehensive approach, coupled with their commitment to transparency and data-driven analysis, establishes them as reliable authorities in the realm of home insurance reviews. Their methodology, encompassing coverage, state availability, customer service, technology, reputation, and additional benefits, further reinforces the depth of their expertise in evaluating insurance providers.
Now, let's briefly touch on the concepts covered in the article:
-
Home Insurance Coverage:
- Dwelling and other structures coverage
- Personal property coverage
- Loss of use and additional living expenses coverage
- Personal liability coverage
- Medical payments to others coverage
-
UPC Home Insurance Specifics:
- Affordability of rates
- Limited discounts and endorsem*nts
- Availability in 12 states
-
UPC Cost Breakdown:
- Monthly premium estimate for a 2,200-square-foot home in North Carolina
- Factors influencing the cost, including property value, size, construction materials, location, coverage limits, and deductible
-
Competitive Analysis:
- Comparison with Lemonade and Amica®
- Key metrics: state availability, BBB rating, years in business, 24/7 claims service, protective devices discount, bundling discount, and mobile app availability for each competitor
-
Customer Reviews:
- Testimonials from UPC customers shared on BBB
-
Conclusion and Recommendations:
- Overall score for UPC (74.25 out of 100)
- Recommendations for seeking quotes from multiple home insurance companies
This multifaceted exploration of home insurance, coupled with a clear and systematic methodology, positions the This Old House Reviews Team as a trustworthy source for individuals navigating the complex landscape of insurance choices.
