Homeowners insurance for historic homes

What kind of insurance do historic homes need?

Historic homes need coverage for the dwelling, other structures, personal property and liability, just like other homes. The right policy depends on the home's condition, construction, value, and insurance requirements. Some historic homes qualify for standard HO-3 or HO-5 coverage, while others need an HO-8 or specialty policy.

However, historic homes can be difficult to value, and because of their age and specialty construction characteristics, they may not always qualify for a standard policy.

“The reason for the different policy is to ensure the historic home will be restored to its original condition following a claim. Most historic homes bear building materials and other historical features that cannot be replaced with standard construction materials like today's new construction homes are built with,” says Lauren McKenzie, licensed broker with A-Plus Insurance in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

If that’s the case, historic homeowners can look to other options, like a high-value home policy or an HO-8, which is designed for homes that don’t meet the standard requirements. Let’s look at a breakdown of the options for insuring an older home with historic features.

Finding insurance policies for historic homes

The right policy for a historic home depends on its age, condition, replacement cost, construction materials, and updates to systems such as plumbing and electrical wiring. A standard policy works for some historic homes, while others need an HO-8 or specialty coverage.

There are several options for insuring an older home.

HO-3 or HO-5 policies for historic homes

If your home qualifies, you may be able to get a traditional homeowners insurance policy. An HO-3 is the most common type of policy and includes all of the basics. To ensure enough coverage for the house, you should look for an extended replacement cost or guaranteed replacement cost policy.

If you have a home that’s higher in value and has high-value contents and you’re looking for coverage that’s a little better than the standard, consider an HO-5 policy, which offers replacement cost coverage for both the home and its contents in the standard policy.

HO-8 historic homeowners insurance

Homes that don’t qualify for an HO-3 or HO-5 due to age, outdated materials or other issues can often be insured with an HO-8 policy, which has less stringent requirements. An important distinction here is that HO-8 policies are actual cash value; they don’t pay the replacement cost of the home. If there’s a claim, the carrier will take depreciation into account in the payout.

High-value home insurance

High-value home insurance is an option for historic properties with high rebuilding costs, valuable contents or specialized construction. These policies offer higher limits and specialized coverage for homes that need more protection than a standard homeowners policy provides.

High-net-worth insurers include Chubb, AIG Private Client Select, PURE, Cincinnati Financial, and Openly, but most major carriers will cover a high-value home.

Where can you buy historic home insurance?

You can buy historic home insurance through standard insurers, specialty insurers, and agencies that work with hard-to-insure properties. A specialty agent helps identify insurers that cover unusual construction and restoration requirements.

National Trust Insurance Services (NTIS) helps owners of historic homes to find the insurance they need. It’s an agency that works to place hard-to-insure homes with companies that will write a comprehensive policy.

If you’re looking for homeowners insurance for homes over 100 years old or for a home with a lot of special features, NTIS might be your best bet.

If you have a high-value historic home, you can start your search with specialty companies. Chubb home insurance is known for providing coverage to special houses, including high-value older homes. AIG is another big name in high-value home insurance.

How much is historic home insurance?

The cost of insuring an older or historic home depends largely on the type of property, the age, special construction features, and where the home is located.

In general, you can expect to pay more to insure your historic home. That’s because historic homes are more costly to repair and are often a higher risk due to outdated wiring, plumbing, or other construction features.

To get the best price on historic home insurance, shop around. Working with an agent who specializes in this type of home insurance can make the process easier.

What makes a home historic?

To be officially designated as historic, a home has to be more than just old. The National Register of Historic Places provides a list of criteria, but the main three are age, integrity and significance. Most eligible properties are at least 50 years old, but exceptionally important properties may qualify even if they are newer.

The National Register uses three key factors to determine whether a property qualifies as historic:

Age

In general, historic homes are at least 50 years old. A property fewer than 50 years old may qualify if it has exceptional historical importance.

Historical integrity

Historic homes should maintain historical integrity; this means they look much as they did when they were built. The National Park Service considers factors such as the property's location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.

Historical significance

A property must also meet at least one National Register criterion for historical significance. Historical significance can have several meanings. It can be a structural or engineering achievement, be architecturally notable, or have been associated with events or people of historical importance, to name a few examples.

When it comes to insurance, whether or not the home is listed by the National Register doesn’t much affect qualifying for coverage. Insurance companies are more concerned with the risk associated with the home. You may need to put a little more time into finding the right insurance for your home, but it will be worthwhile to protect it properly.

Sources:

National Register of Historic Places. "How to List a Property." Accessed October 2026

FAQ: Historic home insurance

Does a historic home need to be on the National Register?

No. A home does not need to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places to be considered historic or to qualify for historic-home insurance. Local and state governments also have their own historic designations, and insurers use their own underwriting criteria.

What should I tell my insurer about a historic home?

Tell the insurer about original materials, custom features, historic designations, and major renovations. Provide information about the home's age, construction, and replacement cost so the insurer has enough information to determine the appropriate coverage.

Does renovating a historic home affect insurance?

Yes. Renovations that improve the home's electrical, plumbing, heating or structural systems could affect eligibility, replacement cost, and premiums. Historic properties may have restrictions on changes to original features, so discuss planned renovations with your insurer before starting work.

Can I insure a historic home with a standard homeowners policy?

Yes, if it meets underwriting requirements. Some historic homes qualify for standard homeowners insurance. The insurer looks at factors such as the home's condition, construction, replacement cost, and risk rather than requiring specialty coverage solely because the home is historic.