Document before you decide
Take dated photos and video of the damage before any repair. You need them whether you file or not, and they help a contractor price the work.
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Claim decisionShould I file a home insurance claim?
Enter the repair estimate, your deductible and your premium. The calculator compares the check you would get with what a claim could add to your premium over the next few years, and gives a clear verdict.
Reviewed 8 October 2026
Written and maintained byMantu Kumar
Evidence review8 October 2026
Calculation rulesRead the methodology
Quality standardEditorial policy
Key facts at a glance
- Rule of thumb: skip claims under about twice your deductible.
- One claim adds about 7%–16% to the premium; two claims about 29%.
- Claims usually stay on your CLUE report for five years.
- A 2% wind deductible on a $350,000 home is $7,000, whatever the damage.
- Average premium: $3,467 claim-free against $4,019 after one claim.
- Liability claims and large losses are worth reporting whatever the surcharge.
Sources: Policygenius, MoneyGeek and NAIC, listed at the end of this page.
File a claim or pay it yourself
No email · nothing sentBefore you call your insurer
Put the estimate, the deductible and the premium side by side
The decision rests on three pieces of paper: the repair estimate, the declarations page and your renewal notice. The photograph shows them on one desk.
The three detail views below enlarge parts of the same photograph. Use them with the checks underneath.
Find the deductible and settlement
Read the deductible, any separate wind or hail percentage and whether the policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value. Each one changes the payout.
Run the numbers both ways
Compare the payout after the deductible with the extra premium a claim can add for several years. File when the payout clearly wins.
Before you file, confirm these
- Deductible
- The flat amount or the percentage of Coverage A, and any separate wind or hail deductible
- Settlement
- Replacement cost or actual cash value for the damaged part
- Claim history
- Claims in the last five years and whether your insurer offers claim forgiveness
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On this page
The twice-the-deductible rule
A common rule of thumb is to avoid filing a claim for less than about twice your deductible. Below that, the check is small and the claim still goes on your record. With a $1,500 deductible, a $2,200 repair pays $700, and a 10% surcharge on a $2,400 premium for three years costs $720. You would come out behind for filing.
The rule is a starting point, not an answer. The calculator replaces it with the actual numbers: the payout after the deductible and any depreciation, against the extra premium you may pay for the years the claim stays on your record.
What a claim costs after it is paid
Insurers share claim history through the CLUE database, where a claim usually stays for five years. Many raise the premium at renewal after a claim, and the increase depends on the insurer, the state and the type of claim.
| After a claim | Typical effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One claim | About 7% to 16% higher premium | Policygenius; MoneyGeek |
| Two claims in five years | About 29% higher than claim-free | MoneyGeek |
| Water, mold, theft, liability | Often penalised more than weather | Policygenius |
| Time on record | Usually five years on CLUE | Policygenius |
| Claims in the last five years | Average annual premium | Change |
|---|---|---|
| None | $3,467 | — |
| One claim | $4,019 | about 16% more |
| Two claims | $4,483 | about 29% more |
Percentage deductibles change the maths
Wind, hail and hurricane deductibles are often a percentage of the dwelling limit, not of the damage. A 2% deductible on a $350,000 limit is $7,000, so an $8,000 roof repair pays only $1,000. Check the declarations page for a separate wind or named-storm deductible before you assume your normal one applies.
Older items on an actual cash value policy
An ACV policy pays the depreciated value. A 12-year-old roof with a 25-year expected life is paid at about half its replacement cost, and the deductible comes off that. This is why claims on older items often pay nothing on ACV policies, even when the repair is expensive. The claim gap calculator shows the split in detail.
When to file anyway
- Large losses. Fire, a tree through the roof or anything far above the deductible: file. The surcharge is small next to the payout.
- Someone was hurt. Liability claims can grow after the fact. Tell your insurer promptly even if you hope it settles quietly.
- Hidden damage is likely. Water can spread inside walls; get the full scope before you decide. The water damage calculator helps size it.
- You cannot pay. If paying out of pocket would leave the home unsafe or unrepaired, the claim is what the policy is for.
Ask your agent whether a phone call to ask a question counts as a claim with your insurer, and read your policy’s deadline for reporting a loss: waiting too long can cost you coverage.
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Questions
When is it not worth filing a home insurance claim?
When the damage is less than about twice your deductible, or when the payout after the deductible is smaller than the premium increase the claim could add over the years it stays on your record. On an actual cash value policy, older items can also be depreciated below the deductible, so the claim pays nothing.
How much does home insurance go up after a claim?
Published averages put the increase after one claim at roughly 7% to 16%, and about 29% after two claims in five years. Water, mold, theft and liability claims are often penalised more than weather claims. Your insurer and state decide the real figure.
How long does a claim stay on my record?
Claims are usually kept on the CLUE database for five years, and insurers use that history when they price your policy or decide whether to renew it.
Does a percentage deductible apply to the damage or the home?
To the dwelling limit, Coverage A. A 2% deductible on a $350,000 limit is $7,000, whatever the damage costs. These are common for wind, hail and hurricane losses.
Should I file a claim for a small roof repair?
Usually not if the repair is close to your deductible. Pay for small repairs yourself, keep the receipts and photos, and save the policy for losses you could not comfortably cover.
Does calling my insurer count as a claim?
It can with some insurers, which record a reported loss even if nothing is paid. Ask your agent first, or check your policy, if you only want to ask a question.
What if someone was injured on my property?
Report it to your insurer promptly. Liability claims can grow later, and late notice can put coverage at risk. Do not decide on a liability claim by premium arithmetic alone.
Related
- Claim gap calculator — how depreciation and the deductible split the payout
- Water damage cost calculator — size a water loss before you decide
- What insurance actually pays — ACV, RCV and deductibles explained
- Roof damage guide — first steps after storm damage
How to use this result
This is a planning comparison, not advice on a specific claim and not a coverage decision. Your policy wording, your insurer’s rating rules and your state’s law decide what is paid and how premiums change. When the decision is close, talk to your agent before you report the loss.
Evidence trail
Reviewed 8 October 2026Sources used to check this tool
Premium effects come from published consumer research; claim history and policy terms from consumer guidance. The calculator applies them to your figures and shows its arithmetic.
Premium after a claimPolicygenius
Claim history pricingMoneyGeek
Consumer guidanceNAIC homeowners insurance
Claim history reportsLexisNexis consumer disclosure (CLUE)
These organizations do not endorse ReplaceCost. The written policy, program rules, contractor scope and applicable law control the real result. See the full methodology for the source hierarchy and update process.
Claim decisions
Decide with the payout and the premium in view
A claim is worth filing when the check clearly beats what it adds to your premium.
Payout after deductible
Depreciation on ACV policies can take the check to zero.
Premium surcharge
One claim often adds about 7% to 16% at renewal.
Percentage deductibles
Wind and hail deductibles apply to the dwelling limit.
Claims history
Claims stay on CLUE for about five years.
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