icon

Get the Best Home Insurance in Richmond, BC

Canadian homeowners save $417* on average on home insurance with RATESDOTCA.

Compare Richmond, B.C. home insurance quotes from providers you trust

Square One - 2022.png
SGI - 2022.png
Pembridge - 2022.png
CAA - 2022.png
Economical - 2022.png
Aviva logo
Image of Joel Kranc

Written By Joel Kranc

Contributing writer

Updated Aug. 30, 2024

Home insurance in Richmond, BC

Richmond, BC is in the coastal Lower Mainland of the province and is part of the Greater Vancouver area. As of 2021, the population was just over 209,000. Home insurance in Richmond, BC is much like elsewhere in the country offering three main types of home insurance packages.


Types of home insurance in Richmond, BC 

  • Comprehensive or all-perils: This package covers the greatest number of perils and is generally the most expensive of the three. A comprehensive home insurance policy protects your home's structure and contents from all insurable perils (events that the insurer has agreed to cover). There are exclusions to this policy that will be discussed later but can purchase coverage separately.
  • Broad or named perils: This is sort of a mid-level coverage. It protects your home's structure against all insurable perils. However, your contents are only protected against perils you categorize directly into your policy. It’s important to remember that if you failed to categorize it into the policy you will not be covered for it.
  • Basic: This is generally the least expensive of the three packages and offers, as the name suggests, basic coverage for properties that fail to meet the usual underwriting standards. Speak with your broker or provider for details.


Home insurance coverage

A standard home insurance policy in Richmond will include the following:

  • Property: This offers you coverage for things like the replacement value of your home and protects you from common perils such as fire, theft, and storms. Remember that replacement value is different from market value for insurance purposes. Exterior parts of your home, such as a fence or driveway, may require additional coverage. Ask your insurer for more information.

Coverage amount: Replacement cost of your home

Included: Yes

  • Contents and personal property: This coverage includes protection for contents within your home, such as laptops, home furnishings, and appliances, in case they get damaged, lost or stolen. More expensive items like fine art or jewelry can be covered with a rider or add-on to your policy.

Coverage amount: 70% - 80% of replacement cost, varies depending on depreciation.

Included: Yes

  • Additional living expenses: Should you need temporary accommodation due to damage to your home or forced evacuation, this will cover you for that and potentially food while you are away from your home. Talk to your provider about the limits of the coverage.


Liability coverage

Home insurance protects your personal liability as well.

  • Personal liability: Many home come with personal liability protection. This protects you from lawsuits and claims that may occur after someone suffers an injury on your property.
  • Voluntary medical payments: If someone is harmed on your property and requires medical attention, this liability coverage will pay for that. Most insurers will pay the specified amount for up to one year from the date of the accident.
  • Voluntary property damage: This covers losses you cause to someone else's property even though you are not legally liable for them. This includes situations like accidentally damaging a neighbour's fence while mowing your lawn.


Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Richmond

Homeowners in Richmond can customize their home insurance coverage by including add-ons to increase their coverage. Here are the most common home insurance add-ons Richmond insurers provide:

  • Overland water: If your home incurs damage from overflowing water from rivers, streams, lakes, and thawing snow which enters your home, this will protect you. Please note that not all insurers offer this add-on.
  • Sewer backup: This will protect you if a sewer backs up and damages your home. You can install a backflow preventer in your home to prevent such issues.
  • Earthquake: Richmond, which is on the west coast of Canada, is more susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes. This coverage is crucial because earthquake damage can be very costly to repair as it can affect your property’s structure. It's not usual for earthquake coverage to be part of a basic policy so talk to your provider about this add-on.
  • Mass evacuation: Should you need to evacuate your home due to wildfires or floods; this will help pay for temporary displacement costs.
  • Identity theft: Identity theft coverage covers the cost of replacing important personal identification, such as your driver's license and passport, when lost, stolen, or misused.
  • Lock replacement: This add-on covers the cost of replacing your house locks if damaged.

What is not covered under your Richmond home insurance

While Richmond home insurance can help cover you for a variety of damage and situations, there are still areas you are not covered for.

  • Income from guests (renting part or all of your home requires additional coverage).
  • Criminal activity and purposeful damage to property (filing a claim for intentional damage is considered insurance fraud).
  • Intentional injuries to guests are not covered by liability.
  • Vacant properties – Generally you won’t be protected if your home has been vacant for more than 30 days.
  • Home-based business assets and injuries suffered by clients/customers (this requires additional coverage).
  • Natural disasters (such as earthquakes)
  • Certain water damage, such as sewer backup and flooding from overland water.
  • Certain weather issues in winter, such as damage to the outside of your home caused by freezing.
  • Frozen pipes
  • Damage from insects and rodents.
  • Poor maintenance – If you’ve left your home in disrepair, your home insurance provider will consider that a problem you could have solved and won’t cover you for it.

How much insurance coverage do I need for my home in Richmond?

The amount of home insurance you need in Richmond depends on your personal needs and the type of area you might live in.

If you live in a higher-risk neighbourhood with no security features, for example, you may need more insurance than someone who lives in a less risky area with a state-of-the-art security system.

The size of your home, how much it costs to rebuild it, and its contents could also determine how much home insurance in Richmond you will need. You may want to consider extra coverage if you have valuables in your home that are not part of a basic or even comprehensive insurance policy.

While home insurance is not mandatory in Richmond, most mortgage lenders will not provide a mortgage without it. You’ll likely have to have at least basic coverage to satisfy your mortgage providers’ requirements.

Talk to your broker or agent about how much coverage is right for your situation.

Recent home insurance quotes in Richmond

Recent Home Insurance Quote from Prince George, BC
Detached 1,711 sq ft
October 11, 2024
Cheapest Quote
$ 80 / month
$959 / year
Average Quote
$ 133 / month
$1,598 / year
Savings
$ 53 / month
$636 / year
or
40.00 %
Recent Home Insurance Quote from Prince George, BC
Detached 1,617 sq ft
October 11, 2024
Cheapest Quote
$ 99 / month
$1,192 / year
Average Quote
$ 171 / month
$2,056 / year
Savings
$ 72 / month
$864 / year
or
42.00 %
Recent Home Insurance Quote from Prince George, BC
Detached 1,686 sq ft
October 11, 2024
Cheapest Quote
$ 89 / month
$1,063 / year
Average Quote
$ 164 / month
$1,965 / year
Savings
$ 75 / month
$900 / year
or
46.00 %
Home insurance quotes are compared from Apollo Insurance, CAA, Economical Insurance, Pembridge, Square One Insurance, and SGI

Factors that affect your Richmond home insurance

Home insurance providers in Richmond will consider a variety of factors when determining your coverage and policy rates. Some of those factors include:

  1. Location – Home insurance companies will look at your location to determine past claims histories, which they use to predict the likelihood of future claims.
  2. Replacement costs – Your home insurance provider will calculate your premiums based on replacement costs and NOT market value.  The higher the replacement costs, the more it will cost you to insure your home.
  3. Age and Condition – Over time your home will deteriorate and need repairs. As your home ages your premiums may go higher. It’s important to be diligent about repairs and maintenance.
  4. Closeness to fire services – The distance from your home to the nearest fire station can affect your premiums. The closer you are, the less of a risk a fire might be.
  5. Credit score – Your credit score can be used by insurance companies to determine risk. Homeowners with better scores might be eligible for better home insurance rates. Newfoundland & Labrador is the only province that prohibits using credit scores to determine premiums.
  6. Mortgage – Having a mortgage can affect premiums. The more you reduce your mortgage the more likely it is you can save on your insurance. People who are mortgage-free can save as much as 20% off premiums.

How RATESDOTCA finds the best home insurance in Richmond

Comparing insurance rates from a wide range of providers can help homeowners in Richmond save hundreds of dollars each year.

The RATESDOTCA online tool provides free quotes for home insurance in Richmond from dozens of the most trusted providers in the country. It takes less than three minutes to secure significant savings on home insurance.

Which companies offer home insurance quotes in Richmond?

Company Company Type Phone Number Address
Ackroyd Insurance Agencies Insurance agency +1-604-231-0888 8100 Ackroyd Rd Unit 185, Richmond, BC V6X 3K2
BCAA Insurance agency +1-604-268-5850 5300 No. 3 Rd #618, Richmond, BC V6X 2X9
InsuranceHotline.com  Quotes comparison +1-855-821-7312 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2
LowestRates.ca  Quotes comparison +1-604-829-3714 730 Alexander St. Unit #1, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E3
RATESDOTCA  Quotes comparison +1-844-726-0907 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2
Scoop Insurance Brokerage +1-866-456-6620 300 Lincoln St. Unit 22, Welland, ON L3B 4N4
Troy Wotherspoon Insurance Services Insurance agency +1-604-278-9138 10151 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V7A 4R6
Western Coast Insurance Services Ltd. Insurance agency +1-844-802-7620 6253 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6Y 2B5

What people say about our quotes

Rating stars

Based on 6,355 reviews

 Trustpilot logo

How to get the cheapest home insurance in Richmond 

There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of insurance on your Richmond home.

  • Comparison shop: Renewal time is a great time to consider switching providers and comparison shop on sites like RATESDOTCA for the best rates. Your insurer will give you a heads-up 30 days before it happens. During this time, you can change home insurance companies without penalty and without having your coverage cancelled.
  • Bundle: Purchasing auto and home insurance from the same insurer can save you between 5-15%. Beyond comparison shopping, insurance bundling is the next most effective way to reduce your insurance costs. Providers are often willing to come down on price when they hold more of a client's business. They appreciate your loyalty, and you’ll appreciate the savings.
  • Increase your deductible: Raising your deductible or the amount you are willing to pay out-of-pocket can reduce rates. You are helping reduce the insurer's costs and signaling that you're a responsible policyholder; you're less likely to file a claim if you have additional skin in the game, and overall, less of a risk. The less of a risky client you can show your provider to be, the more you can save.
  • Agree to a credit check: In B.C., home insurance companies are allowed to perform a soft credit check with your consent. An excellent score will result in a premium reduction. However, a bad score cannot be used to penalize you.
  • Maintain a claims-free record: The fewer claims you file, the better it is for your insurance premiums. Insurers look to the past to predict your future behaviour. They will adjust your premium accordingly if they view you as someone likely to file a bunch of claims in the future. Again, showing them you’re a low or no risk factor will benefit you greatly.
  • Pay annually: Paying the total amount of a one-year policy will result in savings since you're saving the insurer money on administrative costs.

How to get Richmond home insurance quotes on RATESDOTCA

1

Tell us about your home

Answer a few basic questions about your home.

2

Find your quote

See the best quote for your property.

3

Choose the right coverage

Find the right protection for your home.

Secure your rate

Connect with the provider and secure your rate.

What risks do homeowners face in Richmond?

Homeowners in Richmond face a unique set of challenges due to the city's geographical location on the West Coast and it being situated about three feet above sea level. Being aware of potential risks is important for Richmond, BC, residents to take proactive measures and protecting their properties.

  1. Theft - As it is common in different communities, Richmond, BC homeowners too may face the risk of theft. Implementing security measures can help mitigate this risk.
  2. Fire - Having fire-resistant materials can enhance home safety.
  3. Vandalism - Homeowners should be aware of the potential for vandalism in their communities. Securing entrances and investing in proper security systems, cameras, lighting can deter such incidents.
  4. Roof leaks due to extreme weather - Richmond faces the risk of extreme weather, including snowmelt flooding. Adequate insulation and weatherproofing can help protect homes from weather-related damages.
  5. General home construction issues - Homeowners may encounter general construction issues. Regular home inspections and timely repairs can address these concerns before they escalate.
  6. Flood hazards from coastal storm surges - Given Richmond's proximity to the coast, homeowners should be aware of potential flooding from coastal storm surges. Elevating structures and investing in flood insurance can offer protection.
  7. Snowmelt flooding and extreme weather events - Richmond faces the risk of extreme weather, including snowmelt flooding. Adequate insulation and weatherproofing can help protect homes from weather-related damages
  8. Earthquakes - Richmond is situated in an earthquake-prone region. Implementing seismic retrofitting and having an earthquake preparedness plan are vital for homeowners.
  9. Tsunamis are rare but can happen
  10. Extreme heat - Homeowners may face challenges associated with extreme heat. Ensuring proper insulation and ventilation can help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
  11. Wildfires - The West Coast is susceptible to wildfires, posing a significant risk to homeowners. Creating defensible space and having fire-resistant materials can enhance home safety.
  12. Landslides

Living in Richmond offers a unique blend of opportunities and challenges. Homeowners can safeguard their properties by staying informed, implementing preventive measures, and being prepared for unexpected events. Understanding and addressing these risks contributes to a resilient and secure living environment in this vibrant West Coast community.

Frequently asked questions about home insurance in Richmond

Still have questions about how home insurance works in Richmond, B.C.? We'll answer them.

Do high Richmond real estate prices affect the cost of home insurance?

Richmond is a wealthy suburb, indirectly impacting home insurance premiums. Generally speaking, insurance premiums will be more affected by rebuilding costs as opposed to market costs. So real estate prices should not have a material effect on your home insurance. However, Richmond is a relatively wealthy area and as such, higher priced or newer homes will have higher replacement costs.

Which company offers the cheapest Richmond home insurance?

There is no one company offering the cheapest Richmond home insurance. It will depend on a number of factors like your needs, the contents you wish to insure, the location of your home, your claims history and so on.

You can find cheap home insurance premiums on sites like RATESDOTCA.

How do I save on Richmond home insurance?

Saving on home insurance in Richmond begins with using comparison sites like RATESDOTCA. We work with home insurance providers in the area to offer you the city's best quotes. RATESDOTCA will collect your information and use it to generate the top offers from our partners. It is fast, reliable, and free to use.

By comparing Richmond home insurance quotes from several insurance providers in a single place, you can instantly assess the market and find the best policy to protect your Richmond home.

However, there are other ways to save on Richmond home insurance. For example, you could bundle your home insurance policy with your auto insurance. Agencies will give cheaper rates to customers who use them for more than one service.

Increasing the deductible can also help save on upfront costs (however, it means you pay out-of-pocket for some of your damaged property should a claim be made). If the repair cost is close to your deductible, it's better not to file a claim as it may increase your premiums.

Installing a high-level safety and security system in your home could also help reduce the cost of insurance as risks are lowered with greater security (and safety features).

How do Richmond home insurance claims work?

If you want to make a claim it’s important to notify your agent, or insurance provider immediately. This can be done with a phone call, of course, but also online.

Making claims can be made easier if you have an inventory of the items in your home, photos of those items and even receipts to prove their value.

You will likely be contacted by a claims advisor to confirm the details of your loss and who may help with emergency repairs if needed.

Damage estimation and repair approach will be determined next. You can choose to have home repairs completed by a contractor of your choice.

Finally, repairs and reconstruction will begin. Once repairs are completed, your claim will be closed.

Is fire covered under my Richmond home insurance policy? 

The amount of coverage you need is determined by the value of your home, its contents, location and age, and the risk you pose to the insurer. Home insurance policies typically offer three or more types of coverage, including dwelling, contents, and personal liability. Standard policies usually cover common risks like fire and theft. Still, you may have unique needs or valuables that require extra coverage. Check with your insurance agent or broker to ensure you have enough coverage.

How can I get vacant home insurance in Richmond?

It’s important to talk to your provider or agent about vacant home insurance because not all insurance companies offer coverage for vacant homes. Many insurance providers believe it possesses a higher risk and are less likely to offer that kind of protection.

If you have a valid reason for it, some insurers may offer a special insurance policy, or a vacancy permit to protect the property.

Even if you get vacant home insurance it doesn’t always provide the same extent of coverage that a regular home insurance policy does. For example, vandalism, flood damage, and window damage, may not be covered because the risk becomes too high for insurers. That’s why it is so important to talk to your provider about exactly what is covered and what is not.

*Shoppers who obtained a home insurance quote on RATESDOTCA from January to December 2023 saved an average amount of $417. The average savings amount represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third lowest quoted premiums generated by RATESDOTCA. Excludes tenant and condo insurance.

Joel Kranc ,
Writer

Joel Kranc is a freelance writer and content provider who has worked with RATESDOTCA since 2019. He holds an MA in political science from the University of Toronto and a film certificate from New York University.

He has been published in and worked for such companies as CNN, Rogers Media, Institutional Investor Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Infrastructure Investor, BenefitsPRO Magazine, Global Finance Magazine, With Intelligence, the CPP Investment Board, Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan, and many more financial services and industry publications.

He is the author of "Retirement Planning in 8 Easy Steps," which, when released in 2015, was No. 11 on the Publisher's Weekly US Bestseller List for Business and Finance, beating out Mark Cuban's "How to Win at the Sport of Business."

Education
  • Master's of Political Science, University of Toronto
Featured in
  • Benefits Canada
  • Institutional Investor
  • Plan Sponsor Magazine
  • Global Finance Magazine
  • Infrastructure Investor
  • Private Equity Investor
  • The Globe and Mail
  • Fund Directions Newsletter
  • BenefitsPRO
  • HR Professional
  • Advisor's Edge
  • Institutional Investor
  • Employee Benefit Advisor
  • Investing in Infrastructure Magazine (i3)

Latest home insurance articles

Does your insurance cover the full replacement cost of your home?
Do you know if your home insurance will cover the full cost of rebuilding your home in the event of a disaster? Learn how home replacement cost works - before you need it.
5 mins read
Navigating home insurance: By-law coverage
If your home needs repairs, by-law insurance covers the extra costs of upgrading to meet new safety standards, beyond what regular insurance covers.
4 mins read
Rebates for climate-friendly changes to your home
As climate change worsens, more people are doing their part to limit its effects. Here are just some of the rebates available for climate-change-friendly upgrades to your home.
5 mins read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay on top of our latest offers, relevant news and tips!

Thanks for joining!

You'll be hearing from us shortly - stay tuned.