Do I need to tell my insurance company about a new roof?
Short answer. Most policies do not require you to report a new roof the moment it is installed, but you should, because the insurer's record of your roof's age affects your premium, your eligibility, and what a future claim pays. Send the invoice and installation date to your agent along with the shingle type and any impact rating. If an application or renewal asks for the roof year, the answer must be accurate.
Why it matters even when it is not required
- Roof age drives terms. If your insurer still thinks your roof is 18 years old, it may keep it at actual cash value or on a payment schedule. See roof age and insurance.
- Depreciation on the next claim. An adjuster working from the wrong year will apply too much depreciation. See recoverable depreciation.
- Credits. Some insurers give a premium credit for a new roof or for impact rated shingles, but only if they know.
- Accurate answers. A misstated roof age on an application can create problems at claim time.
What to send
- The final invoice with the installation date.
- The building permit or final inspection, if your city or county issued one.
- The shingle product line and any Class 4 impact rating documentation.
- The manufacturer and workmanship warranty paperwork.
If the roof came from an insurance claim
The insurer knows about the claim but may not update the roof year in its underwriting file automatically. Send the same documents and ask the agent to confirm the change in writing.
Ask about coverage changes too
A new roof can raise your home's replacement cost, so confirm your dwelling limit still covers a rebuild. Ask whether the roof can move back to replacement cost settlement now that it is new.