Does roof age affect home insurance premiums?
Why insurers price roof age
Older asphalt shingles get brittle, lose granules and seal less reliably, so they break more easily in hail and lift more easily in wind. Insurers see more and larger claims from older roofs, and they price that risk. Roof age can affect the premium itself, which deductibles you are offered, and whether your roof is settled at replacement cost or actual cash value.
What a new roof can do for your premium
- Move you into a better roof age tier at the next renewal or sooner.
- Restore replacement cost coverage on the roof if it had been limited.
- Qualify for a credit with some insurers if you install impact rated shingles. Ask your agent for the specific discount in writing before you choose.
Rates do not update themselves
Your insurer may not know you replaced the roof. Send your agent the invoice, the permit if one was pulled, and completion photos, and ask that the roof year be updated. Check the next renewal to confirm it was.
Shopping with an older roof
If your roof is aging, quotes can vary widely between insurers. An independent agent can compare several. Georgia also requires insurers to give written notice with reasons before non-renewing a homeowners policy. See roof age and insurance and Robust Roofing's guide to impact resistant shingle discounts.