How Long to Keep Homeowners Insurance Policy Records


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Key Takeaways

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Keep your home insurance records for one to three years after an active claim resolves.

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Proper storage of insurance records will help protect you against future disputes or claims. Consider storing records digitally and/or in a fireproof and waterproof safe.

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To dispose of homeowners insurance records properly, shred the physical copies and securely delete digital files.

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How Long to Keep Home Insurance Records

If your policy is still active, keep your homeowners insurance policy documents until the policy expires. However, the actual length of time you need to keep your home insurance records depends on whether your policy is active, expired or if you have a claim pending.

These documents serve as proof of coverage and are vital for resolving claims or disputes. Properly maintaining these records ensures you're prepared for any situation, whether providing proof to your mortgage lender or addressing unexpected issues long after the policy has ended. The table below provides a starting point for determining how long to keep your homeowners insurance documents available.

Scenario
Documents to Keep
Recommended Duration

If your homeowners insurance policy is still active

Policy documents and related paperwork

For the entire duration of the policy

If your homeowners insurance policy has expired

Expired policy documents

At least one year

If you've made a claim or have a dispute

Policy documents and claim-related records

Until the claim/dispute is resolved, plus an additional one to three years

If your mortgage or loan requires proof of insurance

Policy documents as required by the lender

For the duration of the mortgage

Best Ways to Keep Home Insurance Policy Records

Store your homeowners insurance policy records in a secure format, such as cloud storage or a fireproof safe at home, to ensure their safety. Inadequate storage methods could result in lost or damaged records, making it difficult to resolve disputes or provide the necessary documentation to lenders. Proper storage protects you from future hassles and ensures you're always prepared.

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    Digital Storage

    Storing your records digitally, such as in cloud storage or on an external hard drive, ensures they are easily accessible and protected from physical damage. Digital copies can be quickly retrieved, shared and backed up, offering a reliable method to prevent loss. This approach is particularly useful for maintaining updated records and accessing them remotely.

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    Fireproof and Waterproof Safe

    Keeping physical copies of your records in a fireproof and waterproof safe provides protection against natural disasters or accidental damage. A secure safe ensures that your documents remain intact and accessible even in emergencies, making it a dependable option for safeguarding your essential paperwork.

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REGULARLY BACK UP AND UPDATE RECORDS

Whether you store your home insurance documents physically or digitally, regularly updating and backing them up ensures you have the most current information available. If something happens to the original copies, you have a secondary version available. This practice helps mitigate the risks of data loss or outdated information.

How to Properly Dispose of Home Insurance Records

Shredding physical copies of your homeowners insurance records and securely deleting digital files are the most effective ways to dispose of them properly. Proper disposal is critical for protecting your personal information and preventing identity theft, as these documents contain sensitive data that could be exploited if not handled correctly.

Simply throwing records in the trash or leaving digital files on an old device could expose you to unnecessary risks. Secure disposal methods safeguard your privacy and reduce the chances of unauthorized access to your information.

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    Shred Physical Documents

    Shredding is the safest way to dispose of physical insurance records, ensuring unauthorized individuals cannot reconstruct or access the information. A cross-cut shredder is recommended, as it cuts the paper into small, unreadable pieces, providing high security. This method prevents sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands and protects your personal information.

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    Secure Deletion of Digital Files

    When disposing of digital insurance records, use secure deletion methods, such as file shredding software, to ensure the data cannot be recovered. Simply deleting files from your device may not permanently erase them, so using software that overwrites the data multiple times is essential. This approach effectively protects your digital information from potential recovery and misuse.

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    Dispose of Devices Properly

    If you store insurance records on a device you no longer need, such as an old computer or hard drive, ensure it's wiped clean before disposal. This can be done by using data destruction tools or physically destroying the device to prevent any possibility of data retrieval. Proper disposal ensures no sensitive information is left behind, safeguarding your privacy.

How Long to Keep Home Insurance Policy Records: Bottom Line

Your homeowners insurance documents show you have coverage when filing claims, resolving disputes or meeting lender requirements. Improper storage or premature disposal of these records could lead to challenges in proving coverage when it's most needed. This guide covers how long you should retain these documents, the best ways to keep them and how to dispose of them properly.

Keep your homeowners insurance policy records available until the policy expires. The appropriate duration can vary depending on your policy's status and whether you have filed a claim recently.

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Keeping Home Insurance Policy Records: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions to help guide you on the best practices for maintaining this important documentation.

How long should you keep your homeowners insurance policy?

Should you keep your home insurance policy records even after you switch insurance companies?

How long should you keep policy records if you've filed a home insurance claim?

Why is it necessary to keep old homeowners insurance policies?

How Long to Keep Homeowners Insurance Records: Our Review Methodology

Why Trust MoneyGeek?

MoneyGeek analyzed quotes from multiple insurance providers across the U.S. using a profile that reflects the average homeowner. By considering different locations and companies, we aim to give a reliable estimate of what homeowners can expect to pay — showing why it’s important to compare rates.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluated homeowners insurance carriers incorporating insights and premiums from the official databases of Quadrant Information Services.

Homeowner Profile

For our analysis, we created a sample homeowner profile with the following characteristics:

  • Good credit score (769–792)
  • Home constructed in 2000
  • Wood-frame construction
  • Composite shingle roof

Homeowners Insurance Coverage Details

Unless otherwise specified, we used the following coverage limits to collect quotes for our comparison:

  • $250,000 in dwelling coverage
  • $125,000 in personal property coverage
  • $200,000 in personal liability coverage
  • $1,000 deductible

We also compiled data for policies with broader coverage to determine the best companies for insuring expensive homes, upping limits to $1 million in dwelling coverage, $500,000 in personal property coverage and $1 million in liability coverage.

Home Insurance Policy Records: Related Pages

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.


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