Home insurance: FAIR Plan
On the FAIR Plan? Make sure you know what's missing.
The FAIR Plan is a basic fire policy. Most homeowners need more than that, and some can move back to a standard policy.
What usually goes wrong
- The FAIR Plan gets treated like a regular homeowners policy. It's a basic fire policy.
- There's no DIC policy alongside it, so liability, theft, and water damage aren't covered.
- Nobody checks at renewal whether a standard option has opened up.
How we handle it
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Step 1: Review what you have.
We read your FAIR Plan declarations page and any DIC policy you already carry.
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Step 2: Show you what's covered and what isn't.
You'll see exactly what your combination covers, and what it leaves out.
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Step 3: Compare DIC policies.
Coverage varies by insurer, so we compare them for you side by side.
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Step 4: Check for a way back at each renewal.
As insurers re-enter markets or your home's mitigation improves, standard options can open up.
What to have ready
- Your FAIR Plan declarations page
- Any DIC policy
- Home details: year built, roof type and age
- Any mitigation you've done
Don't have everything? Start anyway.
The FAIR Plan, explained
DIC policy
Liability, theft, water damage, and more
Varies by policy
FAIR Plan
Fire, lightning, smoke, internal explosion
Basic dwelling policy, with optional additions
- What the FAIR Plan covers
- Its basic dwelling policy covers fire, lightning, smoke, and internal explosion, with optional additions.
- What it doesn't
- No liability coverage, theft, or water damage, among other gaps.
- What a DIC policy does
- A difference in conditions policy sits on top of the FAIR Plan and can cover many of those gaps. Coverage varies by insurer, so we compare them for you.
- Can you leave the FAIR Plan?
- Sometimes. As insurers re-enter markets or your home's mitigation improves, standard options can open up. We'll check at each renewal.
- Fees
- California doesn't allow brokers to charge a fee for placing FAIR Plan coverage. We don't.
Timeline
Every step is planned back from your date.
- Send us your declarations page
- We review what's covered and what's missing
- Compare DIC policies and other options
- Changes placed and confirmed in writing
- FAIR Plan renewal date
Common questions
What is the California FAIR Plan?
It's California's insurer of last resort for property owners who can't find coverage in the regular market. Its basic policy covers fire, lightning, smoke, and internal explosion, so most homeowners pair it with a DIC policy for things like liability, theft, and water damage.
What is a DIC policy?
A difference in conditions policy sits on top of a California FAIR Plan policy and covers things the FAIR Plan doesn't, such as liability and theft. Coverage varies by policy.
Do you charge fees on FAIR Plan policies?
No. California doesn't allow brokers to charge fees for placing FAIR Plan coverage.
What is surplus lines insurance?
Coverage from insurers that aren't licensed by California but are allowed to cover homes that licensed insurers decline. These policies aren't backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association, and you'll get a required state notice before you buy. We'll explain the tradeoffs before you decide.
Have a date coming up?
Tell us what's happening and when. Your broker will reply within one hour on business days.