Most Florida homeowners are surprised to learn their policy has two separate deductibles. The difference rarely matters until the worst day: after a storm.
The all-perils (standard) deductible
This is a flat dollar amount, such as $1,000 or $2,500, that applies to most claims: a kitchen fire, a burst pipe, a theft. You choose it, and a higher deductible means a lower premium.
The hurricane deductible
This is a separate, usually percentage-based deductible, most often 2%, 5%, or 10% of your Coverage A dwelling limit, and it applies only to damage from a named hurricane. On a $400,000 home, a 2% hurricane deductible is $8,000 out of pocket before coverage begins.
How it's triggered
Florida's hurricane deductible generally applies once a storm is named by the National Hurricane Center. Under the state's calendar-year structure, you typically pay it once per hurricane season rather than for every individual storm.
Choosing your deductibles
A higher hurricane deductible lowers your premium but raises what you owe in a major storm. The key question is whether you could actually cover it. It's one of the biggest factors in what your policy costs, so it's worth setting deliberately rather than by default.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hurricane deductible in Florida?
A separate deductible, usually 2% to 10% of your dwelling limit, that applies only to damage from a named hurricane, instead of your flat all-perils deductible.
How much is a 2% hurricane deductible?
Two percent of your Coverage A limit. On a $400,000 dwelling limit, that's $8,000 you'd pay before hurricane coverage kicks in.
Do I pay the hurricane deductible for every storm?
Under Florida's calendar-year structure you generally pay it once per hurricane season, not once per storm.
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