Reporter: Mayzie Olson
•6/18/2026
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— Florida homeowners are faced with some of the highest property insurance rates in the country, but new data shows the pace at which those rates are rising slowed in 2025 and is less significant than other parts of the country.
WINK Smart pulled new data in a study done by LendingTree, which utilized information from S&P Global and from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It states that the average Florida homeowner pays $2,691 annually for property insurance, which is 12% more than the national average.
The study also reports that home insurance rates in Florida have risen nearly 50% since 2020. Most of the highest rate increases were from 2020 to 2023.
Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute claims there are clear reasons as to why rates dramatically increased.
"Florida was in the midst of a man-made risk crisis, one of the worst risk crises we've seen in US history, and it was man-made, it was legal system abuse, it was claim fraud," Friedlander said. "Those issues were addressed by the state legislature with bills passed in both late 2022 and early 2023," he said. "As a result, the market has turned around the last two years."
While Florida is still facing elevated premiums, premiums rose just 0.4% last year, which is the smallest increase in the nation.
The LendingTree study listed each state and the rate at which premiums rose.
Colorado came in first, with a 100.8% cumulative increase in home insurance rates from 2020 through 2025. Iowa follows with a 96% increase, Minnesota saw a 88.2% increase, Utah faced a 77.2% increase and finally Nebraska is listed as fifth with residents there seeing a 72.2% increase in premium rates.
The study listed Florida at 17, with a 49.5% increase in premium rates.
"The big takeaway is Florida is no longer even in the top 10 for most rate increases or highest average rates," Friedlander said. "It's dropping down every year, it's getting lower on the list, and that shows that the legislative reforms are working, and that Florida consumers are starting to get relief, and all very positive signs in our opinion."
Friedlander says more insurance companies are coming to Florida with more completive rates. He says if you haven't made any changes to your policy and you're still getting major rate increases, look around.
He says the most important details to look for are adequate dwelling coverage, which is your replacement cost coverage. There is a declarations page at the top of your policy to look more in-depth at the coverage.
Highly consider flood insurance, regardless of whether you are required to have it. You can get quotes from the National Flood Insurance Program to help guide you.
Overall, Friedlander says don't assume what you already have is the best one out there.
Remember with flood insurance, it takes 30 days to kick in, and you can't get a new plan when there is already an active storm.
