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What should I do if my homeowners insurance gets non-renewed in California?
A non-renewal notice typically gives you 45–75 days. In today's California market, that's not as much time as it sounds. Here's the three-step playbook we walk our clients through.
Getting a non-renewal notice on your homeowners insurance can feel overwhelming — especially in today's California market.
At Baxter Insurance Agency, we're seeing this more than ever. The good news: you still have options. Let's walk through what to do next.
Step 1: Don't panic — but don't wait
A non-renewal notice usually gives you 45–75 days before your policy ends. That might sound like plenty of time, but in California right now, it's not.
Insurance companies are:
- Tightening guidelines
- Limiting new policies
- Pulling out of high fire areas
The earlier you start, the better your options.
Step 2: Understand why you were non-renewed
Common reasons we're seeing:
- Wildfire or high fire risk score
- Property condition (roof, brush, updates)
- Claims history
- Carrier reducing exposure in California
Knowing the "why" helps us find the right next solution faster.
Step 3: Explore all your coverage options
At Baxter Insurance Agency, we don't rely on just one carrier — we shop multiple solutions:
Admitted carriers (best case)
- Standard coverage
- Backed by the state (CIGA protection)
- Limited availability right now in CA
Non-admitted / surplus lines
- Flexible underwriting
- Designed for higher-risk homes
- Often a strong alternative to keep full coverage
California FAIR Plan (last resort)
- Fire-only policy
- Typically paired with a wrap (DIC) policy for full coverage
- Very common