QBE Home Insurance Review (2022)

QBE is an international insurance company that has been providing homeowners insurance in the United States for 40 years. The company offers standard coverage for structural, personal property, and liability claims. To learn more about the specifics of QBE and its policies, read our review of the company below and decide if it’s the best homeowners insurance company for you.

QBE Coverage

QBE policies are HO-3 policies that protect against the following 16 events:

1. Fire and lightning
2. Windstorm and hail
3. Explosion
4. Riot or civil commotion
5. Vehicles
6. Aircrafts
7. Smoke
8. Theft
9. Vandalism
10. Falling objects
11. Weight of snow, sleet, or ice
12. Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
13. Frozen plumbing
14. Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging
15. Volcanic eruption
16. Sudden and accidental damage from an artificially generated electrical current

Within a QBE policy, there are six areas of coverage:

• Dwelling—Dwelling coverage covers the built-in elements of your home like the cabinetry, walls, and HVAC system. If an event destroys your home, QBE will pay to rebuild your home and include all of these elements.
• Other structures—This covers detached structures on your property, like fences and sheds.
• Personal property—If a covered event damages your personal belongings in your home or on a trip, your policy will pay to replace them.
• Loss of use—If you have to leave your home because of major repairs, QBE will pay for additional living expenses during that time. This includes the cost of a hotel room and the cost of eating out for every meal.
• Liability—If you’re responsible for injuring someone or damaging their personal property, your policy will cover their medical bills or repair and replacement costs. It will even cover legal fees if you’re sued.
• Medical payments to others—If a guest is injured in your home, QBE will pay for their medical bills.

Here are the QBE coverage amounts based on North Carolina availability:

Note: To see what your options are for liability and medical payments to others coverage, talk to your local QBE agent.

QBE Additional Coverage

QBE only offers home insurance products to independent agents. Depending on the independent agent you work with and the QBE home insurance program he or she signed up for, you’ll have access to some or all of the following endorsements:

• Assisted living care
• Student away at school
• Personal security
• High-value items
• Reward coverage
• Fire extinguishers
• Increased daycare expense
• Personal injury
• Replacement cost
• Extended replacement cost

How Much Does QBE Home Insurance Cost?

The price of your QBE policy will depend on factors like your credit score and claims history, the square footage of your home, and your proximity to a fire station. To give you an idea of how much a QBE policy costs, we requested a quote for a one-story home in Raleigh, North Carolina.

QBE Discounts

QBE offers discounts for the following situations:

• Installing protective devices in your home, such as security systems and fire alarms
• Maintaining a claims-free record
• Having continuous coverage on your home
• Bundling home and auto insurance

Customer Service and Claims Support

You can manage your policy and claims on the QBE online portal. You can also call 866-635-0489 Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm for general customer service questions or 844-723-2524 at any time for claims questions.

QBE Home Insurance Reviews

QBE North America is not accredited with or rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Here’s what one customer said about the company:

“Worst company I have ever dealt with. Can’t get anyone to give me a call back on my insurance claim. I’ve left multiple messages and emails, and I just keep getting ignored.” — James P. on September 3, 2019

Because there are not more QBE reviews online, we recommend reaching out to QBE by phone to get an idea of what the company’s customer service process looks like.

*QBE is not available in AK, HI, or FL

**Lemonade is available in AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WI

Our Conclusion

QBE offers six main types of home insurance coverage along with a long list of endorsements, including unique ones for daycare expenses and assisted living care. A QBE policy is also cheaper than most and costs almost $20 less per month than the national average.

However, you can’t get a QBE policy without talking to an insurance agent, and the company has a history of poor customer service, especially when it comes to its claims processes.

If you’re already working with an independent insurance agent who sells QBE insurance, QBE will likely be your most affordable option. However, we would not recommend seeking out a QBE policy otherwise.

To see what other home insurance providers are available in your area, input your zip code into the tool below.

Company Information

• Company name: QBE Insurance
• CEO: Todd Jones
• Years in business: 40
• State availability: 47
• Address: 88 Pine Street
• City/State: New York, NY
• Zipcode: 10005
• BBB rating: N/A

Our Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team values accuracy, transparency, and trust. With that in mind, we created a thorough, objective rating system to score each home insurance company based on the following six factors:

• Coverage (30)
• State availability (7.5)
• Customer service (15)
• Technology (12.5)
• Reputation (20)
• Additional benefits (15)

Our Reviews Team has a full-time researcher who collects and regularly updates data points from every company to help us compare them on key factors such as coverage, service, and dependability. Read more on our methodology here.

Frequently Asked Questions About QBE Home Insurance

How do I get a QBE homeowners insurance policy?

QBE is only sold through independent agents and brokers. QBE doesn’t offer a list of the independent agencies that sell its policies, so if you’re interested in signing up for a policy, call the company’s customer service line to find an agent near you.

Is QBE based in Australia?

QBE was founded in Australia in 1886. The company now offers insurance policies in 140 countries, including areas in North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

What other products and services does QBE offer?

In the United States, QBE offers standard insurance products and services for auto insurance, collections, renters insurance, and umbrella insurance. It also offers specialty products for workers compensation, cyber security, accidents, and health.

Does QBE have a chat function?

The QBE website for the United States doesn’t have a chat function. However, if you go to qbe.com, you have access to a search robot in the bottom right corner that will help you find any information you need.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.