UPC Insurance Review & Complaints: Home, Condo, Fire, Renter’s, Flood & Commercial Property Insurance (2023)

A Florida-based homeowner’s insurance company, UPC Insurance has survived multiple catastrophes and the difficulties of the Florida market of the past decade. Currently writing policies in seven states, UPC Insurance has big plans for the future.

What is UPC insurance?

UPC Insurance was founded in 1999 and has managed to survive a very difficult time in the Florida property insurance market, with multiple major hurricanes causing other companies to close their doors in the state. They write residential property insurance including standard homeowner’s, dwelling coverage, and flood insurance coverage.

UPC stands for United Property & Casualty, although the company uses the acronym officially. They are part of United Insurance Holdings and are among the largest property & casualty insurance companies in the state of Florida.

UPC currently writes policies in 12 states: Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, New York, and Texas. They are also licensed in Alabama, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Virginia. UPC’s focus as a property insurance company is on coastal states and areas at risk of catastrophic weather. They are planning to expand their operations into more states in the near future.

UPC policies are written through a network of independent agents, and currently, there is no online quoting system available.

What insurance products are offered by UPC Insurance?

UPC writes residential property insurance covering a variety of home types, as well as insurance for renters.

Homeowner’s Insurance

UPC writes HO3 and HO5 package policies that cover replacement cost for the structure itself, personal property coverage, and liability coverage. There are additional options available to customize your homeowners insurance coverage in some states:

• Identity Theft coverage
• Scheduled personal property for high-value items
• Equipment Breakdown
• Water Damage: backup and sewer overflow coverage

HO3 policies are available in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, and Texas. HO5 policies are available in all of these states with the exception of Florida.

Condominium Insurance

Similar to a homeowners policy but specifically designed for the needs of condo owners, UPC writes condo unit policies that cover the portions of the structure on the interior for which the owner is responsible as well as personal liability and property.

Additional Coverage like condo insurance includes optional golf cart coverage and an option for condos rented to others. Condo coverage is available in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Louisiana, New York, and Texas.

Dwelling Fire Insurance

UPC writes two forms of Dwelling coverage, DP1, and DP3, which are a more basic version of homeowner’s insurance designed for a rental property and homes that do not meet underwriting standards for HO3 coverage. These policies cover named perils and don’t usually include personal property unless it is specifically added.

DP1 policies are available only in Florida, while DP3 is available in Florida, Massachusetts, Louisiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, and Rhode Island.

Renter’s Insurance

These policies are designed to protect the personal property of renters living in a non-owned home. They also include liability insurance and may have several of the options offered for homeowner’s insurance. Renter’s insurance is available in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Private Flood Insurance

UPC writes flood insurance for all levels of flood risk. These policies cover flood damages that are not covered under a homeowner’s policy. UPC writes private flood insurance in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas.

Commercial Property Insurance

The latest addition to the product lineup from UPC is commercial property, which is currently only available in Florida. This product is designed for apartment building owners and condominium and homeowner’s associations. At UPC you can find the perfect Commercial Policy that fits your needs.

Are UPC insurance rates reasonable?

Because there is no online quoting option available for UPC, it’s difficult to compare premiums and premium discounts. Products are sold through agents, so they are likely to be higher as a result of the need for commissions.

It’s also likely that prices may be somewhat higher due to the focus on catastrophe-prone areas where major claims are likely, although for homeowners in these areas higher premiums than less risky areas are already a reality.

Since every company uses their own criteria for underwriting policies, it is important to get a personalized quote in order to see how they stack up against the competition.

How are claims processed by the company?

UPC Insurance’s claims reporting system is simple and straightforward. Claims can be reported in one of two ways; by phone through a 24-hour toll-free line or online through an easy to use claims form.

There is little information on the claims process, although the website does promise a 24-hour response time for a filed claim and a fast, easy process. Claims are likely processed in the same manner as most other insurance companies, with timing dependent on the complexity of the claim as well as the level of catastrophe in the event of a major storm.

Are there consumer complaints against the company?

UPC Insurance has a rating of A with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and has been accredited there since 2003. There are 33 complaints on file in the past three years, and 12 of those were closed in the past 12 months. Those numbers are low for such a large insurance company, but may only represent Florida customers. There are no government actions against the company recorded.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation maintains a database of complaints against Florida homeowner’s insurance companies. UPC is listed under the name United Property & Casualty Insurance Company and had 78 complaints filed against them in the fourth quarter of 2016. That is a ratio of 1:2,398, or one complaint for every 2,398 policies the company has in force. That’s somewhat high when compared to similar companies.

There are very few customer reviews available under either UPC or United Property & Casualty, which makes it difficult to get a clear picture of how customers feel. This may be a positive thing, as people tend to write reviews when they are unhappy rather than when they are pleased with service.

What’s the bottom line?

UPC Insurance is a major insurer in Florida and also serves several other states. For those who live in areas prone to catastrophic storms, they may be a company of choice due to their expertise in that area. They have successfully seen their policyholders through many major storms and have been around longer than the much newer property & casualty insurance companies that have popped up across Florida in the past decade. The company is well worth a quote comparison for those in their particular niche of the market, but may not be the best bet for lower-risk properties.