Every Florida home insurance policy has two deductibles: a standard "all other perils" (AOP) deductible, and a separate hurricane deductible that only applies when a named storm hits.
How the percentage works
Hurricane deductibles in Florida are set at 2%, 5%, or 10% of your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) — not your home's value, and not the amount of the claim.
Example: your dwelling coverage is $400,000 and you choose a 5% hurricane deductible.
- Roof damage from a Cat 2: you pay the first $20,000 before insurance pays a dime.
- Water heater burst (not a hurricane): your standard $2,500 AOP deductible applies.
When the hurricane deductible triggers
Only when the National Hurricane Center names a storm and it makes landfall in Florida (or somewhere along the U.S. coast, depending on your policy). Tropical storms and unnamed weather events don't trigger it — the AOP deductible applies instead.
Picking the right percentage
- 2% hurricane deductible. Lowest out-of-pocket in a claim, highest premium. Best for homeowners with limited savings or older roofs.
- 5% hurricane deductible. The Florida sweet spot. Typically 10-15% cheaper than 2%, and $20K-$30K out-of-pocket is manageable for most owners.
- 10% hurricane deductible. Cheapest premium. Only makes sense if you have deep savings and a newer, well-mitigated home.
Mortgage considerations
Most Florida lenders cap the hurricane deductible at 5%. Check your loan documents before you request a higher deductible at renewal — an escrow surprise is not fun.
4quote.ai lets you toggle 2%, 5%, and 10% deductibles in real time and re-prices every carrier instantly so you can see the true savings.