Frontline Insurance homeowners insurance

Overview

Frontline Insurance is a privately held property insurer based in Lake Mary, Florida, that grew up writing homes on the hurricane coast and now sells in nine states from Alabama to Delaware. Its main carrier is First Protective Insurance Company, an admitted insurer; Frontline Insurance Reciprocal Exchange took over new Florida homeowners business in July 2026; and Frontline Insurance Unlimited Company writes surplus lines property coverage. All three are sold only through independent agents.

The Frontline group ranked #29 among U.S. homeowners insurance groups by 2025 direct premiums written, according to NAIC market share data, with $1.16 billion, or 0.62% of the national market. It was the 9th-largest home insurer in Florida in 2025 ($871.7 million, 4.63% of the market) and 6th in South Carolina ($138.0 million, 3.93%). The company says it has more than $1.7 billion of premium in force and has paid more than $6 billion in claims.

Frontline is known for three things agents point to: a long record on the Florida coast, a Stepdown Deductible program that pays back part of a hurricane deductible, and mandatory "Home Checkup" inspections. It carries a KBRA rating rather than an AM Best rating.

History

Frontline was founded in Florida in 1998; the company describes its start as a response to the market left behind by Hurricane Andrew. It expanded into South Carolina in 2008, into Alabama and North Carolina in 2013 and into Georgia in 2019. In 2022 it passed $1 billion of premium in force and handled claims from Hurricane Ian. Between 2024 and 2026 it moved into Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee, and its current state list also includes Delaware, part of what the company calls a shift from coastal specialist toward a broader regional property carrier. A rebrand followed in 2026; the company says policies, coverage and agents did not change.

Two structural changes came in 2026. Frontline Insurance Unlimited Company moved its domicile from Illinois to Delaware as a domestic surplus lines insurer in May 2026, according to KBRA. And the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced on May 20, 2026 that Frontline Insurance Reciprocal Exchange had been approved to write homeowners and related lines in all 67 Florida counties, one of 20 new property insurers to enter Florida since the 2022 reforms. The exchange began writing on July 9, 2026.

Homeowners coverage

Frontline writes homeowners policies for primary, secondary and seasonal single-family homes, condo unit-owner policies, high-value homeowners coverage (in Florida, for homes valued at $1 million and up), rental property policies, builders risk, and flood with excess flood options. In Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, its pages say wind and hail are included in every homeowners and condo policy, so a separate wind policy is not needed for a home Frontline accepts.

Stepdown Deductible. This optional product reimburses part of your hurricane deductible (wind/hail deductible in some states) after a covered loss, growing with each renewal: up to 5% in the first policy year, rising in steps to up to 100% after the fifth renewal. It is a separate policy with its own premium, issued by a Frontline affiliate. Say your dwelling limit is $350,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible, or $7,000: in year one Stepdown would return up to $350 of that; after five renewals, up to the full $7,000. To qualify, the hurricane claim must be reported within 90 days of landfall and the loss must at least equal the deductible. See hurricane and named-storm deductibles explained.

Home Checkup. Depending on the home and policy, Frontline requires its own inspection; it does not accept a standard 4-point inspection in its place. New policyholders choose a self-inspection through the vendor CHRP Technologies, completed by phone within 15 days, or an on-site visit by Preferred Reports; renewals default to self-inspection. If the inspection is not completed in the underwriting window, the policy can be canceled or nonrenewed. Frontline's Home Solutions program reimburses eligible policyholders for some repairs the checkup turns up.

The reciprocal. New admitted Florida homeowners business now goes to Frontline Insurance Reciprocal Exchange, a reciprocal exchange whose policyholders are its members and which is run by an attorney-in-fact. KBRA reports that subscribers make surplus contributions equal to 10% of premium, which build the exchange's capital, and that the exchange started with a $30 million surplus note bought by First Protective. Read the subscriber agreement your agent provides; see reciprocal exchanges: how they work.

Discounts and savings

Frontline lists wind mitigation credits for features such as impact-resistant windows, reinforced roof coverings and secondary water resistance, plus discounts for home security features and claim-free history. In Florida, those wind credits depend on a current wind mitigation inspection report; a reroof or new shutters are worth documenting with your agent. Stepdown Deductible is a separate purchase, not a discount, but it is the program most likely to change your out-of-pocket cost after a storm.

Where it sells and recent market moves

Frontline sells homeowners coverage in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Florida still dominates: KBRA put it at about 76% of First Protective's 2025 direct written premium and about 90% of the surplus lines carrier's.

The 2026 changes matter for Florida buyers. A new Florida homeowners policy is now likely to be issued by the reciprocal rather than First Protective, while existing First Protective policies continue to renew. KBRA also notes approved Florida personal lines rate reductions earning in during late 2025 and 2026, in line with the state's broader rate declines after the 2022 reforms. Frontline applies binding restrictions during active hurricane watches and warnings.

Claims

Report non-hurricane claims at 800-675-0145 and hurricane claims at 866-673-0623, or file online through the customer portal or the Frontline mobile app, which also takes claim document uploads. The policy pays the reasonable cost of emergency measures to protect the property from further damage, so keep receipts for tarps and water extraction. If you find more damage after the adjuster's inspection, tell the adjuster before starting repairs. Florida policyholders should check the state's claim-filing deadlines in the Florida state guide.

Ratings and reputation

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) affirmed insurance financial strength ratings of BBB+ with a stable outlook for First Protective Insurance Company, Frontline Insurance Unlimited Company and Frontline Insurance Reciprocal Exchange on August 20, 2026. Frontline notes that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accept KBRA ratings, which matters for a mortgaged home. KBRA credited stronger capital (First Protective's surplus rose to $303.0 million in 2025) and a fifth straight year of underwriting profit, while flagging heavy Florida hurricane concentration, dependence on annually renewed reinsurance, and that 2025 benefited from a quiet catastrophe year and favorable reserve development. Its ratings page lists no AM Best or Demotech rating. See Financial strength ratings: AM Best, S&P, Moody's and Demotech.

Who it suits

Frontline suits coastal homeowners who work with an independent agent and want a company that has written hurricane country for nearly three decades, especially those who value the Stepdown Deductible. It suits less well buyers who want an AM Best-rated national carrier, or who would rather not deal with mandatory inspections or the subscriber terms of a young reciprocal.

• Strengths: long Florida and Carolinas track record; Stepdown Deductible can repay up to 100% of a hurricane deductible after five renewals; KBRA BBB+ (stable), affirmed August 2026, with improved capital.
• Weaknesses: BBB+ is a mid-tier rating and there is no AM Best rating; most exposure is Florida hurricane risk; required Home Checkup inspections can trigger cancellation; new Florida policies sit in a reciprocal begun in July 2026, and surplus lines placements lack guaranty fund protection.

How to contact Frontline Insurance