Bundling home and auto insurance can lower premiums and make coverage easier to manage, but it is not automatically the best choice for every household. If you want to bundle home and auto insurance in West Des Moines, the right approach depends on your total premium, deductibles, roof age, drivers, liability needs, and how different insurers price your risks. Sometimes one carrier is best. Sometimes splitting policies makes more sense.
That is why Absolute Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency in Clive, Iowa, serving West Des Moines and the wider Des Moines metro, looks beyond the size of the advertised discount when it quotes homeowners insurance and auto coverage together. As an independent insurance agency, the team can compare multiple carriers and different policy combinations instead of assuming every client should place everything with one company.
This guide expands on Episode 5 of Fully Covered, “What’s the Best Local Insurance Agency for Bundling Home and Auto in West Des Moines?”, where host Mike Downer talks with President and CEO Jeff Eastvold and Vice President Dan Bell.
The better question is not simply, “How much can I save by bundling?” It is, “What combination gives me the best overall value and coverage?”
What Does Bundling Home and Auto Insurance Actually Mean?
Bundling means buying two or more insurance policies from the same carrier, most commonly homeowners and auto insurance. In return, the carrier may offer a multi-policy discount or other benefits.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners explains that bundling involves purchasing multiple types of insurance from one company, often in exchange for a discount.
A bundle can include more than a home and two cars. Depending on the carrier, it may also include:
- Umbrella insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Boat insurance
- RV insurance
- Other recreational vehicles
However, using one insurance agency does not necessarily mean every policy has to be with the same carrier.
An independent agency can manage your overall insurance plan while placing different policies with different companies when that produces a better result. That flexibility is important because no single insurer is best for every type of household.
How Much Can Bundling Home and Auto Insurance Save?
Bundling can create a meaningful discount, but the amount varies by carrier and customer. The percentage itself matters less than the final price and the coverage you receive.
During the Fully Covered podcast, Absolute Insurance Agency President and CEO Jeff Eastvold said bundling could potentially save “up to 30%,” depending on the situation.
That should not be treated as a guaranteed savings figure. Insurance companies calculate rates differently, and a large discount does not necessarily produce the lowest total premium.
For example, a carrier offering a 20% bundle discount may still cost more overall than another carrier offering a smaller discount on a lower starting premium.
That is why Vice President Dan Bell emphasizes the total cost: “The bottom line is the bottom line: how much are you spending in total?”
Consumers should compare the actual annual cost of the policies, along with the limits, deductibles, and coverage terms. The NAIC recommends comparing both price and coverage when shopping for homeowners insurance.
Discounts are useful. They just should not make the decision for you.
What Benefits Can Bundling Provide Besides a Lower Premium?
Bundling can offer benefits beyond savings, including easier policy management and, with some carriers, special deductible arrangements when one event damages multiple insured assets.
One example Dan Bell discusses is a common cause of loss deductible.
Suppose a hailstorm damages your roof and your car during the same storm. Dan Bell explained that with many carriers, a bundled customer gets a common cause of loss deductible, so the highest single deductible applies to the whole loss instead of separate deductibles for the home and the vehicle.
This type of feature is carrier-specific, so homeowners should confirm exactly how the policy works before choosing a bundle.
Bundling can also simplify insurance management. You may have fewer companies to contact, fewer policy documents to track, and one agency helping coordinate coverage across your household.
Those conveniences have value, but they should never outweigh the quality of the coverage itself.
When Is Bundling Not the Best Option?
Bundling may not be the best option when separate carriers provide a stronger combination of pricing and coverage.
Jeff Eastvold addressed this directly in the podcast. When asked whether bundling is always the right solution, his answer was, “No.”
One insurance company might be highly competitive for homeowners coverage but expensive for a family with young drivers. Another carrier may offer attractive auto rates but have stricter requirements for an older roof.
This comes down partly to underwriting appetite, which means the types of risks an insurance company prefers to cover.
Auto carriers may evaluate factors such as age, driving history, location, vehicle type, and vehicle use differently. The NAIC identifies these factors among those that may influence auto insurance pricing.
The same is true for homeowners insurance. Carriers may evaluate roof age, claims history, property features, and other characteristics differently.
That means a household could save more by placing its home with one insurer and its auto coverage with another.
The key comparison is not “bundle versus no bundle.” It is total cost and coverage under each available option.
Why Do Roof Age, Wind, and Hail Matter in West Des Moines?
Roof condition and severe weather exposure can have a major effect on insurance options in West Des Moines.
Dan Bell describes Iowa as a “wind and hail state,” and that risk is especially relevant when comparing homeowners policies. He named West Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, and Ankeny as areas that seem to get hail quite a bit.
The Iowa Insurance Division explains that standard homeowners insurance commonly provides protection for covered losses caused by windstorms and hail. However, how much a policy pays can depend on its specific terms.
Homeowners should understand three important concepts:
- Replacement cost value: Coverage based on the cost of replacing damaged property, subject to policy terms and limits.
- Actual cash value: Coverage that generally takes depreciation into account when determining the value of damaged property.
- Roof payment schedule: A provision that can reduce the amount paid for roof damage as the roof gets older.
This is why the cheapest homeowners premium may not offer the best value.
A carrier that looks attractive when your roof is new may become less competitive once the roof reaches a certain age. Another carrier may offer more favorable roof terms even if its initial premium is slightly higher.
In a hail-prone area, those differences matter.
What Other Coverage Should West Des Moines Homeowners Review?
Homeowners should review water backup, personal property, liability, and older endorsements when comparing insurance options.
A policy can become outdated without the homeowner realizing it.
Jeff Eastvold said Absolute Insurance Agency sometimes finds clients still paying to insure jewelry they sold or gave away years earlier. In other cases, children who no longer live at home may still be listed in ways that affect the policy.
The opposite problem can happen too. A household may have a meaningful risk that was never properly addressed.
Water backup is one example discussed during the podcast, where Dan Bell noted that the Des Moines suburbs tend to have higher water tables and more water backup claims. It is important to understand that water backup and flooding are not the same insurance exposure. FEMA explains that homeowners insurance may not cover sewer backup or surface flooding, and that some surface flooding damage is covered only by a separate flood insurance policy.
A good policy review should look for both unnecessary costs and missing protection.
The goal is not to add every available endorsement. It is to make sure your coverage matches your real risks.
Should Boats, RVs, Motorcycles, and Other Recreational Vehicles Be Bundled?
Recreational vehicles can sometimes be included in a broader insurance package, but a standalone policy may offer stronger protection.
A boat, motorcycle, RV, or similar vehicle may qualify for an additional discount when placed with the same carrier as a home and auto policy.
However, specialized policies are designed around the risks associated with those vehicles.
Dan Bell points out that placing a recreational vehicle under a homeowners product may come with limitations, while a separate policy can provide broader coverage in certain situations.
Liability also matters. Households with recreational vehicles, multiple cars, significant assets, or higher liability exposure may need to consider an umbrella policy.
This is another reason bundling should be evaluated case by case.
Sometimes putting everything with one carrier works well. Other times, splitting specialized coverage gives the household better protection.
Why Does Working With an Independent Insurance Agency Matter?
An independent insurance agency can compare several carriers instead of being limited to one company’s products.
A captive agent generally represents a single insurance carrier. An independent agent can represent multiple companies and compare different options based on the client’s situation.
That distinction matters when one carrier does not fit every part of the household.
Absolute Insurance Agency can evaluate combinations such as:
- Home and auto with one carrier
- Home and auto with separate carriers
- Home, auto, and umbrella together
- Recreational vehicles on separate policies
- Different options for households with young drivers or older roofs
Dan Bell describes the agency’s approach as consultative rather than transactional.
Instead of simply taking an order for a bundle, the team reviews what the client already has, compares options, and explains the advantages and disadvantages of the strongest choices.
That flexibility can be especially valuable when a household has multiple vehicles, changing drivers, claims history, unusual property features, or significant liability needs.
What Should You Compare Before Choosing a Bundle?
Before choosing a bundle, compare the total premium, coverage limits, deductibles, exclusions, settlement terms, and liability protection.
Price matters, but it should not be the only consideration.
The Iowa Insurance Division advises consumers not to become underinsured simply to save on premium.
Important items to review include:
- Dwelling coverage
- Personal property limits
- Auto liability limits
- Wind and hail deductibles
- Water backup coverage
- Replacement cost versus actual cash value
- Scheduled valuables
- Household drivers
- Umbrella insurance needs
- Boat, motorcycle, or RV coverage
You should also make sure the information on your existing policies is still accurate.
Homes change. Drivers move out. Vehicles get replaced. Roofs age. Valuable property gets sold or purchased.
An insurance plan that worked five years ago may not be the right plan today.
How Does Absolute Insurance Agency Compare Home and Auto Options?
Absolute Insurance Agency starts by reviewing the client’s current insurance and then compares available carrier combinations.
The process commonly includes obtaining current declaration pages.
A declaration page is the section of an insurance policy that summarizes important information such as the named insureds, covered property, policy limits, deductibles, and major coverages.
That gives the agency a clear picture of what the client already has.
Dan Bell said the team then compares the available options and narrows them down based on the advantages and disadvantages of each carrier. If two or three choices are close, the differences can be explained so the client can make an informed decision.
According to Jeff Eastvold, straightforward home-and-auto quotes may sometimes be completed the same day or next day. Dan Bell added that more complicated cases can take longer when there are claims, older roofs, rural properties, swimming pools, wood-burning stoves, or other underwriting concerns.
The point is not simply to produce a fast quote. It is to understand what each option actually provides.
How Should You Decide Whether to Bundle or Split Your Policies?
Choose the arrangement that gives you the best overall combination of cost, coverage, deductibles, and carrier fit.
Compare the total annual premium first. Then make sure the coverage limits are comparable. Review deductibles, roof settlement terms, liability limits, household drivers, and any specialized vehicles or property.
It is also worth revisiting the decision regularly. The NAIC recommends reviewing insurance coverage after major life changes and periodically to make sure the policy still matches your needs.
For West Des Moines homeowners deciding whether to bundle home and auto insurance, the biggest mistake is assuming that a bundle is automatically the right answer.
Bundling is a tool. It can save money and simplify coverage, but only when the underlying policies still fit your household.
Watch the Full Podcast Conversation
Watch the full episode of Fully Covered on YouTube for more insight from Absolute Insurance Agency President and CEO Jeff Eastvold and Vice President Dan Bell. Host Mike Downer talks with them about bundling discounts, Iowa hail risks, roof coverage, young drivers, recreational vehicles, deductibles, and why the lowest-looking price does not always provide the strongest insurance plan. Watch the full podcast on YouTube to hear the complete discussion and real-world examples from the Absolute Insurance Agency team. When you are ready to compare your own options, request a quote from Absolute Insurance Agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Bundle Home and Auto Insurance in West Des Moines?
Bundle when one carrier gives you the lowest total premium with equal or better coverage, and split the policies when another combination costs less or covers more. In West Des Moines, roof age, wind and hail deductibles, young drivers, and water backup protection often decide which way that comparison goes.
Can I Bundle Home and Auto Insurance if My Homeowners Premium Is Paid Through Escrow?
Yes. Having your homeowners premium paid through a mortgage escrow account generally does not prevent you from placing your home and auto policies with the same carrier. Your mortgage servicer may simply need updated insurance information if you change companies.
Can I Separate My Home and Auto Policies After Bundling Them?
Yes. You can move one policy to another carrier later. Before switching, compare the new total premium, lost discounts, coverage differences, deductibles, and policy effective dates.
Does Bundling Mean My Home and Auto Policies Use the Same Deductible?
No. Homeowners and auto policies normally have separate deductibles. Some carriers offer special common-loss provisions when one event damages multiple insured assets, but those features depend on the specific policy.
Can Renters and Auto Insurance Be Bundled?
Yes. Many carriers offer multi-policy discounts when renters and auto insurance are placed together. The amount of the discount and available coverage vary by insurer.
Can an Umbrella Policy Be Included With a Home and Auto Bundle?
Yes. Umbrella insurance is often coordinated with home and auto policies because it provides additional liability protection above qualifying underlying limits. Requirements vary by carrier.
Should I Review My Home and Auto Policies Every Year?
An annual review is a good practice. It can uncover outdated drivers, changed vehicles, home improvements, new valuables, unnecessary endorsements, or coverage gaps that developed since the previous review.
Can Claims History Affect Whether Bundling Is Cheaper?
Yes. Claims history can affect pricing and carrier eligibility. Because insurance companies evaluate claims differently, one carrier may offer a stronger home rate while another provides better auto pricing.
Is the Biggest Bundle Discount Always the Best Deal?
No. A larger discount can still result in a higher total premium or weaker coverage. Compare the final cost, deductibles, limits, exclusions, and claim terms before deciding.