Can Impact Windows Lower Your Home Insurance?
Florida law requires insurance companies to offer discounts for features that reduce windstorm damage. Impact windows and doors are one of those features. This guide explains how the discount works, what a wind mitigation inspection looks at, and the steps to request the credit after your installation.
In This Guide
How Wind Mitigation Discounts Work
Florida Statute 627.0629 requires insurers to offer premium discounts for proven windstorm loss mitigation features. To get them, a qualified inspector completes the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) and you send it to your insurer. The discounts apply to the windstorm (hurricane) portion of your premium, which is often the largest part of a Florida homeowner policy.
What the Inspection Checks
- Roof covering: the roof type and whether it meets current building code.
- Roof deck attachment: how the roof deck is nailed to the trusses.
- Roof-to-wall attachment: clips, single wraps or double wraps that hold the roof to the walls.
- Roof geometry: hip roofs perform better in high winds than gable roofs.
- Secondary water resistance: a sealed roof deck that keeps water out if shingles are lost.
- Opening protection: whether windows, doors, skylights and garage doors are protected against wind-borne debris.
Why Opening Protection Matters
Opening protection is where impact windows and doors make the difference. The best rating on the form generally requires that every opening be protected with impact-rated products, including entry doors, sliding glass doors and the garage door. If one opening is left unprotected, the home may receive a lower rating. That is why we recommend planning windows and impact doors together.
How to Request the Discount
- 1. Install impact-rated products: keep the product approvals (Miami-Dade NOA) and the final permit inspection from your project.
- 2. Schedule a wind mitigation inspection: hire a qualified inspector, such as a licensed home inspector, contractor, engineer or architect.
- 3. Send the form to your insurer: your agent applies the credits that match the inspection results.
- 4. Keep it up to date: an inspection form is generally accepted for up to five years, and a new one is needed after major changes.
How Much Can You Save?
Savings depend on your insurer, your policy, your roof and how many features your home has. For many Florida homes, the windstorm credits are significant, and opening protection is one of the features that can move the number. Ask your agent to run your policy with and without the credits so you know your real savings before you decide.
State Programs
From time to time Florida funds the My Safe Florida Home program, which has offered free inspections and matching grants for improvements such as impact windows and doors. Funding and eligibility change, so check the program’s current status before you plan around it.
Start with a Free Estimate
We can help you plan a project that protects every opening. Request your free estimate on our impact windows page, or read how much a project costs in our impact windows cost guide.