Hippo wildfire insurance review
Tech-first home insurer with proactive monitoring — appetite varies by ZIP.
Founded
2015
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California (operations in Austin, TX)
Financial strength
See note
Channel
Insurtech / MGA
A publicly traded insurtech (NYSE: HIPO) built around proactive home protection, writing through its Spinnaker carrier and partners.
FireRisk.ai rating
Our editorial scores for a wildfire-exposed home — appetite weighted heaviest. Not a financial rating; not carrier-supplied. See how all carriers rank →
Wildfire appetite & overview
Hippo emphasizes prevention (smart-home sensors, proactive maintenance) and writes through its own carrier Spinnaker and partners. Its underwriting uses wildfire scoring: homes scored “minimal” or “low” are eligible, while moderate-or-higher wildfire scores are generally ineligible — so it is effectively closed to the highest-hazard ZIPs. It took an estimated $42M catastrophe loss from the January 2025 LA wildfires, and its Spinnaker unit added fire to its catastrophe-bond program for the first time in 2026.
On financial strength: Hippo’s policies are largely underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, which holds an A- (Excellent) AM Best rating and reported roughly $198M of statutory surplus in Q1 2025. Verify the actual underwriter and its rating on your quote.
Proactive home protection
Hippo’s model centers on prevention — smart-home monitoring devices and maintenance nudges intended to stop losses before they happen — rather than a private firefighting deployment like the high-net-worth carriers.
Strengths
- +Fast online quote and bind
- +Smart-home / prevention perks
- +Competitive in lower-risk areas
- +Modern claims experience
- +Spinnaker carrier rated A- (Excellent)
Watch-outs
- –Ineligible for moderate-or-higher wildfire scores
- –Underwritten by partners — rating isn’t Hippo’s own
- –Limited appetite in high-hazard ZIPs
- –Availability varies widely
What it costs
Often competitive in low-risk areas; pricing is moot in high-hazard ZIPs because its wildfire-score cutoff makes those homes ineligible.
How to improve your odds of being written
- 1Home must score “minimal” or “low” on Hippo’s wildfire model — moderate or higher is declined
- 2Newer or well-maintained construction helps
- 3Confirm which carrier (e.g., Spinnaker) actually underwrites your policy
Recent developments
What’s changed lately — dated so you can judge how current it is.
Reported ~$42M in catastrophe losses tied to the January 2025 LA wildfires, including FAIR Plan assessments, net of subrogation.
Spinnaker sponsored a ~$100M catastrophe bond that added fire to its multi-peril protection for the first time.
Best for
Newer or well-maintained homes in low-to-moderate risk areas who want smart-home perks.
How to get a quote
Online direct, in eligible states and ZIPs.
Bottom line
Worth a quick quote in genuinely low-risk areas for the tech and prevention angle — but its wildfire-score cutoff means it’s not an option in the worst WUI ZIPs. Confirm the underwriter.
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Hippo wildfire insurance FAQ
Does Hippo cover homes in high fire-risk areas?
Hippo emphasizes prevention (smart-home sensors, proactive maintenance) and writes through its own carrier Spinnaker and partners. Its underwriting uses wildfire scoring: homes scored “minimal” or “low” are eligible, while moderate-or-higher wildfire scores are generally ineligible — so it is effectively closed to the highest-hazard ZIPs. It took an estimated $42M catastrophe loss from the January 2025 LA wildfires, and its Spinnaker unit added fire to its catastrophe-bond program for the first time in 2026.
Is Hippo financially strong enough to pay a wildfire claim?
Hippo’s policies are largely underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, which holds an A- (Excellent) AM Best rating and reported roughly $198M of statutory surplus in Q1 2025. Verify the actual underwriter and its rating on your quote. Confirm the actual underwriting company and its current financial-strength rating before buying.
Who is Hippo best for?
Newer or well-maintained homes in low-to-moderate risk areas who want smart-home perks. Worth a quick quote in genuinely low-risk areas for the tech and prevention angle — but its wildfire-score cutoff means it’s not an option in the worst WUI ZIPs. Confirm the underwriter.
Disclosure: This is an independent, research-based editorial review. FireRisk.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Hippo. The company name and any AM Best rating are used for identification and comparison only. This is not insurance or financial advice, and we are not a licensed insurance agency. Availability, appetite, ratings, and pricing change and vary by ZIP and home — verify everything directly with the carrier before purchasing. We may be compensated when you request quotes through a partner.