Should You Bundle Home and Auto Insurance in Rogers, AR?

If you’re like most Northwest Arkansas homeowners, you’ve probably heard that bundling your home and auto insurance can save you money. But is bundling really the smart financial move for your specific situation? Or could you be leaving money on the table by not shopping policies separately?

At OZK Insurance, we help Rogers, Bentonville, and Fayetteville families answer this question every single day. As an independent agency with access to 20+ carriers, we’re uniquely positioned to show you both sides of the equation—bundled savings versus unbundled options—and help you make the decision that actually benefits your wallet.

The truth? Bundling saves most people money, but not everyone. This comprehensive guide will help you determine whether bundling makes sense for your unique situation, what savings you can realistically expect, and the often-overlooked factors that should influence your decision.

The Real Numbers: What Bundling Actually Saves in 2025

Let’s cut through the marketing hype and look at actual data. According to national insurance data from 2025, bundling home and auto insurance saves the average policyholder 15-25% on combined premiums, translating to approximately $500-$850 annually.

Here’s how major carriers stack up on bundling discounts:

• State Farm: Up to 25% discount (highest bundling discount nationally)
• Nationwide: 15-22% discount
• Farmers: 17-18% discount
• Progressive: 5-15% discount (varies significantly by state)
• Travelers: 13-18% discount
• Allstate: Up to 25% discount

However, these are national averages. Your actual Arkansas savings depend on several factors specific to Northwest Arkansas’s insurance market, including your location within the region, your claims history, credit score, and the specific carriers available to you.

The Hidden Benefits of Bundling (Beyond Just Savings)

While premium discounts get all the attention, experienced policyholders know that bundling offers several practical advantages that aren’t reflected in the price:

Single-Deductible Claims

This is huge but rarely discussed. When the same incident damages both your home and vehicle (think: tornado, hail storm, or tree falling during a storm), many bundled policies let you pay just one deductible instead of two. In Arkansas’s severe weather climate, this alone can justify bundling.

Example: A severe hail storm hits Rogers in April (as they frequently do). Your roof sustains $12,000 in damage, and your vehicle parked in the driveway takes $6,000 in hail damage. With separate policies, you’d pay both your $1,000 home deductible and $500 auto deductible—$1,500 total out of pocket. With a bundled policy offering single-deductible protection, you’d pay only $1,000 total.

Simplified Insurance Management

One login. One renewal date. One payment. One phone number for all your insurance questions. For busy families juggling work, kids’ activities, and everything else Northwest Arkansas life throws at you, this simplification has real value.

Through our customer service center, OZK clients with bundled policies can manage everything from a single dashboard—update addresses, add drivers, request proof of insurance, track claims, and more.

Relationship Discounts and Perks

Insurance companies reward loyalty. When you bundle, you’re often first in line for:

• Accident forgiveness programs
• Diminishing deductibles (your deductible decreases each year you’re claim-free)
• Early access to new coverage options
• Premium flexibility during financial hardships
• Priority claims handling

Easier Coverage Gap Identification

When one agent reviews both your home insurance and auto coverage, they’re more likely to spot dangerous coverage gaps. We regularly discover clients who are underinsured in one area while overpaying in another—bundling makes these issues obvious.

When Bundling ISN’T the Best Financial Move

Here’s where honest independent agents separate themselves from captive agents with quotas to hit: bundling doesn’t always save money, and it’s our job to tell you when it doesn’t.

Scenario 1: You’re a High-Risk Auto Driver with a Perfect Home Record

If you have multiple speeding tickets or at-fault accidents, your auto insurance rates are sky-high. Some carriers will price your home insurance higher than necessary just because you’re bundled with your expensive auto policy.

Real Example: We recently helped a Bentonville client who had one DUI from three years ago. His bundled policy with Company A cost $6,200 annually ($4,800 auto + $1,400 home). By separating his policies—placing auto with a carrier specializing in high-risk drivers and home with a different carrier—he paid $4,400 for auto and $1,100 for home. Total savings: $700 annually by NOT bundling.

Scenario 2: Your Home is High-Value but You Drive an Older Vehicle

Luxury homeowners in Rogers and Bentonville often drive paid-off vehicles. If you’re insuring a $500,000+ home but only need liability coverage on a 10-year-old vehicle, bundling rarely makes financial sense.

Scenario 3: One Carrier Dominates in Home, Another in Auto

Arkansas’s insurance market is unique. Some carriers offer incredibly competitive homeowners rates but mediocre auto pricing. Others excel at auto but charge premium rates for home coverage.

As an independent agency, we see this constantly. Even with a 20% bundling discount, Company A’s bundle might cost $3,800 annually while Company B’s home plus Company C’s auto totals $3,200—you’d pay $600 more per year to bundle.

Scenario 4: You Qualify for Specialized Discounts with Different Carriers

Some carriers offer niche discounts that far exceed bundling savings:

• Teachers might get 15% off with one carrier
• Military/veterans might save 30%+ with USAA
• Seniors age 55+ might qualify for retired homeowner discounts
• Alumni associations sometimes partner with specific carriers

Arkansas-Specific Factors That Affect Bundling Decisions

Living in Northwest Arkansas introduces unique insurance considerations that influence whether bundling makes sense:

Severe Weather Frequency

Arkansas posted a devastating 144% loss ratio in 2023, with the state experiencing 30 tornadoes in 2023 and 40 in 2022. This severe weather pattern affects bundling decisions:

When weather-related claims are common, having one insurance company handle both your home and auto claims becomes valuable. Single-deductible provisions and streamlined claims processes make recovery faster and less stressful.

However, this same weather pattern has caused some carriers to dramatically increase Arkansas homeowners rates or exit the market entirely (remember United Home Insurance’s insolvency in September 2023?). Your bundled carrier might offer great auto rates but be pricing themselves out of the home market—or vice versa.

Property Values in Benton and Washington Counties

Northwest Arkansas has seen explosive property value growth, particularly in Rogers, Bentonville, and Fayetteville. Many homeowners are underinsured because their dwelling coverage hasn’t kept pace with replacement costs.

When bundling, ensure the carrier provides adequate dwelling coverage at competitive rates. We’ve seen situations where a carrier’s 20% bundling discount still resulted in higher total premiums than separate policies with proper coverage limits.

Rural vs. Urban Rate Variations

Insurance rates vary significantly even within Northwest Arkansas. A Rogers address might get different pricing than rural Benton County, which gets different pricing than Bentonville or Fayetteville. These micro-market variations affect bundling math.

Arkansas’s 17% Uninsured Driver Rate

With nearly one in six Arkansas drivers uninsured, your uninsured motorist coverage is critical. When evaluating bundle options, verify that both policies include robust UM/UIM protection—sometimes bundling tempts people to reduce coverage to hit a price point, which is dangerous in Arkansas’s high-uninsured environment.

The Step-by-Step Process for Evaluating Bundling

Here’s exactly how we approach bundling decisions for our clients at OZK Insurance:

Step 1: Establish Proper Coverage Baselines

Before comparing prices, we ensure you have adequate protection. This means:

• Replacement cost dwelling coverage (not market value)
• Sufficient liability limits (we recommend 100/300 minimum for auto, $300K+ for home)
• Appropriate deductibles based on your emergency savings
• Necessary endorsements for your specific situation

Step 2: Quote 3-5 Carriers for Bundled Policies

We compare bundled quotes from carriers with strong Arkansas presence and financial stability. Each quote includes the bundling discount explicitly itemized so you see exactly what you’re saving.

Step 3: Quote 3-5 Carriers for Separate Policies

Next, we identify the best standalone home carrier and best standalone auto carrier from our 20+ available options. Often, these aren’t the same companies offering the best bundles.

Step 4: Compare Total Annual Costs

We present a clear comparison:

• Best bundled option: $X annually
• Best separate policies: $Y annually
• Difference: $Z savings/cost

Step 5: Evaluate Non-Price Factors

Finally, we discuss:

• Claims reputation and service quality
• Financial strength ratings
• Single-deductible provisions
• Management convenience
• Carrier stability in Arkansas market

This comprehensive approach ensures you make an informed decision based on complete information, not just the biggest discount percentage.

Common Bundling Questions from Northwest Arkansas Clients

Q: Can I bundle if I rent my home?

Absolutely! Renters insurance bundles with auto insurance just like homeowners policies do, often with even bigger percentage discounts. A typical Arkansas renters policy costs $150-300 annually, and bundling might save you 15-25% on your auto premium—often saving far more than the renters policy costs.

Q: What if I want to switch carriers mid-policy?

You can switch anytime. If you’re currently bundled and want to separate, or vice versa, we can make the change at any point. Most carriers will refund any unused premium from your cancelled policy.

Q: Do I have to bundle everything with one carrier?

Not necessarily. Some clients bundle home and auto with one carrier while keeping life insurance, umbrella coverage, or commercial insurance with different carriers. The key is finding the right combination that maximizes savings and coverage.

Q: Will bundling affect my claims?

Bundling won’t make claims easier or harder to file, but it might affect whether your rates increase after a claim. Some bundled policyholders enjoy accident forgiveness or claim forgiveness as a loyalty perk, which separate-policy customers wouldn’t receive.

Q: How often should I re-evaluate my bundling decision?

At minimum, annually at renewal time. However, major life changes warrant immediate review:

• Buying a new vehicle
• Completing home renovations
• Paying off your auto loan
• Changes to your driving record
• Moving within Northwest Arkansas

Special Considerations for Different Life Stages

Young Families in Rogers/Bentonville

You likely have newer vehicles with loans (requiring comp/collision) and growing home equity. Bundling often makes strong financial sense because you need robust coverage on both. The simplified management also helps when you’re juggling kids, careers, and everything else.

Empty Nesters and Retirees

With paid-off vehicles and homes, you have more flexibility. You might drop collision/comprehensive on older vehicles, which changes the bundling math. Many retirees find splitting policies saves money—especially if you qualify for senior discounts with specific carriers.

First-Time Homebuyers

Bundling is usually attractive because you’re building insurance relationships and loyalty history. However, don’t let the “new homeowner” excitement push you into bundling without comparing unbundled options—first-time buyers are exactly who carriers target with impressive-sounding (but not always best-value) bundle offers.

High-Net-Worth Families

For luxury homes ($500K+ value) in Rogers, Bentonville, or Fayetteville, bundling requires extra scrutiny. High-value homes need specialized coverage that not all carriers excel at providing. You might bundle your primary vehicles with your home policy but keep collector vehicles, RVs, or boats with specialty carriers.

The Bottom Line: Strategic Bundling in Northwest Arkansas

Bundling home and auto insurance saves most Northwest Arkansas families $500-850 annually while simplifying insurance management. For busy families juggling careers, kids, and homeownership responsibilities, these benefits often justify bundling even when savings are modest.

However, bundling isn’t universally superior. High-risk drivers, luxury homeowners with modest vehicles, and those qualifying for specialized discounts often pay less with separate policies. The only way to know for certain is to compare actual quotes—both bundled and unbundled—from multiple carriers.

This is where working with an independent agency like OZK Insurance makes all the difference. Captive agents tied to single companies can only show you their employer’s bundled option. We show you bundled options from 20+ carriers AND the best separate-policy combinations, then help you make the decision that actually benefits your financial situation.

Our proactive approach means we don’t just set it and forget it. Every renewal, we re-evaluate whether your current bundle still makes sense or if market changes mean you’d save by switching approaches. This ongoing advocacy has saved our clients thousands of dollars they’d never have realized with a traditional agent.

Whether bundling makes sense for your specific situation depends on your coverage needs, driving history, home characteristics, and dozens of other factors unique to you. Stop wondering and start knowing—let us run the numbers and show you exactly what you’ll save (or not save) by bundling.