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Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (AIUA)

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the AIUA is

This site is not the AIUA and is not affiliated with it. For your policy, payments or claims, go to aiua.org or call your agent.

The AIUA says it "was voluntarily formed in the early 1970's by insurance industry leaders in co-operation with the Alabama Department of Insurance," and that "In 2008, the Alabama legislature codified AIUA." The law (Ala. Code 27-1-24) makes every insurer that writes fire and extended coverage in Alabama a member as a condition of doing business in the state.

Its stated mission is "to provide a market for owners of eligible property located in Baldwin and Mobile counties to obtain essential insurance when they are unable to obtain coverage in the private insurance market."

Storm restrictions. AIUA will not issue a policy while a named storm is inside its watch area (80 degrees W longitude and 20 degrees N latitude) or a Tropical Storm Watch or Warning covers Baldwin or Mobile County. Applications stay closed until 24 hours after the storm dissipates and all watches and warnings are lifted. After Hurricane Isaias, AIUA's home page (Oct. 12, 2026) said new-application restrictions "have been lifted as of 7:00 a.m., October 12, 2026." [1][3][8][9]

Who is eligible

• Location: "Eligible properties must be in areas south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties of Alabama." Check an address with AIUA's zone lookup.
• Who it's for: AIUA's rules describe its purpose as covering people "who do not qualify for coverage through the standard insurance market."
• Condition: AIUA inspects every property. Underwriters look at construction, maintenance and general condition, and "The condition of the roof is of particular concern." A home with pre-existing damage is not eligible. Neither is a home with outstanding repair requirements that led to a denial, cancellation or nonrenewal.
• Not eligible: vacant property, farm property, government-owned property, buildings "in or over water," and structures started on or after Jan. 1, 1971, that weren't built in substantial compliance with the Southern Standard Building Code's wind requirements.
• Flood insurance required in flood zones A and V, at least equal to the AIUA limits or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maximum. AIUA's rules allow property in Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) areas only with such a flood policy, but its FAQ simply answers "No" when asked whether CBRA property is eligible, so ask an authorized agent.
• Wind-only policies: you must show proof of the "essential underlying fire and extended coverage" from another company.
• Mobile homes: they must be at least 8' x 32', with tie-downs, and you must show the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission installation label.
• Renovations: a home under renovation may qualify if the agent sends the contractor's contract or work order. Renovations "cannot exceed 60 days," and the dwelling must be owner occupied.

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What it covers and what it doesn't

AIUA's main product is wind, hail and hurricane coverage. Its rules say coverage under the Alabama standard fire policy forms DP 00 01 or DP 00 02 "is provided in limited circumstances," and "A policy providing only the perils of hurricane, windstorm and hail coverage is also available." Since Jan. 1, 2017, AIUA issues fire and extended coverage policies "only on a limited basis" to properties it insured that way continuously before and after that date. If you buy AIUA wind-only coverage, you must show proof of fire and extended coverage from another company, both when you apply and at each rewrite.

Not covered: AIUA's FAQ says it does not offer liability coverage or loss assessment coverage. Its rules also exclude time element coverage, reporting forms, blanket insurance and multi-building schedules. Policies include "limited Fair Rental Value coverage." Flood "is NOT COVERED under most property policies including AIUA policies," so see our sister site FloodHawk for flood insurance.

Homes worth more than the limit. AIUA waives coinsurance and prices the policy with a "First Loss Scale Formula." Your percentage deductible is then figured on the home's total insurable value, not the AIUA limit. AIUA's example: a $750,000 home with a 5% hurricane deductible has a $37,500 deductible. Our hurricane deductible guide explains percentage deductibles. [1][2][6][8]

How to apply

1. Find an agent on AIUA's authorized agent list. AIUA says "consumers must contact an AIUA Authorized Agent," and an agent has no authority to bind (start) coverage.
2. The agent submits an online application with at least two current photos (front and rear, showing the roof), a replacement cost computation or recent appraisal, your flood policy declaration if required, and, for wind-only coverage, the declaration page of your fire policy.
3. Pay in full. Coverage starts at 12:01 a.m. on the day AIUA receives the complete application and full premium. There is a nonrefundable $65 service fee for a new residential application.
4. AIUA inspects the property and may ask for repairs, refuse to rewrite, or cancel if it doesn't meet its standards.

Applications should be sent 30 days before the date you want coverage to start. If you are buying a home, AIUA can issue a binder (temporary coverage) starting the day of closing. The full application, photos, closing statement, appraisal and payment must arrive within 30 days.

You can estimate a premium with AIUA's consumer calculator. [1][2]

Renewing, paying and changing your policy

AIUA policies do not renew automatically. AIUA sends a "Notice of Current Policy Expiration and Offer to Rewrite Coverage Invoice" to you, your agent and your mortgage company before the policy expires. Your agent must send a rewrite application with a $45 residential fee. If you have wind-only coverage, the agent must also send your current fire policy declaration. The rewrite and payment must reach AIUA within five business days after expiration. If they arrive later, you must apply as new business.

Payments: online at aiua.org/bills/payment (you need your policy number and property ZIP code), or by phone at (833) 735-2752. AIUA takes checks, cashier's checks, money orders, ACH and credit cards (credit cards carry a 2.95% fee). It does not accept cash or debit cards. Mail payments to Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association, Dept #6597, P.O. Box 11407, Birmingham, AL 35246-6597.

Cancelling: AIUA refunds unused premium pro rata only if you replace the coverage with another company, sell the property, have a total loss, or AIUA finds the property no longer insurable. If you cancel for any other reason, the premium is "fully earned, non-refundable."

Appeals: you can appeal an AIUA decision to its Board of Directors within 30 days. Decisions about insurance-to-value, vacancy and flood insurance requirements can't be appealed. [1][2][3][6]

Claims

Report a claim online or call (866) 780-2482. AIUA also recommends telling your agent. Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, photograph them if you can, and keep damaged property until an adjuster has seen it. [2][4]

FORTIFIED and other wind discounts

AIUA offers three wind mitigation discounts, and "Only one wind mitigation discount will apply for each eligible dwelling":

• BCEG: automatic if your community takes part in the Building Code Effectiveness Grading program and your home was built after the community joined.
• IRC 2006 or later: requires a licensed architect or engineer to certify that the home was designed and built to the 2006 International Residential Code or later.
• IBHS FORTIFIED: requires inspection and certification by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

All discounts depend on the age and condition of the dwelling. Page 2 of your AIUA "DOI Policy Outline" lists the discounts applied. See our FORTIFIED roof guide, and Alabama's Strengthen Alabama Homes grants, which pay up to $10,000 toward a FORTIFIED Roof. If your legal residence is in an AIUA zone, Alabama also allows a state income tax deduction for retrofit costs, up to the lesser of 50% of the cost or $3,000 (Ala. Code 40-18-15.4). [2][10][11][12]

Size and recent changes

Source: AIUA Trends reports, July 2026. The count fell every month from July 2025 to July 2026. Mobile County's Zone 3 had the most policies (5,121 in July 2026).

Changes effective Nov. 1, 2025: the maximum dwelling limit rose from $500,000 to $650,000 and the personal property limit from $250,000 to $325,000, under an amended Plan of Operation.

AIUA rates are set by independent actuaries and approved by the Alabama Department of Insurance. Ask your agent or AIUA's consumer calculator for your current premium. [2][6][7][8][13][14]

Rules that protect AIUA policyholders

The Alabama Department of Insurance's revised Bulletin 2025-08 applies to the AIUA as well as to licensed insurers. Since Jan. 1, 2026, a property policy may not be cancelled or nonrenewed "if based solely on a claim arising from a catastrophe, natural disaster, acts of nature, weather-related causes." AIUA can still cancel for reasons in its Plan of Operation, such as nonpayment, material misrepresentation, or failing to keep the required fire or flood coverage. Its cancellation notice must include information about your right to appeal. [6][15]

Help

• AIUA: office hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. AIUA says that for policy or claim questions you should "call the servicing agent of the policy." Customer service email is cs@aiua.org, and its zone lookup lists (251) 943-4029.
• Alabama Department of Insurance, Consumer Services: (334) 241-4141 or (800) 433-3966; file a complaint.
• More on your options in Alabama: Homeowners insurance in Alabama.

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Questions people ask