Defence Services home insurance review

An affordable home insurance option available to current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as well as reservists, peacekeepers, widows and widowers.

3.6 (14 reviews) Write a review
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Nicola Middlemiss

Updated

Fact checked

Key takeaways

  • Defence Service insurance targets ADF members, offering up to $20,000,000 in legal liability cover and flexible payments.
  • Customisation options are limited, with contents insurance separately underwritten by QBE.
  • AFCA data for 2024-25 shows a 31.57% referral resolution rate for combined home and contents claims.

Our verdict

Pros

  • Many of its benefits are generous, including 20% sum insured as standard.
  • Flexible payment options mean you can pay monthly or yearly at no extra cost - some brands charge more for monthly payments.

Cons

  • Defence Services policy documents aren't as clear or easy to read as some other brands.
  • Although Defence Services offer comprehensive cover, it's not very customisable.
  • While Defence Services underwrites its own home insurance, contents cover is offered by a third party.
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Defence Service Homes Insurance logo
6 Standard
Defence Service Homes Building Insurance
6 Standard
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Finder Score - Home insurance

We crunch eligible home insurance products in Australia to see how they stack up. We rank over 50 products on 16 different features, including price. We end up with a single score out of 10 that helps you compare home insurance a bit faster. We assess home and contents, building only and contents only products individually.

Read the full methodology

What additional cover options are available?

Defence Services offers comprehensive cover but unfortunately it isn't very customisable and there are no additional cover options available.

How to make a claim

You can lodge a claim with Defence Services Home Insurance online via its website. Alternatively, you can call 1300 552 662 or email dsh@dva.gov.au.

DSH insurance complaints information

In the 2024-2025 financial year, AFCA received a total of 738 complaints related to DSH's home insurance and home contents insurance. 233 of those were resolved at the registration and referral stage.

Comparison of complaint data from major home insurers.

Home insurance complaints - Defence Service · dw:0wN5K
UnderwriterProviderComplaints received (building)Complaints resolved at registration & referral (building)Referral resolution rateComplaints received (contents)Complaints resolved at registration & referral (contents)Referral resolution rate
QBE Insurance (Australia) LimitedDefence Service68021431.66%581932.76%
Allianz Australia Insurance LimitedAllianz76520530.58%1384232.06%
AAI LimitedAAMI1,58483851.82%38420456.20%
Insurance Australia LimitedNRMA93241242.08%24012350.83%
Source: Australian Financial Complaints Authority

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Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

Nicola's expertise
Nicola has written 170 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Personal insurance, including car, health, home, life, pet and travel insurance
  • Commercial business insurance
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