What Homeowners policy form is known as a special form?

The HO-3 special form is considered the standard for homeowners insurance and provides comprehensive coverage for personal property and the dwelling. This form is designed to protect against losses due to various named perils, offering an "all risk" policy for the structure of the home.

The primary reason the HO-3 is referred to as a “special form” is that it covers all perils except for those specifically excluded in the policy. This means that homeowners have a broader range of protection compared to other forms, such as the basic or broad form policies, which are more limited in their scope of coverage.

For instance, the HO-2 broad form provides coverage only for named perils, which means if something happens that is not on the list of covered perils, there is no insurance protection. Similarly, the HO-1 basic form offers coverage for even fewer perils, limiting the protection even more significantly. The HO-4 contents form is specifically aimed at renters and covers personal property rather than the dwelling itself, making the HO-3 unique among these options when it comes to comprehensive home protection.