Renters insurance is something that can protect you when renting an apartment or home, yet many renters go without it. According to an Assurant survey, 45% of renters don't have renters insurance coverage despite its affordability. Average renters insurance premiums range from about $15 to $30 per month, depending on location and other factors.Renters insurancecan cover you against theft, fire, or potential liabilities, such as your dog biting a neighbor. We evaluated 12 companies to find the best renters insurance providers. We considered price, coverage standards and limits, customer service, and claims processing to find the best companies. Best Renters Insurance Providers Best Renters Insurance Providers Final Verdict What Is Renters Insurance? FAQs Methodology Why We Chose It State Farm wins as the best company for renters insurance overall because of its widespread availability, ease of use when obtaining a quote and financial stability. Pros & Cons Pros Get quotes online instantly Policies are customizable Multi-policy discounts are available Cons Discounts can vary from state to state Overview State Farm offers nationwide renters insurance coverage at affordable rates with customizable policy options. Multipolicy discounts are available, as are discounts for installing a home security system. This insurer has an A++ rating from AM Best, thanks to its financial soundness and ability to pay claims. State Farm's renters insurance covers a wide range of losses and provides loss of use if the property is uninhabitable after a loss. However, it excludes damages to the property itself, water damage caused by flooding, and damage related to earthquakes, landslides, settling, deterioration, and animal activity. You also have the option to purchase add-on coverage, including pet medical insurance and identity restoration. Coverage, pricing, and details vary in some states, as can discount rates. Why We Chose It American Family Insurance gets the nod for best value because the diminishing deductible adds value to an already reasonable rate, while also being eligible for other discounts. Pros & Cons Pros Get a quote online Multiple discount options Cons Slightly below average rating from J.D. Power in 2021 Overview American Family Insurance offers affordable coverage for renters that includes your personal property, medical bills, liability, replacement costs for stolen items, and hotel stays if you cannot stay in your rental home because of a covered event. Add-on coverage is available for medical insurance for pets and identity theft protection. You also can include coverage for a home office or home business space. There are multiple ways to get discounted renters insurance coverage, including multipolicy discounts, smart home discounts, and autopay discounts. Bundling with your auto insurance could also save you up to 5% on your renters insurance policy. Diminishing deductible coverage can reduce your deductible as long as you maintain your policy, which is another way to save money on renters insurance. Why We Chose It Farmers wins as the best provider for one-stop insurance shopping because it offers a wide range of coverages, including renters insurance. For example, you can cover yourself as a renter as well as insure motorcycles, vehicles, pets, electronics, and even your identity. Pros & Cons Pros Get a quote or file a claim online Cons Discount availability varies from state to state Overview Farmers rates below average for claims satisfaction, according to J.D. Power. The company offers standard renters insurance policies, with discounts for installing home security systems and being a non-smoker. Coverage includes personal liability, personal property, replacement costs for personal property, medical payments, identity theft, and additional living expenses. Policyholders can easily bundle renters policies with auto, umbrella, life insurance, and others. You can get a quote online and you also can file a claim online if you experience a covered loss. Farmers has a B++ rating with AM Best, a signal of its financial strength and operating ability. Customer service is available seven days a week if you have questions about your policy or need help making a claim.Additionally, claims service is available 24/7. Why We Chose It Nationwide has an excellent add-on package for covering high-value items as well as collectibles, making it the best renters insurance for collectibles. Pros & Cons Pros Multiple discounts are available to reduce premiums Basic policies include stolen credit card coverage Easy add-on coverage for collectibles and high-value items Cons The least expensive option is around $20 a month Overview Nationwide offers basic renters insurance that covers personal property, loss of use, personal liability, medical payments to others, building additions and alterations, and unauthorized credit card charges. You also can add coverage for valuables and collectibles, earthquakes, water damage, and theft protection for personal belongings that are stored in a vehicle, trailer, or watercraft. Discounts are available if you have multiple insurance policies with Nationwide or if the home has protective devices, such as smoke alarms or a burglar system. You also can get a discount for keeping your policy claim-free. One added benefit is the On Your Side Review, which allows you to get a personalized review of your insurance to ensure that you have the right coverage and are getting all possible discounts. Why We Chose It If you're running a home business or side gig, you want to make sure things like computers, cameras, or other business equipment and supplies are protected. Toggle is our pick as the best for home-based businesses because it offers the most comprehensive coverage for these types of businesses as well as digital nomads. Pros & Cons Pros Easily make policy changes online Protect your business equipment Cons Available in only 26 states Overview If you run a business or side hustle, Toggle can help protect your personal and business property. Renters insurance policies are available in three subscription categories: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Toggle's renters insurance covers you where you are so if you're a digital nomad who travels for work or you run a business from your living room, you can be protected against covered events such as losing your laptop in an airport or getting mugged while traveling. You can even add coverage for your pets or identity theft. Each year you're covered and don't file a claim, Toggle will reduce your deductible to help you save money during a claim. Why We Chose It With Liberty Mutual, the claim filing process is clear and simple. Plus, claims can be filed within 10 minutes or less, making it the easiest claim filing service on our list. Pros & Cons Pros Easy online claims filing Get discounts when you bundle coverage Get customized insurance for as low as $5 per month Cons Discount availability varies from state to state Overview Liberty Mutual is an insurance company focusing on the process of delivering its promise by making it simple to file a claim online with a step-by-step process in its portal that asks for incident details and photos. It also offers affordable rates for renters insurance, with discounts available when you bundle coverage or when you go five years without a claim. Standard policies include liability coverage, personal property, medical payments, and additional living expenses. If you need more than that, you can add coverage for personal property replacement costs, jewelry, or damage caused by earthquakes. Quotes are available online, and the company operates in all 50 states so you can get covered no matter where you rent.Claims filing is available 24/7 online or via the Liberty Mutual mobile app, and it takes just five to 10 minutes to get your claim started, expediting how fast you get a check. Why We Chose It Erie wins as the best for customer service because of the high amount of agents available to help answer questions and the company's strong customer satisfaction score from J.D. Power for renters insurance. Pros & Cons Pros Multipolicy discounts Highly rated by J.D. Power in their renters insurance category Cons Limited availability Overview Erie Insurance offers personal property and liability coverage for renters in covered states, as well as living expenses coverage. While Erie Insurance doesn't offer as much in geographic range (available in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.), it does offer excellent customer service if you need to file a claim or have questions about your policy. Discounts are available when you combine policies with Erie, and there are more than 13,000 agents available to help. Policies tend to be affordable for most budgets. Contact an agent to get a quote and discuss which coverage is right for you. When it comes to choosing the best renters insurance providers, all the companies on our list are good options depending on your individual coverage needs. However, State Farm offers the best coverage overall, with an easy-to-use system and availability in all 50 states. The company also has a Superior financial strength rating from AM Best, meaning State Farm is reliable at meeting financial obligations, including paying out insurance claims. Renters insurance covers you, not your landlord. Your landlord may have insurance that covers the property you're renting, but it doesn't extend to your personal possessions. For example, if someone were to break into your apartment and steal your valuables, renters insurance would cover the cost of replacing those items rather than requiring you to replace them out of pocket. If you're sued for something like your dog biting a neighbor, renters insurance could help you avoid a lengthy court case or having to make payments to satisfy acivil judgment. Some states base insurance rates for renters on credit history, though not all do. Here's an overview of what renters insurance covers. Most policies include at least $100,000 in liability coverage and $10,000 to $15,000 in personal property coverage, though some policies allow you to purchase up to $300,000 in liability coverage. The limits for medical coverage may be lower, at $1,000 to $5,000, as these cover friends and family visiting your property. Your personal property coverage can include things like computers, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, books, clothing, and other possessions. Getting a quote from multiple renters insurance providers can give you an idea of what baseline coverage is available. Higher-value items, like jewelry, may not be covered in full by a renters insurance policy. Though, you may be able to purchase a separate rider that would allow you to increase coverage limits. Your policy may also have limitations regarding pets, excluding certain dog breeds deemed dangerous or aggressive. Certain natural disasters, like earthquakes or floods, may also be excluded from your coverage. The average cost of renters insurance premiums is between $15 and $30 per month. Prices may increase based on how much liability or personal property coverage you choose to include. Doubling liability doesn't affect premium costs the same way that doubling personal property protection does. Renters insurance can protect you against financial losses with a relatively small monthly or annual premium cost. While filing a claim may be a rarity, you may be able to bundle your renters insurance policy with your car insurance to reduce the cost even more. Note that when reviewing policies, it's helpful to be familiar with insurance jargon such as replacement cost and actual cash value to better understand the extent of your coverage. Replacement cost is the cost to replace an item, while actual cash value is the replacement cost less any depreciation since you purchased it. If you need to file a renters insurance claim, there are certain steps you'll need to take. Here's a quick checklist of what your insurance company may expect: You will need to use your insurance carrier's online claims form or obtain a claims form directly from the carrier to process any claim. We evaluated a total of 12 rental insurance providers for this review, comparing them based on pricing, customer service, coverage options and limitations, and the ease of filing a claim. The companies included here represent the best combination of cost, ease of use, coverage, and customer support. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy. Assurant. "Most Renters Uncertain of Who’s Responsible for Theft, Property Damage or Injury." NAIC. "Renting Your Home? Protect Your Belongings With Renters Insurance." American Family Insurance. "Multi-Policy & Multi-Car Insurance Discounts." J.D. Power. "2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study." AM Best. "The Farmers Fire Insurance Company." Erie Insurance. "Renters Insurance." Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. Assurant. "Most Renters Uncertain of Who’s Responsible for Theft, Property Damage or Injury." NAIC. "Renting Your Home? Protect Your Belongings With Renters Insurance." American Family Insurance. "Multi-Policy & Multi-Car Insurance Discounts." J.D. Power. "2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study." AM Best. "The Farmers Fire Insurance Company." Erie Insurance. "Renters Insurance." Related Terms Property Insurance: Definition and How Coverage Works Property insurance provides financial reimbursem*nt to the owner or renter of a structure and its contents in the event of damage or theft. more Renters Insurance: What It Is and How It Works Renters insurance is property insurance that covers a policyholder’s belongings, liability, and possibly living expenses in case of a loss event. more Homeowners Insurance Declaration Page: What It Is and How to Read It A homeowners insurance declaration page is a summary of the key facts about your policy. Here’s how to read yours and what it means. more What Is Travel Insurance, and What Does It Cover? Travel insurance helps cover financial losses associated with illness, injury, accidents, flight or other transportation delays, and other issues that happen during a trip. more Good Student Discount: What It Is, How It Works, Examples A good student discount is an auto insurance policy discount for young drivers who earn good grades in school. It's typically available to high school and college students. more Insurance: Definition, How It Works, and Main Types of Policies Insurance is a contract (policy) in which an insurer indemnifies another against losses from specific contingencies and/or perils. moreBest Renters Insurance Providers of 2024
Best Overall : State Farm
Best Value : American Family Insurance
Best One-Stop Insurance Shopping : Farmers
Best for Collectibles : Nationwide
Best for Home-Based Businesses : Toggle
Easiest Claim Filing Service : Liberty Mutual
Best Customer Service : Erie Insurance
Final Verdict
Company Availability Discounts Purchasable Add-Ons State Farm
Best OverallAll 50 states Multipolicy discounts Identity restoration and pet insurance American Family Insurance
Best Value19 states Multipolicy, smart home and autopay discounts Identity theft protection and pet insurance Farmers
Best One-Stop Insurance Shopping41 states Home security and non-smoker discounts Can bundle with other insurance policies Nationwide
Best for Collectibles43 states and Washington, D.C Multipolicy, claim-free, and home safety and security device discounts Coverage for earthquakes, water damage, valuables, and collectibles, and theft protection Toggle
Best for Home-Based Businesses29 states Claim-free discounts Pet insurance and identity theft protection Liberty Mutual
Easiest Claim Filing ServiceAll 50 states Bundled coverage discounts Personal property replacement, jewelry and earthquake coverage Erie Insurance
Best Customer Service12 states and Washington, D.C Multipolicy discounts Sewer and drain backup, home sharing, earthquake, and flood coverage What Is Renters Insurance?
Coverage Type What It Covers Liability Protects you against lawsuits related to bodily injury or property damage that you or your family members cause to other people. Personal Property Protects your personal property against theft, fire, smoke damage, lightning, vandalism, explosion, windstorms, water damage, and other events listed in your policy. Medical Payments Pays for medical expenses related to a bodily injury that occurs at your rental property. Loss of Use Covers you for any basic living expenses you have to pay out of pocket associated with a loss of use of the rental unit due to events covered in your policy. Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Renters Insurance Typically Include?
What Does Renters Insurance Typically Exclude?
What Are the Expected Costs of Renters Insurance?
Is Paying for Renters Insurance Worth It?
How Do You File a Claim?
Methodology
FAQs
Who has the most reasonable renters insurance? ›
Which company offers the cheapest renters insurance? According to our research, State Farm and Toggle tend to offer the cheapest renters insurance policies at $10.50 and $12.59 per month, which is about 20% less the national average.
Why is lemonade insurance so cheap? ›Lemonade is an affordable insurance provider partially because it does not maintain a network of in-person locations like some of its competitors. It also uses largely AI-based underwriting processes, which can lead to savings on operations on staffing costs.
Is Progressive good for renters insurance? ›Key Takeaways. Progressive earned the No. 8 spot in our rating of the best renters insurance companies. The company offers optional water backup and personal injury coverage, as well as a discount for living in a gated community – options not provided by all insurers in our rating.
How much do most people pay for renters insurance? ›The average cost of renters insurance is about $15 to $20 per month1. However, what you end up paying depends on a number of factors. Take a look at the information below to find out how your home or apartment renters insurance cost is determined.
Why is my renters insurance so high? ›Some location-based factors that impact renters insurance rates can include: The rate of crimes, especially theft, in your ZIP code. The weather and climate in your area, since locations prone to fires, storms and hurricanes are riskier.
Is it better to have a higher or lower deductible for renters insurance? ›Choosing a higher deductible can lead to lower monthly premiums, but it also means you'll pay more upfront in the event of a claim. Your choice of deductible should align with your risk tolerance, coverage needs and ability to cover out-of-pocket expenses.
What is one way to lower your insurance costs? ›Improve personal credit score
Credit scores are one factor insurance companies use to determine price. “Credit does impact everything all the way into car insurance. The better credit score you have the lower rate you might qualify for as far as your premium,” Dale explained.
Costs of homeowners insurance vs. renters insurance. In general, you can expect your renters insurance quote to be less than for homeowners insurance. That's because homeowners insurance includes the building structure itself, which isn't the case for renters insurance policies.
Is Lemonade a good insurance company? ›We at the Guides Home Team found that Lemonade stands out as one of the best homeowners insurance companies in the industry for its unique claim-filing process that uses a mobile app with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to process information and make payouts to homeowners seamlessly and hassle-free.
How much is renters insurance in Texas for an apartment? ›On average, renters insurance in Texas costs about $13 per month, based on data from Quadrant Information Services. However, you will likely pay different rates based on your unique situation. It's important to get a quote directly from an insurance provider for the most accurate estimate.