Skip to Main Content
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Best homeowners insurance in California for 2023

Updated Jun 01, 2023
Bankrate logo

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Mortgage

Compare home insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Location-Icon
Your information is kept secure
Caret DownCaret Up
Caret DownCaret Up
Field is required
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Quick Facts
Moneybag
$382/year
average savings through Bankrate
Two Thirds
2 out of 3 homes
are underinsured
Insurance Home
1 out of every 20
insured homes makes a claim each year
Circle Check
100% of homes
need insurance before getting a mortgage
See more providers in
Choose from insurers in
Mortgage

Leaving so soon? Your custom quotes are just minutes away.

Compare the best homeowners insurance companies in California

Our research revealed that the five carriers below are among the best California homeowners insurance companies. On our list, USAA and Allstate earned the highest Bankrate Scores, which may make them particularly worthy of consideration if you’re looking for carriers with strong third-party ratings. In our quest to find the best California homeowners insurance, we reviewed average rates, financial strength scores from AM Best, customer satisfaction ratings from the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Home Insurance Study, coverage offerings, discounts, digital tools and more.

If you’re shopping for the best homeowners insurance in California, you may want to consider these companies:

USAA
Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5
3.7
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A++
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$62
Average annual premium
$738
Get a quote
Allstate
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
3.5
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A+
J.D. Power score
830
/1,000
Average monthly premium
$52
Average annual premium
$627
Get a quote
Auto-Owners
Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A++
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$76
Average annual premium
$908
Get a quote
Nationwide
Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A+
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$78
Average annual premium
$936
Get a quote
Encompass
Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2
Bankrate Score
Info
AM Best
A+
J.D. Power score
Not rated
Average monthly premium
$250
Average annual premium
$2,997
Get a quote
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

*Not officially ranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions

We have confirmed that these carriers are currently writing homeowners insurance policies in California. However, coverage may be limited to certain areas of the state or homes with certain damage-mitigation features.

The top 5 home insurance companies in California

USAA

Best for military-focused coverage

Rating: 3.7 stars out of 5
3.7 Bankrate Score
JD Power: Not rated AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 738 for $250k dwelling
USAA Review Get a personalized quote

Why USAA made our list: Although its eligibility restrictions preclude it from official ranking, USAA earned the highest J.D. Power score for customer satisfaction. For those eligible to become USAA members, the company is often one of the most affordable California homeowners insurance companies. It also has unique options beneficial to active-duty military members, like coverage for uniforms damaged in a covered loss.

Who USAA may be good for: If you are affiliated with the military or a qualifying family member, USAA could be a good choice. The company offers low average rates and coverage options tailored to military families.

Allstate

Best for customizable coverage

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
3.5 Bankrate Score
JD Power: 830 AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 627 for $250k dwelling
Allstate Review Get a personalized quote

Why Allstate made our list: Allstate offers a list of coverage options for homeowners in California. From standard coverage like dwelling coverage, liability protection, personal property and guest medical protection to more specialized options like yard and garden coverage, Allstate offers plenty of coverage types to meet your needs. While Allstate performed well in a number of categories, its overall complaint index — as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — indicated that it received more complaints than the expected baseline.

Who Allstate may be good for: If you’re looking for a policy that you can personalize to your unique needs, Allstate — with its long list of optional coverage types — may be a good option.

Auto-Owners

Best for discounts

Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: Not rated AM Best: A++

Average annual premium

$ 908 for $250k dwelling
Auto-Owners Review Get a personalized quote

Why Auto-Owners made our list: Auto-Owners offers an extensive list of savings opportunities, including a water shut-off system discount, a mortgage-free discount and an automatic backup generator discount. Auto-Owners also earned a Superior AM Best financial strength rating. Coverage is sold through a network of local independent agents in 26 states. However, Auto-Owners isn’t available nationally, so if you move out of state and want to keep the same insurance company, you may have to switch carriers.

Who Auto-Owners may be good for: If you’re looking for ways to save, Auto-Owners could be a good fit. Its average premium isn’t the lowest on our list, but the long list of discounts could help you keep your rates in check.

Nationwide

Best for unique coverage options

Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: Not rated AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 936 for $250k dwelling
Nationwide Review Get a personalized quote

Why Nationwide made our list: Nationwide offers several endorsements, including the unique Better Roof Replacement option, water backup coverage and identity theft protection. Additionally, the company may help California homeowners obtain flood insurance. However, the company does have a lower-than-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score.

Who Nationwide may be good for: Shoppers looking for unique coverage may want to consider Nationwide. The company’s unique Better Roof Replacement option and ability to help homeowners obtain separate policies like flood coverage could help round out your insurance portfolio.

Encompass

Best for bundling with auto insurance

Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5
3.2 Bankrate Score
JD Power: Not rated AM Best: A+

Average annual premium

$ 2,997 for $250k dwelling
Encompass Review Get a personalized quote

Why Encompass made our list: Although Encompass is on the pricier end of premiums in the state, the company offers a plethora of discounts and highly customizable policies that may help your premium stretch. Encompass’ standout money-saving feature is its single deductible option: if you purchase your home and auto insurance policies from Encompass, your claims for both policies could be subject to just a single deductible if the loss occurred from the same event. Home and auto policies from Encompass are available in three coverage tiers — Special, Deluxe and Elite — each with its own list of coverage options and limits. 

Who Encompass may be good for: Homeowners looking to house their home and auto insurance policies under one roof may be interested in Encompass. However, the inability to get a quote or file a claim online may deter some shoppers.

How Bankrate chose the best home insurance companies in California

California residents have multiple insurers to choose from, several of which offer more affordable premiums for homeowners insurance than the state average. To help you find the best home insurance company for you, we calculated a Bankrate Score to analyze each company across several categories. The rating sections include average annual premiums from Quadrant Information Services, available coverage, discounts and policy features. We also reviewed J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings to indicate how satisfied customers are with their company’s service and AM Best ratings to assess financial stability. The higher a company ranked in each category, the higher its overall Bankrate Score — 5.0 being the highest possible.

How much is home insurance in California?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in California for $250,000 in dwelling coverage is $1,225 per year. Although this is below the national average cost of homeowners insurance of $1,428 per year, the insurance premium for every home may be higher or lower than either of these averages depending on the home’s size, age and location, coverage options, and other individual rating factors. When looking for the best homeowners insurance in California, it’s helpful to consider how these factors could affect your final premium.

California’s average premium may be lower than the national average due to a lower risk of certain types of weather damage in many parts of the state. However, the state’s risk of wildfire damage is quite high, so be sure to discuss your risk in conversations with your insurance agent.

$150K
$578
$250K
$738
$350K
$910
$450K
$1,083
$750K
$1,792
$150K
$453
$250K
$627
$350K
$804
$450K
$984
$750K
$1,562
$150K
$670
$250K
$908
$350K
$1,158
$450K
$1,397
$750K
$2,251
$150K
$698
$250K
$936
$350K
$1,161
$450K
$1,402
$750K
$2,341
$150K
$1,914
$250K
$2,997
$350K
$3,893
$450K
$5,202
$750K
$8,714
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

The cheapest cities for homeowners insurance in California

Home insurance rates vary by state, but they also vary by city. Depending on where you live, the cost of living may be higher or lower. In some areas, the price for materials and labor related to repairing home damage, or the risk of the damage happening in the first place, may be lower, which results in cheaper home insurance rates. These five cities are the cheapest in California, according to our data from Quadrant Information Services:

  • Carnelian Bay: $1,115 — 22 percent below the national average
  • Brookdale: $1,117 — 22 percent below the national average
  • Stanton: $1,117 — 22 percent below the national average
  • Applegate: $1,118 — 22 percent below the national average
  • Escondido: $1,118 — 22 percent below the national average

The most expensive cities for homeowners insurance in California

On the opposite end of the spectrum are areas where the cost of living is higher than the rest of the state, where the risk of damage is greater or both. These five cities have the most expensive California homeowners insurance rates, based on our research. If you live in these areas, shopping around and comparing home insurance quotes may be helpful in finding cheaper coverage:

  • Anza: $1,431 — 0 percent below the national average
  • Lake Arrowhead: $1,429 — 0 percent below the national average
  • Morongo Valley: $1,428 — 0 percent below the national average
  • Sugarloaf: $1,424 — 0 percent below the national average
  • Pinon Hills: $1,421 — 0 percent below the national average

How to find the best cheap home insurance in California

Finding the right California home insurance for your needs is an important part of securing your financial health. Home insurance is designed to help shield your finances from the fallout of unexpected home damages and can help you keep your finances intact if you suffer a loss. To find the best homeowners insurance in California at a price that works for you, you may want to consider these steps:

  1. Establish your needs. Determining how much home insurance you need could help you avoid over- or under-insuring your home. You may want to use an online tool to determine your home’s rebuilding value (each insurer will also use its own tool for this step) and you might also consider making a home inventory for your personal belongings.
  2. Decide what factors matter most to you. Some shoppers may be looking for the cheapest rate, others may need a specialty coverage and some might be set on having digital tools. Knowing what features of an insurer are important to you can help you find a company that meets those needs.
  3. Search for companies. Once you know what you are looking for in an insurer, you can start to research companies to find several that might meet your needs. 
  4. Request quotes. Next, request quotes from the companies that you think might be a good fit. You’ll be able to review coverage offerings, discounts and average rates to determine which is going to ultimately be best for your coverage needs and budget.
  5. Buy your policy. Once you have a quote that you’d like to proceed with, your agent or a representative from the company will help you buy your home insurance.

Common home insurance discounts in California

Home insurance discounts are an easy way to lower your premium. Most major insurers offer at least a few savings opportunities that might help you get a cheaper rate. Here are some common home insurance discounts in California:

Home insurance coverage types in California

In a state prone to wildfires, mudslides and earthquakes, asking insurance companies specific questions about what your policy does and does not include is important. For instance, even though California is prone to earthquakes, home insurance companies do not typically include coverage for such incidents. Due to common natural disasters, many insurance experts recommend these coverage types for California homeowners:

  • Earthquake coverage: Due to its position along the San Andreas Fault, California is one of the most earthquake-prone states in the country. You can usually purchase California earthquake coverage as a separate policy, often sold by the California Earthquake Authority.
  • Flood insurance: California is considered a flood-prone state due to its valleys and coastal land areas. However, standard home insurance does not include damage caused by floods. Instead, you can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and some private flood insurers.
  • Fire insurance: Although coverage for some fires is included in basic homeowners insurance policies, Californians are at an increased risk because of the high probability of wildfires. If you live in an area where finding home insurance coverage is difficult because of the involved risk, you may consider purchasing a separate policy like the FAIR Plan. California FAIR Plan (CFP) recommends only getting coverage through its association as a last resort, but it could offer fire insurance for your home.
  • Scheduled personal property: If you own high-value items, like artwork or jewelry, these may not be fully covered by the personal property coverage on your homeowners policy. Some solutions can be to increase your personal property coverage or purchase a scheduled personal property endorsement as additional coverage. Because each insurance company may have different guidelines in how it approaches expensive belongings, it can help to speak to an insurance agent to see what the best solution is for you.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Cate Deventer
Insurance Writer & Editor
Cate Deventer is a writer, editor and insurance professional with over a decade of experience in the insurance industry as a licensed insurance agent.
Edited by Insurance Editor
Reviewed by Director of corporate communications, Insurance Information Institute