Best renters insurance in California

Roughly 45 percent of California housing units are rentals. For renters, renters insurance may be a valuable policy to have. Renters insurance provides coverage to replace or repair your belongings after a covered claim, plus liability insurance if you are sued or held liable for someone else’s injuries or property damage. In California, Bankrate has found the best renters insurance companies include American Family, State Farm, Mercury, Nationwide and Lemonade, based on our assessment. Knowing what coverage types you might need and the average cost of renters insurance can help you find the best coverage and price in California.

Best renters insurance companies in California

To help you find the best renters insurance companies in California, we analyzed property insurance companies using the most recent J.D. Power renters insurance customer satisfaction scores, coverage offerings and available discounts. We also compared each company’s financial strength rating, which shows its history of paying claims. Lastly, we reviewed how many discounts each company lists on its website, which may help California renters save on coverage. It is important to note that discounts may vary by state, and each company may not provide a complete discount list on its website. Talking with a licensed agent or getting a quote is the best way to understand what discounts are available.

If you are searching for renters insurance in California, these are the best companies, based on our research:

American Family

Best for optional coverages

Although American Family did not make the list of top insurers in the J.D. Power renters insurance study, California renters may want to consider this carrier. Besides the standard coverage types, AmFam also has optional coverage for pets hurt in a covered loss, home-based businesses, travel protection and identity theft coverage. It also offers a diminishing deductible, which may drop your deductible each renewal after remaining claim-free for the previous policy period.

Pros

• Large number of discounts
• Valuable optional coverages

Cons

• Not rated by J.D. Power

Learn more: American Family Insurance review

Lemonade

Best for fast claims process

Earning second place in the J.D. Power study, Lemonade is another option for renters in California. It offers a separate earthquake policy for Californians and a Giveback program, which donates unused premiums to a charity of your choice at the end of each year. Lemonade also features AI-supported claims, which allows claims to be paid in seconds. For those wanting a fast and easy claims process completely online or on their phone, Lemonade might be one of the best renters insurance companies in California.

Pros

• Fast and easy claims process
• Offers separate earthquake policy

Cons

• No AM Best rating
• Minimal discounts listed

Learn more: Lemonade Insurance review

Mercury

Best for high-value item owners

Mercury is another option for California renters. This carrier has several discounts that could help keep renters insurance premiums low. Mercury also allows renters to customize their policy with coverage options like workers’ compensation coverage for part-time personal employees, service line, home systems, home cyber and identity theft protection. If you have high-value items, you can also schedule them on your Mercury renters insurance policy so they are covered for what they’re worth.

Pros

• Large number of discounts
• Multiple ways to customize policy

Cons

• Not ranked by J.D. Power
• No online option to file claims

Learn more: Mercury Insurance review

Nationwide

Best for customer satisfaction

Nationwide earned the #1 spot for renters customer satisfaction in the 2022 J.D. Power study. Although it only lists a few discounts on its website, it offers the option to purchase replacement costs on personal property and add credit card or water backup coverage. For those who can make changes to their rental, like upgrading fixtures or adding improvements or making alterations, Nationwide also offers building additions and alterations coverage.

Pros

• #1 for renters insurance customer satisfaction
• Long list of optional coverage types

Cons

• Few discounts listed
• Cannot file claims online

State Farm

Best for personalized service

If you prefer personalized service with a local agent who can get to know you by name and not just a policy number, State Farm may be worth considering. This carrier offers a range of insurance products, so may be your one-stop-shop for all your insurance needs. State Farm has a few optional coverage types, including coverage for business property or liability and identity theft restoration.

Pros

• Provides in-person experience
• Multiple policy types available

Cons

• Few discounts available
• Below average J.D. Power ranking

Learn more: State Farm Insurance review

Average renters insurance cost in California

The average cost of a renters insurance policy in California is $175 per year, according to Triple-I.

Your premium is determined by several factors, including your deductible and coverage limits. Your credit-based insurance score, however, is not a rating factor in California. California’s average cost for renters insurance is just $1 below the national average, which may be because of the number of claims filed in the state and the average payout per claim.

Renters in California pay about the same for renters insurance compared to the surrounding states:

Source: (Triple-I)

Renters insurance coverage options in California

Renters insurance policies typically provide a few basic coverage types, including:

• Personal property: Personal property coverage covers your personal items if damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. This includes furniture, clothing, certain electronics and appliances.
• Personal liability: Personal liability coverage helps you pay to repair or replace someone else’s belongings if you accidentally damage them. If a guest is injured in your home, your personal liability coverage may also pay for their medical bills if you are found responsible.
• Additional living expenses: Additional living expenses coverage pays for the various bills you might incur if your home gets damaged or destroyed and you cannot live there while it is repaired. Some renters insurance policies will also help you cover the cost of moving if the building becomes uninhabitable.

Before purchasing a policy, you may want to understand what is covered under your policy. For example, luxury or high-value items like fine jewelry, art and expensive electronics may have predetermined limits. Unless you add additional coverage, you could be underinsured for those items.

Also, keep in mind that renters insurance usually does not cover your belongings if they get damaged in an earthquake or flood. For example, if a bookshelf falls on your laptop during an earthquake, you would likely be responsible for paying to repair the laptop. To avoid that, California residents may be able to purchase separate earthquake insurance.

Frequently asked questions

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    Is renters insurance required in California?

    Renters insurance is not required in California, but your landlord may require you to carry coverage as part of the leasing agreement so that you have the liability insurance coverage that your renters policy offers. Since you cannot purchase liability coverage separately, you would likely need to buy a renters insurance policy to satisfy your landlord’s requirements.
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    What is the cheapest renters insurance in California?

    The cheapest renters insurance in California will depend on several factors, including your coverage needs, ZIP code, company you choose for insurance and any past property claims history. Getting quotes to compare coverage and pricing from several carriers can help you determine which companies offer the cheapest rates for renters insurance in your area. While the average cost of renters insurance in California is $175 per year, or about $15 per month, your premium will vary based on your specific rating factors.
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    How do I get renters insurance in California?

    You can get renters insurance in California from many insurance companies online, over the phone or in person. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, address and discuss what coverage and limits you want. Every company is different, but getting a renters insurance quote is typically an easy and fast process. An independent agent can get you several quotes at the same time, which may make the process faster.
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    How can I save money on my renters insurance?

    Although renters insurance is typically less expensive than homeowners insurance, there are still ways you might be able to lower your premium. Taking advantage of any discounts you qualify for could save you money. If you own a car, you may want to consider insuring your auto with the same company as your renters insurance; multi-policy discounts are often one of the largest discounts available. Increasing your deductible, which is the amount you will pay out of pocket if you file a claim, also generally lowers your premium. Just be sure to choose an amount that you can afford to pay if you file a claim.