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Updated: Jan 05, 2024
Written by
Amanda Lutz
Written by Amanda Lutz Author

Amanda Lutz is a content marketing manager and writer with nearly a decade of experience contributing to prominent home services and wellness publications like AD, This Old House, and MarketWatch. She has written extensively on topics spanning insurance products, lawn care, pest control, and other home services. When she’s not providing readers with practical advice, Amanda enjoys remodeling her 1960s home, cruising Nashville on her Vespa, and songwriting on her grandmother’s piano.

American Family provides renters insurance under a tiered system, allowing customers to balance the breadth and cost of their coverage. Offering five discounts and six optional coverage add-ons, American Family gives you plenty of ways to save and customize coverage.

In this American Family renters insurance review, Quartz Advisor Reviews Team looks into plans, coverage details, pricing, customer service, and more to see how the company compares against other top renters insurance providers. Read on to see if American Family is the best renters insurance option for you and your home.

American Family Renters Insurance Review

American Family Insurance stands out for its local customers support and convenient mobile app. Learn more in this American Family renters insurance review.

Pros & Cons of American Family Renters Insurance

Compare the benefits and drawbacks of renters insurance from American Family:

Pros Provides claims support 24 hours a day, seven days a week Supports mobile MyAmFam App that lets customers find an agent, pay bills, and access proof of insurance Identity theft protection provided with every plan
Cons Only available in 19 states Uses an underwriter for insurance quotes in uncovered states Doesn’t show all available coverage options through online quote

American Family Renters Insurance Coverage

American Family renters insurance coverage protects you from the following events:

  • Fire and wildfire
  • Hail
  • Lightning
  • Tornado
  • Frozen interior plumbing
  • Smoke
  • Weight of snow and ice
  • Medical expenses
  • Claim and defense expenses
  • Acts of your children and pets
  • Power surges
  • Theft and vandalism

By choosing a renters insurance policy from American Family, you and your home will receive coverage in the following five areas:

1. Personal Property Coverage

This covers the repair or replacement of your belongings that are damaged due to a covered event. For example, if your roof caves in because of the weight of snow accumulation and ruins your laptop, personal property coverage will cover the cost of replacing the device.

The quote we received from American Family included $15,000 (Economy Tier), $25,000 (Traditional Tier), and $50,000 (Premier Tier) for personal property coverage.

2. Medical Expense Coverage

This covers the medical bills of people who are injured inside or outside of your rental unit.

The quote we received from American Family included $5,000 (Economy Tier/Traditional Tier) and $10,000 (Premier Tier) for medical expense coverage.

3. Personal Liability Coverage

This coverage protects you from liability if you’re sued for injuring someone else or their property.

Our quote from American Family included $300,000 (Economy Tier/Traditional Tier) and $500,000 (Premier Tier) for personal liability coverage.

4. Loss of Use Coverage

Loss of use coverage pays for your hotel or food bills if your home becomes uninhabitable due to an unexpected, covered event.

The quote we received from American Family included $4,500 (Economy Tier), $7,500 (Traditional Tier), and $20,000 (Premier Tier) for loss of use coverage.

5. Identity Fraud Expense Coverage

If you fall victim to identity theft, this coverage helps protect you from the high costs associated with restoring your identity.

Here’s the amount of coverage you can purchase for each protection category:

American Family Range of Coverage

Type of Coverage Range of Coverage
Personal Property $15,000–$50,000
Liability $300,000 or $500,000 per occurrence
Medical Payments to Others $5,000 or $10,000 per person
Loss of Use 30% or 40% of personal property coverage

How Much Does American Family Renters Insurance Cost?

Note: The amount of coverage is based on American Family’s coverage comparison chart, and is subject to change based on location, rental type, and coverage selected.

American Family Optional Coverage

To supplement your renters insurance, American Family offers six optional coverages that can be added to your plan at an additional cost:

  • Jewelry, Gemstones, Watches, and Fur Coverage: If you need additional coverage on high-price items like watches and other jewelry, this protection increases your covered amount.
  • Personal Injury Coverage: This provides additional protection for personal injury claims like libel, slander, false arrest, and wrongful eviction.
  • Equipment Breakdown Coverage: This coverage protects electronics, smart home devices, and appliances that are damaged due to mechanical or electrical breakdowns.
  • Pet Insurance: This type of insurance protects your pet with up to $1,000 worth of coverage for veterinary and injury costs.
  • Travel Protection: Travel protection provides trip cancellation coverage and global medical insurance.
  • Home-Based Business Coverage: If you run your business out of your rental unit, you can receive liability coverage and small business property protection.

How Much Does American Family Renters Insurance Cost?

To give you an idea of what a renters insurance policy from American Family costs, we requested an online quote from the company. Here’s a quote for a single-family home in Madison, Wisconsin:

Type Economy Traditional Premier
Monthly Cost $13.34 $16.76 $23.67
Deductible $1,000 $1,000 $1,000

Your American Family renters insurance deductible can be $250, $500, or $1,000.

American Family Renters Insurance Discounts

American Family offers five discounts to its renters insurance customers, including:

  • Multi-Product Discount: This discount is offered to customers who bundle their renters and car insurance with American Family.
  • Smart Home Discount: If your rental is equipped with a Frontpoint home security system, you can receive a discount on your monthly premium.
  • Insurance Payment Discount: When you choose to pay your bill in full, register for automatic payments, or choose paperless billing, you qualify for a discount.
  • Loyalty Discount: If you’ve been an American Family member for a year, you can qualify for a reduced renters insurance premium.
  • Generational Discount: If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, and your parent(s) are American Family customers, you qualify for the generational discount.

State Availability

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming


Customer Service and Claims Support

American Family ensures customer satisfaction by placing each policyholder in contact with a local insurance agent who can provide personalized customer support. Additionally, American Family provides 24/7 phone support and allows claims to be submitted online through their customer portal.

American Family also gives customers the ability to pay their bills and access their policy details through the MyAmFam mobile application.


Our Conclusion

American Family offers customers comprehensive renters insurance coverage at an affordable price. Their online quoting process is simple, although it doesn’t explain all coverage options and details, instead giving customers the choice of three tiered options.

To go along with its basic and free identity fraud expense coverage, American Family offers six additional coverage options and five discounts that help customers save money. American Family is straightforward with its coverage, listing the particular events it covers to give you an idea of what is and isn’t protected.

If you’re unsure whether American Family is right for you, consider getting quotes from a few different providers to compare coverage options and pricing:

If you’re not sure whether American Family Renters Insurance is right for you, compare it to other top-rated renters insurance companies below.

Companies American Family USAA Farmers
Known for Free identity fraud expense coverage Flood and earthquake coverage Non-smoking discount
Monthly price About $13 As low as $10 About $30
Customer service 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service 24/7 for claims; limited for customer service
BBB rating A A- A+

Company Overview

  • Company Name: American Family Insurance (AmFam)
  • CEO: Jack Salzwedel
  • Years in Business: 66 years
  • State Availability: 19 states
  • Address: 6000 American Parkway
  • City/State: Madison, Wisconsin
  • Zip Code: 53783-0001
  • AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A

*AM Best ratings accurate as of August 2023


Frequently Asked Questions

Does American Family renters insurance cover water damage?

An American Family renters insurance policy doesn’t cover water damage from floods or sewer line backups.

Why should I buy renters insurance?

Renters insurance helps protect you and your belongings from damage due to unexpected events. For example, if someone broke into your rental unit and stole some of your belongings, renters insurance would help pay to replace the items lost. Additionally, some landlords require renters insurance before moving into a rental.

How do I get a free renters insurance quote from American Family?

To receive a free renters insurance quote, go to the American Family website. You’ll input information like your address, city, state, and zip code ready for a quick and simple quoting process.

When considering renters insurance, it is always a good idea to get quotes from multiple companies so you can find the right provider for you.

What’s the difference between homeowners insurance and renters insurance?

Homeowners insurance covers both the structure of the home and the belongings inside, while renters insurance covers damage to personal property but not to the physical structure.


Our Rating Methodology

Quartz Advisor rates providers using comprehensive review standards to score each company. Our review standards compare relevant factors such as cost, coverage, customer experience, technology, and reputation, which tally up to 100 points. In addition, we reviewed provider websites, customer access features, and tools; spoke with representatives; obtained sample quotes and policy terms; analyzed AM Best and JD Power ratings; and reviewed online customer feedback for each provider.

*All AM Best and JD Power ratings used in this review are accurate as of January 2024