Best Renters Insurance in California
Protect your belongings from damage and yourself from liability claims with a California renters insurance policy. To see who offers the best policies in California, keep reading our review.
If you’re renting an apartment or other property in the Golden State, odds are you need a renters insurance policy to meet your landlord’s requirements. We have determined that Lemonade, Toggle, and Allstate are the top renters insurance providers in the state due to their ability to provide strong coverage at a surprisingly low cost. Continue reading to learn why these providers are the best options for California renters and compare quotes to determine which option is best the best renters insurance company for you.
California’s Top Renters Insurance Companies
We reviewed the most reputable renters insurance providers in the state and compiled a list of the top companies for Californians based on cost, coverage, customer service, and more. Continue reading to learn why Lemonade topped our list.
- Lemonade: Easiest Sign-up
- Toggle: Best for Flexible Pricing
- Allstate: Best for Unique Coverage
- Nationwide: Best Coverage Customization
- USAA: Best Membership Perks
Toggle
Best for Flexible Pricing
Allstate
Best for Unique Coverage
Nationwide
Best Coverage Customization
USAA
Best Membership Perks
Our Conclusion
Lemonade, Toggle, and Allstate are all established companies in the insurance industry that offer affordable renters insurance policies with several coverage options in the Golden State. We recommend getting quotes from all three providers so that you can compare prices and get the best policy for you and your home. It’s also a good idea to get free cost information from other providers in your area—you can do so by using the tool below:
California Renters Insurance Coverage
You can expect your renters insurance policy to have four types of coverage:
- Liability Coverage: This protects you against liability claims if you cause bodily injury to someone else or damage their personal belongings. Liability coverage may even cover your legal fees if you’re sued.
- Personal Property Coverage: Renters insurance covers the cost of replacing your items when they’re damaged by a covered event. There are two types of this kind of protection: replacement cash value (RCV) and actual cash value (ACV). RCV is more expensive, but it replaces your items with new ones. ACV only replaces your items based on their current, depreciated value.
- Coverage for Medical Payments to Others: When a guest is injured in your apartment, you can file a claim to have their medical bills paid for by your insurance company.
- Loss of Use Coverage: If a covered event damages your home enough that you need to temporarily live elsewhere during repairs, your policy will pay for those additional living expenses.
How Much Does a Renters Insurance Policy Cost in California?
According to data collected by Quadrant Information Services, the average renters insurance policy in California typically costs about $192 per year or $16 per month. This makes the cost of renters insurance in this state about the same as the national average of $15 per month. The exact cost of your premium will vary based on factors about your rental unit such as its location and safety features, as well as factors about you such as your credit score and claims history. It will also depend on factors that are in your control such as the coverage limits and deductible amount you select.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Renters Insurance
As you look into renters insurance policies, keep these factors in mind:
- Earthquakes: California is prone to earthquakes because of the large number of fault lines running through the state. Most insurance companies won’t cover natural disasters in their base policies, which is why we recommend USAA for that type of coverage. However, insurance companies often offer an add-in for earthquakes, which is true of Nationwide.
- Cost Factors: If your rental is old and farther away from a fire station or fire hydrant, your policy may cost more. If you have a lot of renting experience, a high credit score, and a clean claims history, your renters insurance rate will be lower.
- Pets: Oftentimes, your pet will be covered under the liability portion of your policy. However, if your pet has a history of aggression they may not be covered. Read your policy to understand if your pets will receive coverage. If they aren’t covered under the base plan, consider buying a pet damage endorsement or separate pet insurance.
- Bundling Policies: Most insurance companies give you a multi-policy discount for bundling your renters insurance with other policies, like auto insurance and life insurance.
If you’re not sure which renters insurance policy is best for you, compare the top-rated California renters insurance providers below.
Compare Renters Insurance Companies
| Companies | Allstate | Nationwide | USAA |
| Monthly Price | About $16 | About $20 | As low as $10 |
| Discounts Available | 5 discounts | 3 discounts | 3 discounts |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | B+ |
| Types of Coverage | Personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments to others | Personal property, loss of use, liability, medical payments to others, ordinance or law, building additions and alterations, credit card | Personal property, liability, medical payments to others |
| Personal Property Coverage Limits | $25,000–$150,000 | No limit | $25,000–$750,000 |
| Liability Coverage Limits | $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, or $500,000 | $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $400,000, or $500,000 | $100,000, $300,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000 |
| ACV or RCV | ACV or RCV | ACV or RCV | RCV |
| Unique Add-Ons | Scheduled personal property, uninsured/underinsured motorist | Limited water backup, additional insureds | Computer and tablet |
| Customer Service | 24/7 | 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service | 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service |
Frequently Asked Questions
What other insurance companies offer renters insurance in California?
Geico, State Farm, Progressive, Farmers, and Liberty Mutual are other big insurance names that provide renters insurance to California renters. Toggle and Lemonade are not as well-known, but they both offer coverage that start at $5 per month.
Is there a cancellation fee for canceling renters insurance in California?
Most companies don’t charge a fee for canceling your renters insurance policy, but check with your specific provider to confirm this is the case.
How much liability coverage should I get in California?
If your landlord requires renters insurance, check with them first to see how much liability coverage they want you to get. Most landlords require a liability coverage limit of $100,000.
Our Rating Methodology
