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How Much is Renters Insurance

Best Renters Insurance in Illinois (2024)

Our team compared coverage, costs, limits, discounts, and more for the top renters insurance companies in Illinois.

via Lemonade’s secure form
Updated: Mar 05, 2024
Written by
Jesus Sanchez Garcia
Written by Jesus Sanchez Garcia Author

Jesus Sanchez Garcia is a writer who specializes in producing content about home warranties, renters insurance and other home categories. He has an eye for research and regularly conducts interviews with industry experts to provide sound advice to homeowners. Jesus has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. When he isn’t producing content, you can find Jesus enjoying a cup of coffee at a local cafe or cheering on his beloved Arsenal.

Edited by
Allie Rosa
Edited by Allie Rosa Author

Allie Rosa is an experienced editor with a background in crafting and refining content across various home and thought leadership categories. Allie holds a bachelor’s degree in English and completed her master’s degree at Columbia University. Away from the editing desk, Allie enjoys reading, practicing yoga and traveling.

Renters insurance covers your valuables from loss or damage due to unforeseen events. Landlord’s insurance only protects the property where you live, leaving your personal property at risk. For a low monthly premium, renters insurance gives you peace of mind that you’re covered if your valuables get destroyed, stolen, or vandalized. The Quartz Advisor Reviews Team reviewed the best renters insurance companies in the United States. In this guide, we rounded up our top recommendations for Illinois renters.

6 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Illinois

Here are the top renters insurance providers in Illinois:

For this article’s coverage information, our team pulled quotes for an 820-square-foot apartment in Naperville, Illinois. Your pricing, deductible, and available coverage may vary depending on your home’s size, type, location, applicable discounts, and your chosen plan and endorsements.

Lemonade

Best for Easy Coverage
4.4
J.D. Power 854/1000 A.M. Best N/A

Lemonade offers Illinois renters straightforward coverage at an affordable price. The sign-up process is simple; our team pulled a quote in fewer than four minutes. Lemonade allows you to customize limits for personal property and liability coverage. In addition, Lemonade donates unused claim funds to various national charities.

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides a quick and easy sign-up process Offers up to $6,000 for portable electronics coverage Includes access to an all-in-one mobile app Cons Doesn’t offer customer service via an agent Provides limited discounts
Additional Coverage Options

Lemonade offers the following additional coverage options:

  • Appliance equipment breakdown
  • Coverage for landlord property damage
  • Coverage for your significant other
  • Expandable coverage for jewelry, fine art, and more
  • Water backup protection
Available Discounts

Lemonade offers bundling discounts when you sign up for car, pet, or term life insurance with your renters insurance policy. It also has a discount if your home has a fire or burglar alarm installed.

Toggle

Best for Flexible Pricing
4.3
J.D. Power N/A A.M. Best A

Toggle makes it simple to choose the level of coverage you need for your rental at the perfect price to fit your budget. Our team was able to get quotes on a basic, standard, and premium policy after submitting a name, address, and birthday with the basic policy costing only $5 per month. We had the flexibility to completely customize coverage amounts, and adding endorsements was as easy as toggling on the selections we wanted. We were able to purchase a plan in only 2 minutes that could start as early as today.

Pros and Cons of Toggle Renters
Pros Basic plan is only $5 a month Replacement cost coverage available for just $3 a month Members gain access to exclusive discount portal Cons Customer support is only available by email and live chat Auto insurance is only available in 9 states, so it may be difficult to bundle
Additional Coverage Options

Here are the endorsements you can add to a Toggle plan:

  • Pet Parent
  • Replacement Cost
  • Temporary Living Costs
  • Side Hustle
  • Identity Protector
  • Significant Other
Available Discounts

Although not explicitly stated in the quote process, we identified several discounts that customers are eligible for by speaking with a customer service representative.

  • Diminishing deductible: For every year you don’t file a claim, your deductible will decrease with no added cost to your policy.
  • Multi-policy: Customers who bundle with auto insurance are eligible to save with this discount.

State Farm

Best for Valuables Coverage
4.6
J.D. Power 844/1000 A.M. Best A++

State Farm offers Illinois renters comprehensive and affordable renters insurance plans. State Farm covers high-value personal property, such as jewelry and firearms, in its standard plans. Most renters insurance companies offer valuables coverage as an add-on only.

Pros and Cons
Pros Includes high-value personal property coverage within standard policies Offers up to $1,000,000 in liability coverage Provides coverage for as little as $7 per month Cons Offers a limited selection of endorsements Lacks an online chat feature
Additional Coverage Options

State Farm provides the following endorsements:

  • Backup or sewer drain endorsement
  • Cyber event, identity restoration, and fraud loss endorsement
  • Earthquake endorsement
  • Flood insurance endorsement
Available Discounts

Here is a list of State Farm’s available discounts:

  • Bundling discount: This discount is available for applicable auto and renters insurance bundles.
  • Claim record discount: You are eligible for this discount if you haven’t filed a claim with a previous provider in the past five years.
  • Home alert protection discount: This discount is available if your home has smoke detectors and burglar and fire alarms.

Liberty Mutual

Best Value
4.4
J.D. Power 848/1000 A.M. Best A

Liberty Mutual offers low-cost renters insurance and solid coverage for personal liability and medical payments. It provides unique discounts other providers don’t, including an online sign-up discount. Liberty Mutual also lets you choose between an actual cash value (ACV) and a replacement cost value (RCV) policy.

Pros and Cons
Pros Includes four deductible options to choose from Offers unique discounts Provides ACV and RCV policies Cons Caps personal property coverage at $25,000 Excludes water damage from its standard policy
Additional Coverage Options

Liberty Mutual provides the following endorsements:

  • Blanket jewelry coverage
  • Earthquake coverage
  • Portable electronics coverage
Available Discounts

Here is a list of Liberty Mutual’s insurance premium discounts:

  • Claims-free discount: This discount is available if you haven’t filed a renters insurance claim with a previous provider in the past five years.
  • Early shopper discount: You’re eligible for this discount if you currently own a renters insurance plan and wish to switch.
  • Multi-policy discount: This discount applies when you bundle your renters insurance plan with additional policies, such as car insurance.
  • Online sign-up discount: You can save on your rate when you sign up online.
  • Preferred payment discount: This discount is available when you enroll in an automatic payment plan.

Allstate

Best for Unique Coverage
4.7
J.D. Power 835/1000 A.M. Best A+

Allstate made our list for its generous personal property, liability, and medical payments to others coverage. It also reimburses costs associated with identity theft. Further, Allstate includes employer liability coverage if an employee, such as a dog sitter, injures themselves in your home. Allstate provides three coverage levels tailored to your budget and coverage needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers a low $250 deductible Provides up to $25,000 in identity theft recovery coverage Covers employee injuries that occur in your home Cons Lacks clarity on what counts as a covered loss Offers pricier plans compared to other providers

Additional Coverage Options

Allstate provides the following endorsements:

  • Flood insurance
  • Identity theft restoration
  • Personal umbrella policy
  • Scheduled personal property coverage

Available Discounts

Here is a list of Allstate’s policy discounts:

  • 55 and retired discount: Renters 55 years and older are eligible for this discount.
  • Easy Pay Plan: This discount is available when you enroll your bank account in an automatic payment plan.
  • Multi-policy discount: You can save by pairing your renters insurance with an auto insurance policy.

Farmers

Best for Loss of Use Coverage
4.4
J.D. Power 842/1000 A.M. Best A

Farmers is our final recommended Illinois renters insurance provider. It offers up to 100% coverage for loss of use. Farmers has an expansive network of agents nationwide for those who prefer to sign up with an agent. It offers multiple unique discounts, including non-smoking and good-payer discounts.

Pros and Cons
Pros Offers four deductible options Includes up to 100% loss of use coverage Provides a non-smoking discount Cons Offers additional endorsements only through an agent Doesn’t offer coverage if you own a high-risk dog breed
Additional Coverage Options

Farmers offers one endorsement, Identity Shield protection, when you pull a quote online. It offers additional endorsements if you speak with an agent. Here is a list of the additional endorsements Farmers offers:

  • Earthquake endorsement
  • Flood insurance
  • Jewelry, fur, and firearms coverage
Available Discounts

Here is a list of Farmer’s policy discounts:

  • Claims-free discount: This discount is available if you haven’t reported a property loss within the last three years.
  • Multiple policy discount: You’re eligible for this discount when you pair your renters insurance with a life or car insurance policy.
  • Security system discount: You can get this discount if your home has installed fire or security alarm systems.
  • Smoke-free discount: Households that have been smoke-free for two years are eligible for this discount.
  • Welcome discount: This discount is available for new renters insurance customers.

What Is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Illinois?

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), Illinois’s average renters insurance rate is $157 annually or $13.08 monthly. Illinois ranked 32nd for the most expensive renters insurance in the country. Here are factors that affect average renters insurance costs:

  • Crime: Some cities have higher theft and vandalism rates than others. Providers typically charge more if you live in an area with a high crime rate and vice versa.
  • Severe weather conditions: Illinois is prone to experiencing damaging winds, flash floods, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Your renters policy may cost more if you live in an area where severe weather conditions occur frequently.
  • Your credit history: Some providers consider your credit history before assigning your rate. On average, those with a lower credit score pay more for renters insurance than those with a higher score.
  • Your personal belongings: Your renters insurance premium depends on how much coverage you need for your valuables. Before signing up, calculate how much your personal property is worth so you only pay for what you need.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Renters insurance plans typically offer four main coverage types: liability, loss of use, medical payments to others, and personal property. 

  • Liability: Liability coverage covers incidents such as damaging someone else’s property, bodily harm that occurs to someone due to your actions, and legal fees if someone sues you for damages.
  • Loss of use: Loss of use covers the associated expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. For example, hotel rooms, rental cars, meals, and laundry expenses fall under loss of use.
  • Medical payments to others: This covers the medical expenses of someone who injured themself in your home. Note that your policy will cover up to its coverage limit.
  • Personal property: Personal property coverage covers valuables inside your home or vehicle. Some providers won’t cover valuable belongings, such as fine art, unless you pay for the endorsement.

What Risks Do Renters in Illinois Face the Most?

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Illinois faces severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes. If you live in an area susceptible to severe weather, consider purchasing a policy that covers the severe weather conditions mentioned above. Some providers may cover these conditions as endorsements.


Our Conclusion

Whether you live in downtown Chicago or the suburbs of Aurora, having renters insurance coverage protects your belongings from the unexpected. The Quartz Advisor Reviews Team recommends Lemonade for its easy sign-up process and fully customizable coverage. We like State Farm for its high-value belongings coverage and Liberty Mutual for its various discounts.

We recommend pulling quotes from at least three providers to compare policy coverage, costs, exclusions, and limitations before making a final decision.

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Renters Insurance in Illinois FAQ

How do I calculate the worth of my personal belongings?

You can calculate the worth of your personal belongings by adding receipt totals of the items you own. If you don’t have receipts, look up your items online and note their values. Consider the age and condition of your items. Older items will be worth less than new items.

Is renters insurance required in Illinois?

Illinois law doesn’t require renters to purchase a renters insurance policy. That said, many landlords require you to own a policy while renting their property. Renters insurance covers your personal property from loss or damage due to unforeseen events, so it’s worth considering if you own valuable items.

What are the benefits of renters insurance in Illinois?

There are several benefits of owning renters insurance in Illinois. Renters insurance protects your belongings from damaging incidents outside your control, such as fire, severe winds, theft, and vandalism. The low cost of protection is another benefit. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average renters insurance policy in Illinois costs less than $14 a month.

How do I get renters insurance in Illinois?

You can get a renters insurance policy by clicking any of the recommended provider links above for a free quote. We recommend visiting a provider’s website if you prefer speaking to an agent. Providers display a toll-free number on their websites.


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