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Best Renters Insurance in Maryland (2024)

We compared costs, coverage limits, endorsements, and more for the top five renters insurance companies in Maryland.

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.

renters insurance maryland
Allie Rosa
renters insurance maryland 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.

A renters insurance policy protects your personal property from unexpected incidents, such as windstorm damage or vandalism, at a low monthly rate. In addition, renters insurance covers personal liability, living expenses if your house becomes uninhabitable, and more. Quartz Advisor Reviews Team analyzed the best renters insurance companies nationwide. In this guide, we rounded up our top choices for Maryland renters.

5 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Maryland

Here are the top Maryland renters insurance providers:

For this article’s coverage information, our team pulled quotes for a 480-square-foot apartment in Baltimore, Maryland. Your pricing, deductible, and available coverage may vary depending on your home’s size, type, and 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 generous personal property and liability protection. Unlike traditional insurance companies, Lemonade allows you to sign up for a policy without an insurance agent. It provides endorsements for water damage and valuables such as your bicycle. You can conveniently access Lemonade’s features online or on its mobile app.

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides coverage for unique valuables, such as musical instruments and bicycles Offers a quick sign-up process that takes three minutes, on average, to complete Donates unused claim funds to national charities Cons Offers fewer discounts than other providers Provides limited over-the-phone customer service
Additional Coverage Options

Here are additional endorsements you can add to a Lemonade plan:

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

Lemonade offers the following discounts:

  • Annual premium discount: Selecting an annual premium lowers your renters insurance rate.
  • Bundling discount: You can lower your renters insurance premium by adding auto, pet, or term life insurance.
  • Fire and burglar alarm discount: This discount is available if your home has fire and burglar alarms installed.

State Farm

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

State Farm provides customizable coverage for your personal belongings. For example, you can select the total coverage limit for valuables such as jewelry and personal business property. In addition, State Farm includes valuables coverage within standard plans, unlike most renters insurance providers.

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides a large network of agents nationwide Includes up to $10,000 in medical payments to others coverage Offers a flood insurance endorsement Cons Provides limited deductible choices Lacks an online chat feature on its website
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

Check out State Farm’s policy discounts:

  • Bundling discount: You are eligible for this discount if you purchase an auto policy with your renters insurance policy.
  • Claim record discount: This discount is available if you haven’t filed a claim with a previous provider within five years.
  • Home alert protection discount: You can lower your insurance rates if your home has installed 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 solid renters insurance coverage to Maryland residents. It provides nine deductibles ranging from $250 to $7,500 per claim. Liberty Mutual offers up to $1,000,000 in personal liability coverage. Note that Liberty Mutual doesn’t offer water damage as a covered loss within its standard plan.

Pros and Cons
Pros Includes more than eight deductible options Offers more than four discounts Provides generous personal liability coverage Cons Limits personal property coverage to a maximum of $25,000 Doesn’t include water damage within its standard policy
Additional Coverage Options

Liberty Mutual offers the following endorsements:

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

Liberty Mutual offers the following insurance discounts:

  • Claims-free discount: You are eligible for this discount if you haven’t filed a claim with a previous provider in the past five years.
  • Early shopper discount: You are eligible for this discount if you purchase a Liberty Mutual policy before your current policy ends.
  • Multi-policy discount: This discount is available when you bundle your renters insurance with additional policies, such as auto insurance.
  • Online sign-up discount: Save 10% off a policy when you sign up online.
  • Preferred payment discount: You are eligible for this discount 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 is another reputable choice for Maryland renters. Allstate provides basic, standard, and enhanced policies, each with varying levels of coverage. Allstate also offers a tropical cyclone deductible, which covers tropical storm damage after you pay the deductible.

Pros and Cons
Pros Offers a tropical storm deductible of up to 10% Grants coverage the day you sign up Provides discounts to seniors 55 years and older Cons Charges slightly higher monthly premiums compared to other providers Provides limited endorsements when you sign up online
Additional Coverage Options

The only endorsement available online is identity theft restoration. Here are the additional endorsements you can add to an Allstate plan when you speak with an agent:

  • Flood insurance endorsement
  • Personal umbrella policy
  • Scheduled personal property endorsement
Available Discounts

Allstate also provides the following discounts:

  • 55 and retired discount: Renters who are 55 and older are eligible for this discount.
  • Easy Pay Plan: You can save when you enroll in an automatic payment plan.
  • Multi-policy discount: This discount is available when you pair your renters insurance with a car insurance policy.

Farmers

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

Farmers renters insurance offers comprehensive loss of use coverage of up to 100% for 24 months. You can also customize the coverage you need for personal property, liability, and medical payments to others. Farmers offers six deductible options ranging from $100 to $2,500 per claim.

Pros and Cons
Pros Provides a low $100 deductible Covers up to $150,000 in personal property Offers a non-smoking discount Cons Limits access to additional endorsements Charges higher monthly premiums compared to other providers
Additional Coverage Options

The only endorsement available online is Identity Shield protection. Here are the additional endorsements you can add to your Farmers policy when you speak with an agent:

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

Here is a list of Farmer’s policy discounts:

  • Claim-free discount: You are eligible for this discount if you haven’t reported a property loss within the last three years.
  • Multiple policy discount: You can save when you bundle your renters insurance policy with a life or auto insurance policy.
  • Security system discount: You’re eligible for this discount if your home has installed fire alarms or security systems.
  • Smoke-free discount: This discount is for households that have been smoke-free for two years.
  • Welcome discount: You are eligible for this discount if you’re a new Farmers customer.

What Is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Maryland?

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), Maryland’s average renters insurance premium is $157 per year or roughly $13 per month. The state ranked 33rd in the country for the most expensive renters insurance. Below is a list of common factors that affect renters insurance rates:

  • Coverage amount: Your policy’s rate depends on how much coverage you need. The more coverage you select for personal property, liability, loss of use, and medical expenses to others, the more you pay for your policy.
  • Coverage type: Some providers offer actual cash value and replacement cost value coverage. Replacement cost coverage typically costs more because it pays more for an item than actual cash value coverage.
  • Crime: Providers charge more for your policy if you live in an area with high crime rates.
  • Weather: Providers factor in the likelihood of severe weather where you live. Your policy will likely cost more if you live in an area prone to severe weather conditions.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Most renters insurance plans provide four types of coverage: liability, loss of use, medical payments to others, and personal property. 

  • Liability: This coverage protects you if you accidentally damage your neighbor’s property. It also covers any legal fees associated with your neighbor’s damaged property.
  • Loss of use: This includes coverage for any additional living expenses you have if your home becomes uninhabitable. Examples of additional living expenses include hotel and laundry bills.
  • Medical payments to others: This covers you if someone hurts themselves inside your home. Your policy covers their medical expenses up to its coverage limit.
  • Personal property: This covers all your belongings stolen or damaged by covered events. Valuables, such as gold, usually require a coverage endorsement.

What Risks Do Renters in Maryland Face the Most?

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Maryland is most at risk for tropical storms. However, such storms don’t occur very frequently. The last tropical storm FEMA reported occurred in 2020. Here is a list of common risks to consider when shopping for your renters insurance policy.

  • Flooding: Due to the risk of storm surges, Maryland renters who live close to the coast may consider flood coverage. Many providers don’t offer flood coverage within standard policies. We recommend purchasing a flooding endorsement if you live in an area at risk of flooding.
  • Tropical storms: Tropical storm coverage is often covered by renters insurance. Consider the provider that offers the coverage limits you need within your budget.
  • Wildfires: Wildfires pose a risk to Maryland renters due to the hot and arid conditions within its forests. If you live near a forest, consider purchasing a renters insurance policy.

Our Conclusion

Protecting your home with a renters insurance policy can save you from paying for your belongings if they get damaged or stolen. Quartz Advisor Reviews Team chose Lemonade as our top provider due to its budget-friendly and easy-to-access coverage. We recommend State Farm for its generous medical payments to others coverage. Liberty Mutual is worth considering due to its many deductible choices.

We recommend requesting three quotes from renters insurance providers in Maryland to compare policy coverage, costs, exclusions, and limitations.

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FAQ About Renters Insurance in Maryland

What is a renters insurance deductible?

A renters insurance deductible is the amount you pay your provider once it approves your claim. For example, if your deductible is $500 and you received a total claim payout of $2,000, you will receive $1,500 after you pay your deductible. Providers typically subtract your deductible automatically when they pay your claim.

What is the best renters insurance in Baltimore?

According to our team’s research, Lemonade is the best renters insurance in Baltimore. It has an easy sign-up process, and its mobile app provides quick claims processing. Lemonade allows you to fully customize your coverage, and plans start around $7 monthly.

What is the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost value coverage?

The difference between actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost value (RCV) coverage involves how much a provider pays for your damaged or missing belongings. For an ACV policy, providers pay an item’s worth minus any applicable depreciation. For an RCV policy, providers pay the value of an item if you purchase it today.


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