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Best Renters Insurance in Ohio

Lemonade is our top choice for the best renters insurance in Ohio.

via Lemonade’s secure form
Updated: Feb 03, 2024
Written by
Bradford Cuthrell
Written by Bradford Cuthrell Author

Bradford Cuthrell specializes in writing pet insurance, renters insurance, homeowners insurance, and other home finance topics. He’s surveyed thousands of pet owners and homeowners, listened to hundreds of customer service calls from various home service companies, and spoken with experts across the home vertical to understand homeowners’ common pain points and needs. Outside of his working hours, Bradford enjoys reading, camping, and working on his draft novel.

An Ohio renters insurance policy saves you money by covering the cost of items damaged due to an unexpected event, like a fire or hailstorm. To help you find the best renters insurance policy, Quartz Advisor Reviews Team wrote an in-depth review on renters insurance in the Buckeye State.

Ohio’s Top Renters Insurance Companies

Lemonade

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

Lemonade renters insurance is a relatively new player on the market, founded in 2015, and its approach to insurance is decidedly modern. The company’s mobile app harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to process sign-ups and claims quickly, and its add-on options are extensive, including coverage for significant others, bikes, fine art, water backup, appliance breakdowns, and more.

Pros and Cons
Pros The mobile app makes it easy to sign-up and enroll for coverage Can be bundled with other Lemonade services such as car or pet insurance AI technology is able to reimburse many insurance claims in seconds Cons Lower than average rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Customer service is primarily online through the mobile app, which may be a
Additional Coverage Options

Here are the endorsements you can add to a Lemonade plan

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

Lemonade provides the following discounts.

  • Annual premium discount: This discount is available if you choose an annual over a monthly premium.
  • Bundling discount: You’re eligible if you pair your renters insurance with auto, pet, or life insurance.
  • Protective devices discount: This discount is available if your home has installed fire or burglar alarms.

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.

Geico

Best for bundling
4.8
J.D. Power N/A A.M. Best A++

Geico is a well-known name within the insurance market, thanks to its stable financial history established in 1936 and its comprehensive mobile app. Geico matches customers with third-party insurers for renters insurance, rather than providing insurance directly. The company provides the standard personal property, loss of use, personal liability, and medical payments coverage as well as minimal add-on options. For customers who want a streamlined policy without additional fees or add-ons, Geico may be an excellent fit.

Pros and Cons
Pros Competitive premiums in line with or below the national average Offers identity theft as an add-on choice Calculator tool allows renters to assess the value of their belongings and determine the amount of personal property coverage they need Cons Does not directly insure renters, but matches customers with a third-party insurance provider Only two add-on options for customized policies
Additional Coverage Options

For an additional monthly amount, you can add coverage for:

  • Replacement cash value
  • Identity theft services
  • Water sewer backups
  • Scheduled personal property
  • Business merchandise
  • Incidental business liability
  • Natural disasters

Geico also has a separate jewelry insurance policy for a higher level of protection.

Available Discounts

State Farm

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

State Farm provides customers with six unique add-on coverage options that can be purchased in addition to traditional coverage. State Farm’s most basic plan covers three main events including accidents, weather impacts, and vandalism and malicious mischief.

Pros and Cons
Pros Competitive renters insurance premiums in line with or below the national average Discounts for bundling renters insurance with car insurance and having safety features like a home security system No limit on personal property and loss of use coverage Cons Only two discount options available: safety devices and policy bundling No loss of use coverage available
Additional Coverage Options

Here are the endorsements you can add to a State Farm plan. Note that State Farm offers its flood insurance endorsement via an agent only.

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

State Farm provides the following discounts:

  • Bundling discount: This discount is available when you bundle multiple policies with your renters insurance plan.
  • Claim record discount: Those who haven’t filed a renters insurance claim within the past five years are eligible for this discount.
  • Higher deductible discount: This discount lowers your renters insurance premium when you select a higher deductible.
  • Home alert protection discount: This discount is available for those living in a home with installed smoke detectors and burglar and fire alarms.

Nationwide

Best Coverage Customization
4.5
J.D. Power 852/1000 A.M. Best A

Nationwide provides some of the most comprehensive renters insurance coverage in the industry. In addition to industry-standard personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments to others coverage, Nationwide includes building additions and alterations, credit card coverage, and ordinance or law coverage (the cost to rebuild a home that has been destroyed).

Pros and Cons
Pros No limit on personal property coverage Discount on policy when you bundle renters and auto policies Coverage for eight natural disasters and events such as fire, theft, and vandalism Cons No digital purchasing option; renters must speak to an insurance agent to finalize their quote and purchase While claims department is open 24/7, customer service hours are limited
Additional Coverage Options

Allstate offers most of its endorsements via an Allstate agent. The endorsements are the following:

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

Allstate provides the following discounts:

  • 55 and retired discount: This discount is for renters who are 55 and older.
  • Easy Pay Plan: This discount is available when you enroll your bank account into an automatic payment plan.
  • Multi-policy discount: You’re eligible for this discount when you purchase additional insurance policies with Allstate.

Liberty Mutual

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

Liberty Mutual provides some of the most affordable renters insurance coverage, with plans starting out at just $5 per month. Liberty is an experienced insurance provider with more than 105 years of experience. The company offers areas of coverage like personal property, loss of use, liability, and medical payments to others.

Pros and Cons
Pros Discounts include online purchases, claims-free, and bundling services with other Liberty Mutual insurance policies 24/7 claims department Five deductible options to choose from Cons Water damage coverage not included in the standard policy Pricing for renters insurance can run slightly higher than competitor rates
Additional Coverage Options

Here are the endorsements you can add to a Liberty Mutual plan:

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

Liberty Mutual offers the following discounts:

  • Claims-free discount: This discount is available if you haven’t filed a claim within the past five years.
  • Early shopper discount: You’re eligible for this discount if you purchase a renters insurance policy from Liberty Mutual before your existing policy ends.
  • Multi-policy discount: You can save by bundling additional policies with your renters insurance, such as an auto policy.
  • Online sign-up discount: You can get a 10% discount by purchasing a renters insurance policy online.
  • Preferred payment discount: This discount is available when you enroll in an automatic payment plan.

Our Conclusion

If you live in Ohio, we recommend Lemonade, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide for your renters insurance policy because of their flexible and customizable coverage plans. Before buying a policy, consider getting a renters insurance quote from at least three companies to see which one is the best for you and your family.

Compare Renters Insurance Quotes
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Comparing the Top Providers of Renters Insurance in Ohio

Companies Lemonade Liberty Mutual Nationwide State Farm Geico
Monthly Price About $15 About $16 About $20 About $12 About $16
Discounts Available 4 discounts 5 discounts 3 discounts 2 discounts 4 discounts
BBB Rating C A+ A+ NR A+
Types of Coverage Personal property, liability, loss of use, medical payments to others 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, liability, loss of use, medical payments, damage of payments to others
Personal Property Coverage Limits $10,000–$250,000 $15,000, $20,000, or $25,000 No limit No limit $5,000–$95,000
Liability Coverage Limits $100,000–$500,000 $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000 $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $400,000, or $500,000 $100,000, $300,000, $400,000, $500,000, $750,000, or $1,000,000 $50,000, $100,000, and $300,000
ACV or RCV RCV ACV or RCV ACV or RCV ACV or RCV RCV
Unique Add-Ons Ability to increase jewelry coverage online, musical instrument or camera coverage, additional insureds Earthquake, identity fraud Limited water backup, additional insureds Waterbed, computer Identity fraud endorsement
Customer Service 24/7 for claims through the app; email and chat on mobile app, limited phone hours Hours vary by department 24/7 for claims; limited for sales and service Hours vary by department 24/7 for claims; local agent, phone, or online sales and service

BBB ratings are accurate as of May 2022.


Ohio Renters Insurance Coverage

An Ohio renters insurance policy typically provides the following coverage:

  • Personal Property Coverage: This coverage protects your personal belongings if they’re damaged because of an unexpected event inside your home. To determine the amount of coverage needed, take inventory of the value of your items before signing up for a policy.
  • Coverage for Medical Payments to Others: If someone is injured inside of your home, this coverage pays for their medical bills up to the limit you selected.
  • Liability Coverage: If you cause damage to another person or their property, liability coverage protects you from paying for the expenses out of pocket.
  • Loss of Use Coverage: Loss of use coverage pays for additional living expenses like food and a hotel room if your rental property is deemed uninhabitable after damage from a covered event.
  • Endorsements: Endorsements are additional coverage options you select to supplement your coverage. Popular endorsements include pet damage, earthquake damage, and identity theft.

How Much Does a Renters Insurance Policy Cost in Ohio?

The average cost of renters insurance in Ohio was $163 for the year in 2019, or about $13.58 per month, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). That was lower than the national average of $174 per year. Ohio ranked 26th out of 50 states when ranked from the most expensive to least expensive states for renters insurance policies.


Factors to Consider Before Buying Renters Insurance

Consider these factors when deciding which renters insurance company is best for you and your home:

  • Discounts: Many insurance companies offer renters discounts on their monthly renters insurance rate. Typical discounts include bundling renters and auto insurance and having safety features in the home, like a sprinkler or security system.
  • Weather: Ohio can experience cold winters that bring large amounts of snow and ice. Before purchasing a policy, ensure that your renters insurance policy covers events like frozen pipes and damaged roofs that are caused by the colder weather.
  • Personal Information: Personal information is a contributing factor to the price of your renters insurance. If you have little renting experience or have a low credit score, you may have a more expensive plan.
  • Landlord Requirements: Before signing up for a policy, make sure your plan meets the landlord insurance requirements for the rental property. Many landlords require a minimum amount of liability coverage, so make sure you purchase the required amount of protection.

FAQs About Renters Insurance in Ohio

How much is renters insurance in Ohio?

The average cost of renters insurance in Ohio was $163 for the year in 2019, or about $13.58 per month, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). That was lower than the national average of $174 per year. Ohio ranked 26th out of 50 states when ranked from the most expensive to least expensive states for renters insurance policies.

How much renters insurance do I need in Ohio?

To determine how much renters insurance you need, take stock of your belongings and their value. From there, you can see how much personal property coverage you should purchase. Additionally, some landlords require a specific amount of coverage. For example, the typical amount of liability coverage landlords require is $100,000.

Can landlords require renters insurance in Ohio?

Your landlord can require renters insurance as part of a legal agreement between you, the tenant, and them, the landlord.

Does everyone on a lease need renters insurance in Ohio?

If you’re renting a home or apartment, you’re not legally obligated to have renters insurance, although your landlord can require it. If they do, everyone in the rental unit must have renters insurance. Note: One person’s policy won’t cover all tenants in the same unit unless they’re included in the policy.

How is renters insurance different from homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance protects your belongings and the physical structure of your house. While your landlord’s insurance policy covers the physical structure of the building, renters insurance provides coverage for your personal liability and belongings.


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