The Best Cheap Renters Insurance in California
Compare cheap renters insurance options in California
The best cheap renters insurance in California is offered by Lemonade, with an average rate of $9 per month, 45% less than the state average.
The average cost of renters insurance in California is $17 per month, or $207 per year.
Picking the best renters insurance provider involves choosing a company with affordable rates, practical policy features and high-quality customer service. We gathered more than 170 quotes from across California to help you find the cheapest and best renters insurance in the state.
The cheapest renters insurance in California
Lemonade has the cheapest renters insurance in California. Its average rate of $9 per month is 45% less than the state average.
The average price of renters insurance in California is $17 per month, or $207 per year.
Compare cheap renters insurance options in California
The cost of coverage in California is slightly less expensive than in all of the United States, where the average cost of renters insurance is $215 per year.
Cheapest renters insurance companies in California
Company | Monthly cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | $9 |
| State Farm | $14 |
| Nationwide | $18 |
| Travelers | $19 |
| Farmers | $19 |
| Allstate | $21 |
| Amica | $21 |
Best renters insurance for most people: Lemonade
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Editor rating
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Average monthly rate
$9 ?
Pros and cons
Lemonade is our top recommendation for renters insurance in California. The company's average rate in the Golden State is $9 per month, 32% cheaper than the next-most-affordable option.
Lemonade offers the convenience of a streamlined quote process and can approve claims extremely quickly using an artificial intelligence (AI) system. It also has a good set of coverage options, including water backup coverage, earthquake coverage and the ability to quickly add a significant other to your policy.
The main drawback of Lemonade is customer service that drew twice as many complaints as average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Many of the complaints focused on communication surrounding claims or changing policies.
Best for home business owners: State Farm
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Editor rating
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Average monthly rate
$14 ?
Pros and cons
State Farm's basic policies include some coverage for business property, with the option to expand protections. Standard coverage includes some protection for business property, which includes merchandise, with the option to expand that coverage or add business liability protection.
State Farm has some of the cheapest coverage we found in California. An average policy is just $14 per month.
Renters with State Farm will not have the option to add many extra types of coverage or protections. The company's customer service does not stand out either, as it received more than twice as many complaints as expected in California, given its size.
Best renters insurance for customer service: Amica
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Editor rating
-
Average monthly rate
$21 ?
Pros and cons
Amica is a top renters insurance option for customer service in California. Amica receives only one-third of the complaints one would expect from the size of its market share, meaning customers are usually satisfied with the company.
Customer service is crucial after an event that could leave you without much of your property or put out of the home you rent. It will cost you more, however, as Amica is the most expensive California insurer in California at $254 per year.
Amica also does not offer much beyond the standard options for coverage or discounts. You can get replacement cost coverage and identity fraud protection, but you cannot expand your policy to cover damage from a water backup or an earthquake. Considering the earthquake risks in California, renters should consider a stand-alone earthquake policy.
California renters insurance rates: City by city
Santa Rosa has the cheapest renters insurance among major California cities, with an average rate of about $13 per month — or $161 per year.
In contrast, renters insurance in Irvine is the most expensive in the state at $24 per month — $293 per year.
City | Average annual cost | Difference from state average (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | $185 | -12% |
| Bakersfield | $215 | 2% |
| Chula Vista | $186 | -12% |
| Fontana | $208 | -1% |
| Fremont | $200 | -5% |
Compare cheap renters insurance options in CA
Find Cheap Renters Insurance Quotes in Your Area
The best-rated renters insurance companies in California
USAA and Amica are the insurers we found with California's top-rated customer service.
Each company receives a low number of complaints relative to its size, according to the NAIC, and USAA is the top company in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. However, USAA is only available to members of the military and certain members of their families.
Company |
Rating
|
|---|---|
| USAA | |
| Amica | |
| Lemonade | |
| State Farm | |
| Nationwide | |
| Allstate | |
| Farmers | |
| Travelers |
Frequently asked questions
How much is renters insurance per month in California?
Renters insurance in California costs $17 per month, on average. The cheapest company in California, Lemonade, offers renters insurance for $9 per month.
Do you need renters insurance in California?
Renters insurance is not required by law in California, but your property management company or landlord is allowed to require you to buy coverage as a part of your rental agreement.
Who has the best renters insurance in California?
Lemonade has the best renters insurance for most people in California. Quotes from lemonade are much cheaper than average at $9 per month. It also has a good set of coverage options.
How much does renters insurance cost in Sacramento?
Renters in Sacramento pay around $17 per month for insurance, which is 4% cheaper than average in California. In comparison, people living in San Jose pay $15 for the same coverage.
Methodology
In order to find the cheapest renters insurance in California, we obtained 172 quotes from addresses across the state using a sample renter profile: a 30-year-old, unmarried renter with no pets, living on his own.
We sourced quotes for a policy with $30,000 worth of personal property, $100,000 of personal liability and $1,000 of medical payments to others. Where possible, our sample policies carried a $500 deductible.
Customer service ratings combined weighted values that include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, J.D. Power's annual customer satisfaction survey and ValuePenguin's editor's rating.