The Best and Cheapest Renters Insurance in California for 2024
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The cheapest renters insurance company in California is Auto Club of SoCal, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.
Farmers, Nationwide, Travelers and USAA are the best renters insurance companies in California.
The average cost of renters insurance in California is $182 per year.
Renters insurance isn’t required by law in California, but it’s often worth buying — especially if you live in an area at risk for wildfires. While your landlord will insure the building you live in, it’s up to you to cover your own belongings.
The average cost of renters insurance in California is $182 per year. For comparison, the national annual average is $148. NerdWallet analyzed rates from across the state to find out which companies offer the cheapest renters insurance in California.
Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.
The cheapest renters insurance in California
Below are the companies with average renters insurance rates under the California average of $182 per year.
» MORE: The cheapest renters insurance
The best renters insurance in California
If you’re looking for renters insurance from highly rated insurers, consider these carriers that made NerdWallet’s list of the best renters insurance companies. Select each company’s name to read our review.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
|---|---|---|
$152 | ||
$181 | ||
$257 | ||
USAA* | $181 | |
*USAA renters policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families. | ||
More about the best renters insurance companies in California
See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Farmers
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Farmers offers a variety of ways to save on your renters insurance policy, including potential discounts for bundling multiple policies, having a security system or being a nonsmoker. Teachers, doctors, nurses and police officers may also be eligible for savings. If you have expensive belongings, such as an engagement ring or fine art, ask about extra coverage to make sure those items are properly insured.
Get more details in our Farmers renters insurance review.
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Travelers
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
If you’re looking for a well-established company, Travelers fits the bill: It’s been in business since 1864. You may be able to save on Travelers renters insurance if you insure your car through the company, you haven’t filed any recent claims or your home is equipped with safety devices such as a sprinkler system. Travelers has drawn fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Check out our Travelers renters insurance review for more details.
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Nationwide
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
Along with standard coverage for liability and personal belongings, Nationwide renters insurance includes coverage for expenses due to theft, like unauthorized credit or debit card transactions and forged checks. You may also be able to add coverage for jewelry and other valuables or for damage due to backed-up drains.
Learn more in our Nationwide renters insurance review.
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
USAA
Coverage options
Discounts
NAIC complaints
USAA’s renters policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families. If you’re eligible, though, these policies may offer a particularly good value to Californians because they include coverage for earthquake damage. (Most companies charge extra.) USAA also includes flood insurance in its standard renters policies.
Read our USAA renters insurance review to learn more.
How much is renters insurance in California?
The average cost of renters insurance in California is $182 a year, or approximately $15 a month. That’s 23% higher than the national average of $148 a year.
Los Angeles is one of the most expensive areas for renters insurance in California, with an average cost of $250 a year. The average cost of renters insurance in San Francisco is $226 a year, on average, while renters in San Diego pay about $189 a year.
Average cost of renters insurance in California by city
Here’s what renters insurance costs, on average, in 25 of California’s largest cities.
City | Average annual rate | Average monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
Anaheim | $200 | $17 |
Bakersfield | $207 | $17 |
Chula Vista | $187 | $16 |
Corona | $220 | $18 |
Fontana | $215 | $18 |
Fremont | $218 | $18 |
Fresno | $228 | $19 |
Hayward | $218 | $18 |
Irvine | $196 | $16 |
Lancaster | $244 | $20 |
Long Beach | $210 | $17 |
Los Angeles | $250 | $21 |
Modesto | $212 | $18 |
Moreno Valley | $217 | $18 |
Oakland | $243 | $20 |
Oxnard | $189 | $16 |
Riverside | $215 | $18 |
Sacramento | $216 | $18 |
San Bernardino | $225 | $19 |
San Diego | $189 | $16 |
San Francisco | $226 | $19 |
San Jose | $209 | $17 |
Santa Ana | $201 | $17 |
Santa Rosa | $203 | $17 |
Stockton | $222 | $19 |
» MORE: How much is renters insurance?
What to know about California renters insurance
Renters insurance can serve as a financial safety net in a disaster — and unfortunately, California sees plenty of those.
Wildfires
Wildfires in the state have grown larger and more frequent in recent years, causing billions of dollars' worth in damage.
Standard renters policies cover destruction due to fire and smoke, but those who live in high-risk areas may have trouble finding coverage. The California FAIR Plan is the state’s insurer of last resort, offering renters insurance to those who’ve been turned down elsewhere.
FAIR Plan coverage is much more limited than a standard renters policy. It pays only for damage due to fire, lightning, smoke and internal explosions. If you want coverage for theft, wind damage or other disasters, you can buy a “difference in conditions” policy to fill the gap.
In California, insurers must cover at least two weeks of additional living expenses for renters forced to evacuate due to wildfires. This could include costs such as hotel bills, restaurant meals and relocation costs.
Earthquakes
Unlike fires, earthquakes are generally not on the list of disasters renters insurance will cover. That means you’ll need to buy extra coverage if you’re at risk. The California Earthquake Authority works with insurance companies to cover your belongings and pay additional living expenses if you’re displaced by an earthquake.
Floods
Floods are another disaster most renters policies won’t cover. Renters can buy flood insurance backed by the federal government starting at $99 a year. Learn more about flood insurance for renters.
What determines California renters insurance rates?
Insurers look at a variety of factors to determine the cost of your renters policy. In most states, one of those factors is your credit-based insurance score, which is similar to a traditional credit score. But that doesn’t apply in California: It’s one of a few states where insurance companies can’t use your credit history to set rates.
Below are a few of the factors that likely will influence what you pay for a California renters policy.
Where you live
Insurers typically charge more if you live in an area they consider risky. For example, you’ll generally pay more for insurance if your neighborhood has a high crime rate or a heightened risk of wildfires.
Your coverage limits
The more stuff you have — or the more expensive stuff you have — the more you’ll have to pay to cover it fully.
Your deductible
A deductible is the amount you’re responsible for when you file a claim. Say a fire causes $5,000 worth of damage to your belongings. If your deductible is $500, your insurance company would pay the remaining $4,500.
Raising your deductible can lower your premium, but it’s only worth doing if you’re sure you can come up with the higher amount in a pinch.
Your claims history
Filing a renters insurance claim often causes your premium to go up. A California renter with a recent theft claim would pay nearly 59% more for their insurance than someone with no recent claims, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.
The features of your home
Burglar alarms, sprinkler systems and other protective devices may make you eligible for a renters insurance discount.
Other policies
Many insurers offer a discount if you buy both renters and auto insurance together.
Your dog
Because dog bites are a common source of renters liability claims, your insurer may charge you more if you have a breed it considers a higher risk, such as a pit bull or Rottweiler. You may even be denied coverage altogether.
California Department of Insurance
If you have questions about your policy or problems with your insurer, the California Department of Insurance is a good place to turn. You can get information and file complaints on the department’s website, or call its consumer hotline at 800-927-4357 for assistance in English or Spanish.
Looking for more insurance in California?
Renters insurance star rating methodology
NerdWallet’s renters insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage options, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full renters insurance rating methodology.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Renters insurance rates methodology
To find the national cost of renters insurance, NerdWallet calculated the median rate for 30-year-old tenants from multiple insurance companies in every ZIP code across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To find the average cost of renters insurance by state and city, we calculated the median rates from all insurance companies where coverage and rates were available. To find the average cost of renters insurance for each company, we calculated the mean for that company’s rates in all ZIP codes across the state.
Sample tenants were nonsmokers with good credit and no recent claims, living in a two-bedroom apartment. They had a $500 deductible and the following coverage limits:
$30,000 in personal property coverage.
$100,000 in liability coverage.
$10,000 in additional living expenses coverage.
$1,000 in medical payments coverage.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
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