The Best Home Insurance in California for 2024

Chubb and Amica are among the best home insurance companies in California.

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Updated · 5 min read
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Written by Sarah Schlichter
Lead Writer
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Assistant Assigning Editor
Fact Checked

Chubb and Amica are among the best home insurance companies in California, according to our analysis.

We analyzed data from more than 30 insurance companies to help you find the best home insurance in California. Below are the insurers that earned 4.5 stars or more in our analysis. Rates are based on a sample homeowner with no recent claims, $300,000 of dwelling coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.

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.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Not available

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,495

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,680

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$1,510

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$995

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,165

*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families.

  • Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating homeowners insurance.

  • More than 270 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.

  • More than 50 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C. (See our top picks.)

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The best home insurance companies in California

Here's more information about the best homeowners insurance companies in California.

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Amica

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Well-established insurer known for great customer service.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Amica

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Well-established insurer known for great customer service.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Amica stands out for its customer service and broad range of coverage options. The company has drawn far fewer consumer complaints to state regulators than expected for an insurer of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or NAIC.

You can customize your policy with extra coverage above your dwelling limit, in case your house costs more to rebuild than expected. You may also want to add coverage for damage from water backups or recovery from identity theft.

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Chubb

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Chubb

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Perks and high coverage limits for affluent homeowners.

Coverage options

More than average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Chubb generally serves affluent policyholders with high-value homes, offering lofty coverage limits and plenty of perks. For example, the company covers water damage from backed-up sewers and drains, and pays to bring your home up to the latest building codes during reconstruction after a claim. (Many insurers charge more for these types of coverage.)

California homeowners can also sign up for free Wildfire Defense Services. These services include personalized recommendations for protecting your home and deployment of firefighters to your house if a wildfire is approaching.

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Cincinnati Insurance

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Sells homeowners policies through local independent agents across the U.S.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Cincinnati Insurance

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Sells homeowners policies through local independent agents across the U.S.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Cincinnati Insurance sells homeowners policies through independent agents, with various options for standard and high-value homes. You may be able to add coverage for things like identity theft, personal cyber attacks or certain types of water damage.

Cincinnati may offer you a discount for bundling home and auto insurance, having a newer home or installing a centrally monitored alarm system.

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Farmers

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Those seeking policy add-ons like diminishing deductibles and claims forgiveness may want to consider Farmers.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Farmers

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Those seeking policy add-ons like diminishing deductibles and claims forgiveness may want to consider Farmers.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Farmers stands out for its lengthy list of discounts, including ones for installing protective systems like fire alarms and sprinklers, not smoking for the past two years, and paying your premium on time.

Add-on options include personal property replacement cost coverage, which will fully reimburse you for the cost of replacing a stolen, damaged or destroyed item. You may also want to buy water backup coverage, which applies if sewer lines or sump pumps back up and damage your home.

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Nationwide

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Nationwide

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
For shoppers seeking a broad range of coverage options, Nationwide may fit the bill.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Great set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

We like Nationwide for its wide variety of coverage options. For example, its standard homeowners insurance policy generally includes ordinance or law coverage, which can help pay to bring your home up to current building codes after a covered claim. You can add other coverage for things like identity theft and damage from backed-up sewers and drains.

Depending on how much personal assistance you need, you can get a quote for homeowners insurance on the Nationwide website or work with a local agent instead. You can also use the website to pay bills, file claims or check claim status.

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Travelers

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Offers lots of coverage options, decent discounts and a strong online experience.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Travelers

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Offers lots of coverage options, decent discounts and a strong online experience.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Travelers offers a robust online experience. You can use the website to get a homeowners insurance quote, file and track claims, make payments, and learn about insurance basics.

Its coverage offerings are similarly strong. For example, you may be able to add extra coverage in case the dwelling limit on your home isn’t enough to rebuild your house after a disaster. One unique option is Travelers’ green home coverage, which pays extra if you want to use eco-friendly materials when repairing or rebuilding your home after a covered claim.

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USAA

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

USAA

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Offers perks and affordable rates for the military community.

Coverage options

About average

Discounts

Average set of discounts

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

USAA sells homeowners insurance to veterans, active military members and their families. If that description fits you, you may want to consider a USAA policy. That’s because the company’s homeowners insurance has certain features that other insurers may charge extra for.

For example, USAA automatically covers your personal belongings on a replacement cost basis. Many companies pay out only what your items are worth at the time of the claim, which means you may not get much for older items. USAA pays enough for you to buy brand-new replacements for your stuff.

How much does homeowners insurance cost in California?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in California is $1,250 per year, or about $104 per month. That's 35% less than the national average of $1,915.

Those rates are for homeowners with no recent claims on their record. In California, policyholders with one recent claim pay an average of $1,390 per year — an increase of 11%.

Average cost of homeowners insurance in California by city

The amount you pay will vary depending on where you live in the state. For example, the average cost of homeowners insurance in Los Angeles is $1,485 per year, while San Jose homeowners pay $1,055 per year, on average.

City

Average annual rate

Average monthly rate

Anaheim

$1,210

$101

Bakersfield

$1,210

$101

Chula Vista

$1,175

$98

Corona

$1,410

$118

Fontana

$1,340

$112

Fremont

$1,185

$99

Fresno

$1,300

$108

Hayward

$1,220

$102

Irvine

$1,275

$106

Lancaster

$1,535

$128

Long Beach

$1,215

$101

Los Angeles

$1,485

$124

Modesto

$1,090

$91

Moreno Valley

$1,320

$110

Oakland

$1,320

$110

Oxnard

$1,010

$84

Riverside

$1,305

$109

Sacramento

$1,180

$98

San Bernardino

$1,410

$118

San Diego

$1,205

$100

San Francisco

$1,325

$110

San Jose

$1,055

$88

Santa Ana

$1,220

$102

Santa Rosa

$1,040

$87

Stockton

$1,105

$92

The cheapest home insurance in California

Here are the insurers we found with average annual rates equal to or below the California average.

Company

NerdWallet star rating

Average annual rate

CSE

Not rated

$895

CSAA (AAA)

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

$935

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

$995

Pacific Specialty

Not rated

$1,035

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,085

CIG

Not rated

$1,215

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

$1,165

*USAA homeowners policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families.

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Common risks for California homeowners

Homeowners in California face unique circumstances that factor into decisions about home insurance.

Wildfires

Several insurance companies offer discounts for California homeowners who make efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire on their property, according to the California Department of Insurance

California Department of Insurance. Insurers Currently Offering Discounts. Accessed Sep 17, 2024.
. Such efforts could include things like rebuilding your roof with fire-resistant materials and limiting vegetation near your home.

Most homeowners policies cover fire and smoke damage, but insurers may be reluctant to cover homes in high-risk areas. (Learn more in our guide to wildfire insurance.)

If you have trouble finding a policy, you can turn to the California FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort. FAIR Plan coverage is limited, paying only for damage due to fire, lightning, smoke and internal explosions. A “difference in conditions” policy can help fill the coverage gaps. Work with an independent insurance agent to find one.

🤓Nerdy Tip

You can use this website from the U.S. Forest Service to see the level of fire risk in your community and get ideas for hardening your home.

Earthquakes

A standard home insurance policy doesn’t cover earthquake damage, so California residents should consider adding a separate earthquake insurance policy. Homeowners can get one through a private insurer or turn to the California Earthquake Authority for coverage. Read our guide to earthquake insurance.

Flooding

California is prone to flooding throughout the state, and homeowners insurance won’t cover flood damage. To cover costs related to flooding, homeowners can purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.

Not sure if you’re at risk for flooding? You can look up your address on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps. However, FEMA’s maps don’t always capture all types of flood risk, so you may also want to check the website of the nonprofit First Street Foundation, which models climate risks. Enter your address in the top left corner to see your home’s flood risk rating on a scale of 1 to 10.

California Department of Insurance

If you want to file a complaint against your insurance company or get more information about your rights as a policyholder, the California Department of Insurance may be able to help. The department’s website has useful resources such as a home insurance finder tool and a list of companies offering difference in conditions policies. Assistance is available in English and Spanish at 800-927-4357.

Frequently asked questions

If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will likely require hazard insurance — the part of a homeowners policy that covers the house’s structure. Those who buy homes with cash or have paid off their mortgage could legally go without homeowners insurance. However, it’s a risky proposition in a state prone to wildfires and other natural disasters. For more information, read Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Coverage for fires is a standard part of most homeowners policies. But in California, you may have trouble finding a company willing to insure you if your home is in a high-risk zone for wildfires. You can turn to the California FAIR Plan for fire coverage as a last resort.

Following recent wildfires in California, insurance companies have found themselves paying billions of dollars in claims. They’ve responded by passing their costs along to policyholders in the form of higher rates. Additionally, inflation and supply chain issues have raised building costs across the country in recent years. That means it would cost more to rebuild your home if it were damaged — another factor leading to higher homeowners insurance prices.

To save on your premium, ask your insurer if you qualify for any home insurance discounts.

Methodology

NerdWallet calculated median rates for 40-year-old homeowners from various insurance companies in every ZIP code across the state. All rates are rounded to the nearest $5.

Sample homeowners were nonsmokers with good credit living in a single-family, two-story home built in 1984. They had a $1,000 deductible and the following coverage limits:

  • $300,000 in dwelling coverage.

  • $30,000 in other structures coverage.

  • $150,000 in personal property coverage.

  • $60,000 in loss of use coverage.

  • $300,000 in liability coverage.

  • $1,000 in medical payments coverage.

We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.

For homeowners with a claims history, we added a single wind damage claim.

These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.

Star rating methodology

NerdWallet’s homeowners 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, coverages, 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 homeowners insurance rating methodology.

Complaint methodology

NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare with 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.

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