Renters Insurance in California (2024)
Key takeaways
- Lemonade has the cheapest renters insurance rates for California tenants.
- Progressive offers the best renters insurance discounts in California.
- Allstate has the best deal for retirees 55 and over.
- The average cost of California renters insurance is $191 a year.
Cheapest renters insurance companies in California
Lemonade offers the cheapest average renters insurance rate in California, at about $10 a month, or $119 a year.
Progressive has the next lowest rate at an average of $13 a month, or $156 a year.
As a comparison point, the average rate for renters insurance in California is around $16 a month, or $191 a year,
| Company | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | $119 |
| Progressive | $156 |
| Allstate | $194 |
| Assurant | $296 |
When calculating your renters insurance quote, insurers looks at many factors, including:
- ZIP code
- Your insurance claim history
- Policy coverage limits and deductible chosen
- Credit score
Best renters insurance companies in California
Lemonade offers the lowest renters insurance rate in California, on average. Progressive has the best range of renters insurance discounts, and Allstate has the best offerings for retirees who are 55 or older.
Best for cheap renters insurance rates: Lemonade
Lemonade has the most inexpensive average renters insurance quote in California, at $119 a year. This is roughly 38% lower than the annual rate of $191.
Pros
Cheapest average premium
Claims cover the cost for new replacements, not the used value
Discounts for bundling auto and renters insurance
Cons
Claim filing is only online or through smartphone app
Relatively high complaint rate (7.45, where 1.0 is average)*
*Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index 2023
Best renters insurance discounts: Progressive
Progressive has the widest range of discounts in California, which can bring down the cost of your renters insurance.
You could get discounts for:
- Bundling renters and auto insurance together
- Paying your annual premium up front
- Switch to Progressive at least three days before your current policy ends
- Switching to electronic statements
Pros
Good range of discounts
Offers personal injury add-on coverages
Cons
Standard coverage pays items’ current (used) value, not the cost to replace them new
Best renters insurance for retirees: Allstate
If you’re retired and 55 years of age or older, you can get up to 25% off your renters insurance premium with Allstate.
Pros
Discount for retirees 55 and older
Offers umbrella coverage as an add-on policy
Cons
Relatively high overall complaint rating (3.54, where 1.0 is average)*
Standard coverage pays items’ current (used) value, not the cost to replace them new
*Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index 2023
Renters insurance in California cities
Of the largest cities in California, Chula Vista enjoys the most affordable renters insurance rates at just $14 a month, or $164 a year.
Oakland has the most expensive average rate of $20 a month, or $241 a year.
Renters insurance rates by city
| City | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Anaheim | $185 |
| Bakersfield | $198 |
| Chula Vista | $164 |
| Fontana | $195 |
| Fremont | $173 |
| Fresno | $207 |
| Glendale | $186 |
| Huntington Beach | $179 |
| Irvine | $169 |
| Long Beach | $193 |
| Los Angeles | $208 |
| Modesto | $188 |
| Moreno | $188 |
| Oakland | $241 |
| Oxnard | $170 |
| Riverside | $190 |
| Sacramento | $184 |
| San Bernardino | $187 |
| San Diego | $170 |
| San Francisco | $192 |
| San Jose | $178 |
| Santa Ana | $188 |
| Santa Clarita | $204 |
| Santa Rosa | $192 |
| Stockton | $223 |
What does renters insurance cover in California?
Standard renters insurance coverage usually includes the following coverage types:
Personal property
Belongings — including clothing, furniture and electronics — are covered against damage or destruction from perils listed in your renters insurance policy.
Liability
Covers injury and personal property damage to others you’re at fault for.
Medical payments
Handles injury-related expenses, such as hospital stays and lost wages, for others hurt in your rental home, regardless of fault.
Additional living expenses (ALE)
Covers the extra costs of relocation while your rental home is repaired. This includes meals, rent and the cost of commuting.
You can find out more by checking out our guide to renters insurance.
Frequently asked questions
California law doesn’t require you to carry renters insurance. However, your landlord may insist you have it as part of the lease agreement.
You’ll want to buy enough personal property coverage to replace all your belongings in the event of a total loss.
Make sure you are not over- or underestimating how much personal property coverage to buy by compiling a list with the value, description and any serial numbers for your property. This can also help speed up your claim process.
Renters insurance liability coverage usually starts at $100,000, but you can blow through this quickly in the event of an extended hospital stay or court case. To avoid paying out of pocket, consider raising your liability limit to at least $300,000 if your budget allows.