Best renters insurance companies in California

Farmers, Travelers and State Farm are our best renters insurance companies in California.

Comparing quotes from multiple insurance carriers is one way to ensure you will get your money's worth. There can be big differences in price between different renters insurance providers, so it pays to shop around. Ensure you buy from a company offering affordable renters insurance and consistent customer service.

To simplify your task, we have compared the carriers for California residents based on their average rates and third-party ratings. Among the carriers surveyed, Farmers is the best renters insurance company in California. It earned a score of 5 and has an average renters insurance rate of $183.

In addition to rates, we also got scores and rating from sources like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and AM Best for major insurers in California. Below is our list of best renters insurance companies in California based on that analysis, with our score out of five.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAM BestNAICInsurance.com rating
Farmers$183A0.545.00
Travelers$264A++0.544.92
State Farm$202A++0.954.81
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$183A+1.054.72
Allstate$255A+0.904.61
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$194A1.234.48
Mercury Insurance$155A2.353.80
Nationwide$580A+0.873.65
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest renters insurance in California

Mercury Insurance is the cheapest renters insurance company in California based on our rate analysis with an average annual premium of $155.

Renters insurance prices can vary drastically between companies. That's why it is important to compare rates and see which company offers the best deal to get coverage at an affordable price.

Below are the cheapest renters insurance companies in California and their average annual premiums.

Company nameAverage annual premium
Mercury Insurance$155
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$183
Farmers$183
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$194
State Farm$202
Allstate$255
Travelers$264
Nationwide$580
USAA$190
Data updated in 2024
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How much is renters insurance in California

The average cost of renters insurance in California is $253 a year, and the average monthly cost is $21. That's for a policy with personal property coverage of $40,000, liability coverage of $100,000, and a deductible of $1,000.

What you pay for renters insurance may differ from your neighbors because it depends on factors specific to each person: the property you want to insure, extra coverage options you add, and the deductible amount you choose.

"The number one thing that's most important is to get good liability. A renter's policy will default to $100,000 liability," Josiah Hatch, an insurance pro with Bender Hatch Insurance in Boston, said. "It costs next to nothing to go from $100,000 to $500,000. I want to say it's probably 10 bucks a year. It's really cheap to get a lot of extra coverage. I always recommend getting the most liability you can because that's, at its core, what insurance is all about: the worst-case scenario."

Average annual premiumAverage monthly premium
$253$21
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

California renters insurance: The most expensive ZIP codes

Where you live in California affects how much you pay for renters insurance. The most expensive ZIP code in California for renters insurance is 94621, where the average annual rate is $362 which is $109 more than the state average insurance premium.

The following table lists the most expensive ZIP codes in California for renters insurance.

ZIP codeAverage annual rate
94621$362
94601$358
94606$354
94609$352
94602$351
94703$350
94608$348
94702$347
94710$346
94610$345
Data updated in 2024
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California renters insurance: The least expensive ZIP codes

Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, the least expensive ZIP code for renters insurance in California is 93449, and its average annual rate is $179.

Below, you'll find the least expensive ZIP codes for renters insurance, along with their average annual rates.

ZIP codeAverage annual rate
93449$179
93455$180
93454$182
93435$183
93429$183
93440$184
93465$187
93422$188
93463$189
93432$191
Data updated in 2024
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Compare renters insurance rates by city in California

Renters insurance rates vary significantly across cities, influenced by various factors, including weather patterns, crime rates, and property values. You must consider these factors and compare quotes from different insurers to get the best deal on renters insurance for your specific city in California.

CityAnnual insurance premium
Anaheim
$230
Bakersfield
$239
Fresno
$257
Long Beach
$262
Los Angeles
$310
Oakland
$358
Sacramento
$273
San Diego
$209
San Francisco
$303
San Jose
$295
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Insurance.com compared renters insurance rates provided by Quadrant Data Solutions for $40,000 personal property coverage with a $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability coverage for all available ZIP codes based on a renter with good credit. To rank the best insurance companies, we gathered AM Best financial stability ratings, where an A++ is the best possible score, and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) which provides the best practices for the U.S. insurance industry. These factors were used along with rates to find the best companies overall.

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