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 neighbours 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 premium$253
Average monthly premium$21
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Best renters insurance companies in California

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

Rates differ widely between renters insurance providers, so it pays to shop around. But rates aren’t the entire picture. It’s also important to choose an insurance company with a good reputation so you know it will be there for you when you need it.

To help you choose the best renters insurance in California, we reviewed rates and third-party ratings including complaint volume with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and financial ratings from AM Best.

Among the carriers surveyed, Farmers is the best renters insurance company in California, with a top score and an average renters insurance rate of $183.

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
Travelers$264A++0.544.92
State Farm$202A++0.954.81
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)$183A+1.054.72
Allstate$255A+0.94.61
CSAA Insurance (AAA)$194A1.234.48
Mercury Insurance$155A2.353.8
Nationwide$580A+0.873.65
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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
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Renters insurance calculator

Average renters insurance rates in California
Please enter valid zip code
$20,000
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$100,000
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$500
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Most & least expensive ZIP codes for renters insurance in California

ZIP codeCityHighest rate
94621Oakland$362
94603Oakland$362
94601Oakland$358
94605Oakland$357
ZIP codeCityLowest rate
93407San Luis Obispo$179
93410San Luis Obispo$179
93401Los Ranchos$179
93405San Luis Obispo$179
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California renters insurance: The least and 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.

On the other end of the spectrum, the least expensive ZIP code for renters insurance is 93449, with an average annual rate of $179.

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

Best home insurance companies in Texas
ZIP codeAverage annual rate
94621$362
94601$358
94606$354
94609$352
94602$351
94703$350
94608$348
94702$347
94710$346
94610$345
ZIP codeAverage annual rate
93449$179
93455$180
93454$182
93435$183
93429$183
93440$184
93465$187
93422$188
93463$189
93432$191

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
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How to get cheap renters insurance in California

There are a few things you can do to get cheaper renters insurance in California:

  • Shop around. Not every California renters insurance company offers the same rates or discounts. Shop around for the best price.
  • Ask about discounts. There are a lot of discounts available on renters insurance; one of the biggest is bundling your home and auto insurance, so ask for an auto quote at the same time.
  • Chose a higher deductible. Your deductible affects your premiums; higher deductibles mean lower rates. Just ensure you can afford the deductible if you have to pay it.

Insurance.com compared renters insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services 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) complaint ratios, which compare the number of complaints a company receives to the anticipated complaint volume based on market share. These factors were used along with rates to find the best companies overall.

California renters insurance: FAQ

Do I need renters insurance in California?

Renters insurance isn’t required by law, but your landlord may require you to purchase a policy as part of your lease agreement.

How much renters insurance do I need in California?

You don’t need any renters insurance by law, but when buying a policy you should ensure you have enough personal property coverage to cover all of your personal property at replacement cost.

Compare California renters insurance rates with other states

Alabama
$310 /year
Alaska
$233 /year
Arizona
$237 /year
Arkansas
$346 /year
Colorado
$175 /year
Connecticut
$265 /year
Delaware
$170 /year
Florida
$230 /year
Georgia
$334 /year
Hawaii
$231 /year
Idaho
$169 /year
Illinois
$227 /year
Indiana
$249 /year
Iowa
$188 /year
Kansas
$238 /year
Kentucky
$193 /year
Louisiana
$472 /year
Maine
$174 /year
Maryland
$243 /year
Massachusetts
$244 /year
Michigan
$323 /year
Minnesota
$203 /year
Mississippi
$367 /year
Missouri
$210 /year
Montana
$256 /year
Nebraska
$266 /year
Nevada
$233 /year
New Hampshire
$160 /year
New Jersey
$190 /year
New Mexico
$191 /year
New York
$276 /year
North Carolina
$323 /year
North Dakota
$173 /year
Ohio
$231 /year
Oklahoma
$266 /year
Oregon
$266 /year
Pennsylvania
$249 /year
Rhode Island
$473 /year
South Carolina
$272 /year
South Dakota
$188 /year
Tennessee
$272 /year
Texas
$214 /year
Utah
$183 /year
Vermont
$166 /year
Virginia
$217 /year
Washington
$205 /year
Washington, D.C.
$260 /year
West Virginia
$231 /year
Wisconsin
$153 /year
Wyoming
$126 /year
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