California Renters Insurance – Nationwide (2024)

FAQs

What are 2 reasons people typically do not get renters insurance? ›

Many renters don't purchase renter's insurance, either because they don't think it is necessary or believe they are covered under the landlord's policy. The cost of renter's insurance is relatively low.

Unlike some other states, California landlords are allowed to require tenants to obtain and maintain renters insurance while they are under the terms of the lease.

The best renters insurance companies in California are American Family, Mercury, Nationwide, Lemonade and USAA, according to our research. The average cost of renters insurance in California is $171 per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

Personal Liability – Covers you for any damages for which you're held liable, and most landlords will require you to get at least $100,000 of this type of coverage. Medical Payments to Others – Covers medical payments for any injuries that have occurred on the property, and it will usually have a minimum of $1,000.

Some Renters Feel Their Property is Insured by the Landlord

Your landlord may have property insurance to protect the building structure and common areas, but this insurance offers no protection for your furniture and other belongings inside your rented property.

Renters insurance covers personal property, personal liability, medical payments and additional living expenses or loss of use, up to the limits of your policy.

The rule of subrogation known as the “Sutton Rule” states that a tenant and landlord are automatically considered “co-insureds” under a fire insurance policy as a matter of law and, therefore, the insurer of the landlord who pays for the fire damage caused by the negligence of a tenant may not sue the tenant in ...

Yes, you can get evicted for not having renters insurance if it is explicitly required in your lease agreement. Failing to obtain renters insurance when it's mandated can be viewed as a violation of the lease terms, potentially leading to eviction proceedings initiated by the landlord.

The California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 has been amended, altering rules around “no fault” evictions or termination of a residential lease agreement. As of April 2024, more details will be required if a homeowner wants to end a tenancy due to moving-in or undergoing a major remodel of the property.

The Cost of Renters Insurance in California

According to data collected by Quadrant Information Services in 2023, renters insurance costs $187 per year or $15.58 per month on average in the state of California.

What is the average renters insurance in California? ›

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.

Which company offers the cheapest renters insurance? According to our research, State Farm and Toggle tend to offer the cheapest renters insurance policies at $10.50 and $12.59 per month, which is about 20% less the national average.

Renters insurance is relatively inexpensive. According to NerdWallet, the average renters policy costs about $15 per month for up to $30,000 in personal property coverage. That's solid coverage for less than the cost of a few cups of coffee a week.

California renters insurance protects you against damage from vandalism, fire, windstorm, water, theft, explosion, lightning, smoke, and other disasters mentioned in your policy. Note that renters insurance won't cover any damage caused to the building structure you live in, even from a fire or windstorm.

According to the Investopedia article mentioned above, most renters insurance policies cover personal items, living expenses, and liability insurance (typically from $100,000 to $300,000 in damages).

Renters insurance can help you repair or replace property after loss due to many types of damage or theft. It can also provide coverage for an accident at your residence. Policies usually have very affordable annual premiums.

59% of renters without insurance believe it is too expensive. The average payout per burglary claim for renters insurance is $2,500. Texas has the highest average renters insurance rate at $20 per month or $240 annually. In 2020, the number of renter-occupied housing units in the US was 44.1 million.

55 percent of U.S. renters, or 61 million people, currently have renter's insurance policies. This number could rise to more than 65 million within the next year. 75 percent of insured renters are required by their landlords to obtain renter's coverage.

Renters insurance protects your belongings from loss, damage, or destruction following things like burglaries, fires, tornadoes and other covered events. Plus, renters insurance also protects your liability (and your money) if someone is injured at your rental home or apartment.