How Much is Renters Insurance in Texas?
The average cost of renters insurance in Texas is $231 a year. However, we found rates as low as $148 a year. We ranked the top renters insurance companies in Texas based on rates, customer satisfaction scores and policy coverages. In this article we'll cover:
- Cheapest renters insurance companies in Texas
- Best renters insurance companies in Texas
- Cost of renters insurance in Texas by city
Cheapest renters insurance companies in Texas
Renters insurance is one of the cheapest types of insurance. Despite the already low rates, you can save even more by comparing rates from multiple insurers. Amica comes in with the cheapest renters insurance rate in Texas, at $15 a month.
Note: Average rates are based on online quotes from provider websites. Your rates may vary.
Best renters insurance companies in Texas
To help you get the best rate and the coverages you need, we researched the best renters insurance companies in Texas.
Best rates: Amica
Amica is our top pick for renters insurance in Texas because it offers the cheapest rates and all the standard coverages you would expect for a renters insurance policy. Amica has the cheapest average renters insurance rate in our study. Amica has an average annual renters insurance rate of $185, or $15 a month. This puts Amica at 20% below the average renters insurance premium in Texas of $231.
Amica also has a number of optional coverages such as smart devices coverage and identity fraud protection.
Best overall: Nationwide
At an average of $16 per month and with decent customer service ratings, we recommend Nationwide insurance for renters in Texas. In J.D. Power's 2021 renters insurance study, Nationwide has a score of 834 out of 1,000, which falls in the middle of the pack.
Nationwide's renters insurance includes all the standard coverages you would expect. Nationwide also offers optional coverages such as water backup, theft extension and earthquake coverage.
Best discounts: Allstate
Allstate's average renters insurance premium is higher than that of the other companies included in our study. That said, it offers a few discounts that can help you lower your monthly or yearly payment. One example: you can save money by bundling your renters and auto policies with Allstate. Also, if you're retired and 55 or older, you can get up to 25% off your premium.
Cost of renters insurance in Texas by city
Renters insurance rates vary from city to city in Texas. McKinney has the cheapest average renters insurance rate in our study, $199 a year, while Houston has the highest, $308 a year.
| City | Average annual premium |
|---|---|
|
Houston |
$308 |
|
San Antonio |
$244 |
|
Dallas |
$242 |
|
Austin |
$215 |
|
Fort Worth |
$239 |
|
El Paso |
$233 |
|
Corpus Christi |
$251 |
|
Plano |
$200 |
|
Lubbock |
$237 |
|
Laredo |
$208 |
|
Frisco |
$207 |
|
McKinney |
$199 |
|
Brownsville |
$240 |
|
Killeen |
$217 |
|
Pasadena |
$301 |
| Note: Average rates are based on online quotes from provider websites. Your rates may vary. | |
How to compare renters insurance companies in Texas
Comparing renters insurance companies is a great way to get the best rates and coverage since there are many renters insurance companies in Texas. Coverage may vary slightly between companies, but for the most part, renters insurance coverage is standard. Given that, a great way to decide between different renters insurance companies is to compare their customer service and satisfaction ratings.
QuoteWizard uses two ratings to compare renters insurance companies' level of customer service: J.D. Power's renters insurance study and the NAIC Complaint Index. The Complaint Index indicates how many complaints a company receives relative to its size, so higher numbers mean more complaints.
| Company | J.D. Power overall satisfaction* | NAIC Complaint Index (lower is better)** |
|---|---|---|
|
Allstate |
833 |
1.47 |
|
Farmers |
831 |
1.64 |
|
Travelers |
815 |
0.27 |
|
Nationwide |
834 |
1.29 |
|
Amica |
- |
1.96 |
| Note: *Ratings from J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Home Insurance Study. **Complaint Index is based on 2020 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. | ||
Based on these ratings, Nationwide and Allstate offer some of the strongest customer service among renters insurance companies in Texas.
In addition to these ratings, you should consider what you value in a renters insurance company. Do you want 24/7 claims service? A local office where you can meet face to face with an agent? These are questions you should think about in addition to price.
There is no single best renters insurance company for everyone, as it is a balancing act of service, coverage and cost. That's why we recommend getting a few quotes from companies that interest you.
Renters insurance quotes in Texas
Whether you're purchasing renters insurance for the first time, want to change companies or are just shopping around, getting multiple quotes is one of your best tools. Quotes summarize your policy and let you know how much coverage you're being offered, and for what price.
Renters insurance quotes should outline your coverage limits, usually for four coverages: personal property, personal liability, medical payments to others and loss of use. You should make sure there aren't substantial coverage exclusions in your quote. Many insurers also allow you to customize the quote by adding discounts or riders.
Taking advantage of discounts
Renters insurance companies typically offer discounts to lower your premium. You should be sure that all of the discounts available to you have been added to your quote to get the lowest rates for you. For example, most insurers include discounts for:
- Bundling policies.
- Fire and burglary alarms.
- Automatic payments.
- Claims-free history.
- Living in a gated community.
If you don't see a discount on your quote that you think you qualify for, ask the agent if you can add it.
Adding riders to your quote
Some of your belongings are subject to “special limits of liability,” which means they have lower coverage limits. For example, it's common for renters insurance policies to only cover jewelry, watches and furs up to $1,500.
If you review your quote and find that some of your belongings won't be fully covered by your policy, you should try to add a rider, sometimes called an endorsement or floater. Riders can increase coverage limits or give you coverage for more scenarios. Adding riders to your quote is a good way to ensure you are getting the protection your particular situation calls for.
Renters insurance laws and requirements in Texas
Renters insurance is locally regulated at the state level, so Texas has its own Department of Insurance. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has a Consumer Bill of Rights, which gives consumers a degree of protection.
For example, renters insurance companies cannot deny you coverage in Texas solely based on your credit score — additional rating factors must be used.
Renters insurance isn't required by law in Texas, however, your landlord can require it as a condition of your lease. Even if your landlord doesn't make you buy renters insurance, we still recommend getting coverage for you and your home.
Methodology
We collected quotes from 80 addresses in Texas for a renters insurance policy. We used the following coverages:
- $30,000 of personal property coverage
- $500 deductible
- $100,000 of personal liability
- $1,000 of medical payments to guests
- Loss of use: 30%
We used quotes from the following insurance companies:
- Allstate
- Farmers
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Amica
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