Best Renters Insurance in San Diego (2025)
Some of the best renters insurance companies in San Diego are USAA, Allstate, and State Farm.
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Written byElizabeth Rivelli
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Elizabeth Rivelli
5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
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Edited byBecky Helzer
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Becky Helzer is an editor at Insurify. She loves helping writers express their ideas clearly and authentically. With a diverse background in editing everything from curriculum and books to magazine articles and blog posts, she’s worked on topics ranging from home finance, insurance, and cloud computing to the best tools for home improvement.
A proud graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism, Becky lives in Fort Collins, CO, with her husband and their two spoiled rescue dogs.
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Table of contents
Renters insurance pays to replace items stolen, destroyed, or damaged by a covered event like a fire, windstorm, or break-in.[1] It also covers personal liability, additional living expenses, and guest medical if a visitor is injured in your home. While California law doesn’t require renters insurance, some landlords do.
A standard renters insurance policy is inexpensive, with rates in San Diego averaging $17 per month, or around $200 per year. Here’s what you should know about renters insurance in San Diego, including how it works, what it covers, and how you can lower your premium.
Quick Facts
Renters insurance in San Diego doesn’t cover earthquake or flood damage.
Taking an inventory of your belongings helps you choose the right coverage.
You can save money by increasing your deductible, paying in full, and bundling policies.
How renters insurance works in San Diego
Renters insurance has three components: personal property, liability, and additional living expenses.[2] Each has a separate coverage limit, or a maximum amount your insurer will pay for a covered loss.
Many reputable insurance companies in California offer renters insurance to San Diego tenants. Most offer quotes online or through an app, and you can often purchase a renters insurance policy without calling an agent.
Renters insurance is typically one of the more affordable types available, costing less than $20 per month in many cases. Your location, deductible, and coverage amount can affect its affordability.
How to file a renters insurance claim
If you need to file a renters insurance claim, the process is simple:
Provide documentation. If a covered event damaged your belongings, take photos or videos to show your insurer. Include receipts or photos of your items. If something was stolen, file a police report to submit along with your claim.
File the claim. Contact your insurance company to report the incident and start the claims process. You’ll need to describe what happened and provide evidence. If you have an inventory of your damaged or stolen items, include it when you file the claim.
Wait for reimbursement. Your insurance company will investigate the claim and inform you whether it’ll cover the loss. You’ll then receive a settlement for your claim, minus the deductible amount.
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Best renters insurance companies in San Diego
Many companies sell renters insurance in San Diego, but the best company depends on your coverage needs, budget, and preferences.
USAA offers some of the lowest average premiums, according to Insurify’s quote data, but it’s available only to military members, veterans, and their families. Nationwide stands out for its various endorsements, making it a great option for customizable coverage, and State Farm is known for its customer service.
The table below shows several of the best renters insurance companies in San Diego.
Insurance Company  | Average Monthly Premium | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $18 | Discounts |
| Nationwide | $21 | Customizable coverage |
| Progressive | $19 | Bundling |
| State Farm | $19 | Customer service |
| USAA | $18 | Military members, veterans, and their families |
What renters insurance covers in San Diego
A standard renters insurance policy covers your personal property, personal liability, and additional living expenses. Here’s a closer look at each component:
Personal property
Personal property coverage applies to items like furniture, clothing, electronics, small appliances, and decor. It pays to repair or replace items damaged by covered perils, such as wildfire, theft, windstorms, or sudden water damage. But it won’t cover damage caused by a flood or earthquake.
Personal liability
Personal liability covers your financial responsibilities if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property. It can also cover dog bites and damage your children cause. If someone sues you, personal liability pays for your legal fees, court costs, and a settlement up to the policy limits.[3]
Additional living expenses
When covered perils damage rental units, tenants sometimes have to move out during repairs. Additional living expenses coverage, also called loss of use coverage, pays for costs above your normal living expenses, such as hotels, restaurant meals, and extra laundry and transportation costs.
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Learn More: What Is Renters Insurance and How Does It Work?
Unique considerations for renters insurance in San Diego
Consider the following when shopping for a renters insurance policy in San Diego:
Wildfires and earthquakes
San Diego is susceptible to wildfires and earthquakes.[4] [5] While renters insurance covers wildfires, it excludes earthquake damage. But renters can buy earthquake coverage separately.
Flooding
San Diego is prone to flash flooding.[6] But renters insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, even if a natural disaster causes it. You can buy a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Coverage needs
When shopping for renters insurance, consider what policy limits would ensure adequate coverage for you. High-value items often have a coverage cap, so you may need to add endorsements to your policy to get the protection you need.
Policy exclusions
Check what your policy doesn’t cover. Your renters insurance may limit coverage for jewelry, fine art, firearms, and cash, so you may want to consider adding a scheduled personal property endorsement to fill any gap.
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How to save on renters insurance in San Diego
Even without discounts, cheap renters insurance isn’t hard to find. But you can save money on your premiums with the following tips:
Bundle your policies. Many insurance companies offer discounts for bundling renters insurance with another policy, like car insurance.
Raise your deductible. Raising your deductible will lower your premium, but make sure you can comfortably afford to pay it if you need to file a claim.
Install a security system. People living in apartments, condos, or townhomes may be able to earn a discount for installing security systems.
Pay in full. Most insurers offer a small discount for paying your annual renters insurance premium up front, rather than in monthly installments.
Renters insurance in San Diego FAQs
The answers to these frequently asked questions can help you choose the best renters insurance policy in San Diego.
Is renters insurance required in San Diego?
No. Renters insurance isn’t required in San Diego. But a landlord can require renters insurance as a condition of your lease agreement.
How much renters insurance do you need in San Diego?
The amount of renters insurance you need depends on what you own and how much protection you want. If you aren’t sure how much renters insurance you need, consider speaking to an insurance agent.
How do you file a claim for renters insurance in San Diego?
Filing renters insurance claims in San Diego starts with documenting the damage and filing a police report if necessary. Then, you can report the claim to your insurance company, complete paperwork, answer questions as needed, and wait for your insurer to settle the claim.
Which company has the best renters insurance in California?
There isn’t a single best renters insurance company in California because each person’s needs and priorities differ. But top insurers in San Diego include USAA, Allstate, and State Farm.
What is a good coverage amount for renters insurance?
It’s a good idea to make sure your renters insurance will pay to replace all your belongings. Your liability coverage should match or exceed the value of your assets, such as savings and retirement accounts.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "Renters Insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Your renters insurance guide."
- Texas Department of Insurance. "Renters insurance: what does it cover and how much does it cost?."
- City of San Diego. "Wildfire."
- Statewide California Earthquake Center. "San Diego Earthquake Hazards."
- County of San Diego Department of Public Works. "Local Flood Hazards."
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Elizabeth Rivelli
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Becky Helzer is an editor at Insurify. She loves helping writers express their ideas clearly and authentically. With a diverse background in editing everything from curriculum and books to magazine articles and blog posts, she’s worked on topics ranging from home finance, insurance, and cloud computing to the best tools for home improvement.
A proud graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism, Becky lives in Fort Collins, CO, with her husband and their two spoiled rescue dogs.
