California renters insurance

Progressive is proud to offer affordable and reliable California renters insurance. From Sacramento to San Diego and everywhere in between, get a customized quote and purchase a policy for less than $1/day.*

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California renters insurance coverages

Check out the four standard coverages on nearly all California renters insurance policies:

  • Personal property protects your personal belongings, including furniture, clothing, and electronics whether they're inside your apartment or elsewhere.
  • Loss of use helps cover costs associated with an increase in living expenses, up to your policy's limit, if you're unable to stay in your home while it's being repaired or rebuilt due to a covered loss.
  • Personal liability protects you financially if you're legally responsible for another person's injuries or damage to their property.
  • Medical payments to others pays for medical expenses due to a covered occurrence.

Additional coverages

The best renters insurance in California is always a policy with customized coverage. Here are some extra options for when you need more protection:

  • Add a rider: Certain valuable items, like jewelry, may have specific limits on your renters policy. If your item exceeds the limit, you may be able to purchase an endorsement called a rider for your policy to cover the item for its value.
  • Personal injury coverage: May pay for legal fees and damages if you’re liable for slander or defamation.
  • Water back-up coverage: Water that backs up through sewers or drains or discharges from a sump pump may not be covered by a standard renters policy. Water back-up coverage may pay for the damage to your belongings and water removal costs.

Learn more about all of our renters insurance coverages.

Is renters insurance required in California?

Renters insurance isn’t required by law in California, but a rental company or landlord can require renters insurance before allowing you to move in. Landlord insurance or the commercial policy protecting your apartment building may cover the roof over your head, but it won’t protect your personal belongings if a fire were to occur, so a renters policy can be vital in safeguarding your belongings against damage or loss.

Did you know?

If you have an off-site storage unit to stash items, your California renters insurance may still cover your belongings against theft or damage. Your policy may also cover items while you’re in transit and moving to a new place.

Is renters insurance in California worth it?

Whether you live in an apartment complex or a rental home, your personal property may be protected by a rental policy in many circumstances, such as:

  • If you move from one apartment to another and your belongings are stolen or damaged in transit, your renters policy may pay to repair or replace them.
  • If items like laptops or sporting equipment are stolen from your car, your renters policy may cover their replacement.
  • If you accidentally injure somebody or damage their property, renters insurance may cover your personal liability for the injury or damage.

How much is renters insurance in California?

Progressive renters policies in California had an average monthly price of $16.18 or $194.11 for an annual policy in 2023.** Many variables may influence the cost of renters insurance in California, including your location, type of rental, and coverage limits. Learn more about renters insurance cost factors.

The amount of coverage you need also factors into your renters insurance cost. Learn how to estimate your personal property coverage needs with our calculator.

How can I save on renters insurance in California?

Whether you need renters insurance in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or any other city in the Golden State, you can take advantage of discounts. Progressive offers several renters insurance discounts to help you lower your rate including bundling multiple policies, paying in full, and living in a secured or gated community.

There may also be discounts that are only available in your state or county. Call 1-866-749-7436 or speak with a local agent to help ensure you're getting all applicable discounts.

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Please note: The above is meant as general information to help you understand the different aspects of insurance. Read our editorial standards for Answers content. This information is not an insurance policy, does not refer to any specific insurance policy, and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions expressly stated in any insurance policy. Descriptions of all coverages and other features are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. Coverages and other features vary between insurers, vary by state, and are not available in all states. Whether an accident or other loss is covered is subject to the terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in the claim. References to average or typical premiums, amounts of losses, deductibles, costs of coverages/repair, etc., are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. We are not responsible for the content of any third-party sites linked from this page.