10 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Florida of 2023

Florida is clearly one of the top states for people to move to and not just for retirement.

The warm weather, the stunning white sand beaches, the nightlife, and the general affordability of real estate are some of the many reasons why people choose to call it home.

While there are many reasons to live in Florida, there are also many perils for residents.

Florida is frequently in the direct path of some of the most powerful hurricanes every year, which means residents need good protection for their possessions.

According to PropertyNest research, the average basic renters insurance in Florida costs $17.50 a month, or $210 a year.

For that low price, renters insurance will cover damage to your personal possessions, liability claims, and medical bills for guests injured due to an accident in your rental.

And it gives you peace of mind that your personal belongings in your unit are protected by renters insurance.

If there is theft in your apartment and you don’t have renters insurance, anything stolen in your unit, such as a laptop, jewelry, art, and collectibles, may require you to pay out of pocket to recover your losses.

But how do you pick the right renters insurance that fulfills all your needs?

Luckily, PropertyNest compared policy quotes and insurers’ offerings for you whether you live in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, or Tampa.

We not only ranked the best renters insurance in Florida by category but have also given you the lowdown on everything you need to know about renters insurance in Florida.

Compare Renters Insurance Rates in FL

Allstate: Best for Unique Discounts

Allstate has very affordable rates. The average cost per month for a standard policy is only $10.

Your rates will go lower as the company also offers several discounts.

Bundling auto and life insurance policies in addition to renters insurance will give you a discount.

And installing a security system for your rental and living in a low crime-rate town will also get you a discount.

However, we chose Allstate for its unique discounts that competitors don’t have.

If you are a member of the U.S. military, or if you are 55 and older, and if you haven’t claimed for the last few years, you will also get a discount.

In addition to its non-traditional discounts, Allstate is unique in its coverages.

For example, a theft that happens in a school or office is covered.

Malicious mischief (say someone spray paints your garage), riots, and civil commotion are all covered.

And sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current is covered.

Read a full Allstate renters insurance review.

Liberty Mutual: Best Overall

Liberty Mutual is best overall for its comprehensive coverage, ability to cover high-end valuables like jewelry using an add-on, easy claims processing, and cheap rates.

Customers can file a claim in two easy ways. You can do it online 24/7 or call the insurance company.

Liberty Mutual advertises itself as having one of the lowest policy premiums, which is $5. That’s one of the lowest prices a renters insurance company can quote you.

But for this standard policy, you won’t receive water damage coverage, which is essential if you live here in Florida.

The actualaverage price is more like $10-$12. That cost comes from adding a rider to your policy. More riders will increase your premium even more.

These include blanket jewelry coverage, which includes added coverage specifically for your jewelry, and earthquake insurance.

You can take advantage of Liberty Mutual’s many discounts to offset your high premium. Standard discounts apply like multi-policy or bundling and being claims-free.

A few of the many discounts are having security features in your rental, opting for automatic payments that are linked to your bank account, and if you go paperless and receive policy info electronically, to name a few.

Read a full Liberty Mutual home insurance review.

State Farm: Best for Replacement Cost Coverage

What makes State Farm standout is its replacement cost coverage,

Most standard policies do not include replacement costs.

State Farm’s standard policy includes replacement costs to any of its policyholders without an extra fee.

This means you don’t need to buy a rider to get this feature.

Typically, an insurer will reimburse you for the value of your items minus depreciation. (That’s ACV or actual cost value)

Meanwhile, State Farm covers the current market value of the lost or destroyed property even if your property items depreciate.

It will pay in full the amount needed to replace your loss.

The reimbursement is for the original price you paid for your lost or damaged property.

For example, instead of giving you what your old laptop is worth today, State Farm will purchase you a brand new one.

Read a full State Farm renters insurance review.

Lemonade: Best for Resolving Claims Instantly

Lemonade is one of the newest renters insurance out there, but throughout the years, they have covered a ton of young professionals.

That’s because you can do anything on its website or mobile app, such as purchasing a policy.

The reason why we chose Lemonade is for its fast claims process.

Lemonade's policies start at $5 a month but depending on the coverage you choose, the rates could go higher.

Lemonade says that about 30% of policyholders’ claims are reimbursed to you instantly after you detail your claim online or use the app.

Other companies in the Lemonade league take a few weeks to resolve a claim.

Read the full Lemonade renters insurance review.

Phoenix Insurance Group: Best Policy for Wind Coverage

Phoenix Insurance Group is known for its low customer complaints and its high user ratings.

Phoenix has low premiums and high customer satisfaction, but they are best known in Florida because wind damage is covered in a standard policy.

Due to the high winds that can damage property in coastal towns like Miami, it’s wise to look at a company like Phoenix, where your rates will not go up because wind damage is an added expense.

However, flood insurance is not included in the standard policy and is something you have to purchase as a rider to be covered, especially in coastal areas like Miami or flood zone areas.

Security First: Best Regional Renters Insurance

If you’re the type who, say, buys local, such as loyally purchasing books from indie bookstores rather than go through the behemoth conglomerate Amazon, then Security First is for you.

Security First is the best regional company as it focuses on providing those who live in Florida with affordable insurance policies.

Based in Ormond Beach, Security First is like a mom-and-pop store, as it’s run by a local, family-owned company.

Its rates are hard to come by. The average monthly premium is $9, so the average annual premium is $112.

However, the company isn’t perfect. Customers complained that the company doubles or increases your rates without telling you even if you have a good record with them and have never made a claim.

Another issue that is a major biggie is that customers complained that the company dropped them for no reason at all and without prior notification.

Progressive: Best for Multiple Discounts

Progressive is one of the industry's most well-known and largest insurance companies.

We chose Progressive because the company offers multiple deep discounts in many ways and options. Any of these discounts will lower your policy.

Here are some of the discounts you may be eligible for.

• Multi-policy - 5% discount on auto policy when you bundle renters insurance with an auto policy.
• Paperless - Having all your policy information and news delivered to your email rather than through snail mail will get you a discount.
• Pay in Full - You save money in the long run if you pay your policy in full the second you sign on the dotted line.
• The 3-Day Discount - Starting your policy at least three days after reviewing your quote gets you a discount.
• Gated Community - If your rental is behind gates or has a security guard, you get a discount,

But remember that you must drive by an active security guard or use a keypad or remote to enter your rental community.

Read a full Progressive renters insurance review.

American Integrity Insurance Group: Best for Flood Insurance

If you live in Florida you need more than renters insurance.

Because of the fierce winds and the many hurricanes that can destroy your rental in seconds, you definitely need to purchase an add-on that covers these natural disasters that do not come in standard policies.

Where should you go? Many national companies won’t cover Florida because they don’t want to assume the risk or scare away potential customers because of the high average rates.

American Integrity Insurance Group (AIIG) is fairly new, incorporated in 2006. The company services only the state of Florida.

AIIG will cover you if there’s hurricane damage. In fact, AIIG was created “in response to the lack of solid renters insurance options in Florida.”

A standard policy doesn’t come with flood insurance. You can buy a comprehensive plan to eliminate hurricane damages to your property with AIIG.

Still, flood insurance coverage is expensive. But with AIIG, their private flood insurance rates are as much as 15% lower than what is available now on the market or by using the National Flood Insurance Program.

Plus, there is no waiting period for protection to go into effect.

The average cost of flood insurance in Florida's largest cities ranges from $389 to $950 per year.

In Miami, the average is $390.

How Is AIIG Rated?

• Demotech Inc: A
• A.M. Best: AIIG secured a $150 million bond to prepare for hurricane season. It was the only insurer in Florida to do this.

GEICO: Best for Smartphone App

Like Lemonade, GEICO has gone over and beyond to extend coverage to customers who would prefer to use technology to manage their renters insurance.

GEICO has a user-friendly app and website that you can use that covers every part of your renters insurance.

Sure, you can connect to a local agent, but if you want to save time, you can use the site and app to get a renters insurance quote, estimate the value of your personal belongings, read about your coverage and other related articles, and learn if there are any discount options.

You can also use the app to access and maintain your policy and begin the process of making a claim directly with a third-party insurer and not on the site or app.

That’s because GEICO, which is more known for its award-winning auto insurance, is underwritten by other companies. The GEICO Insurance agency matches you with one of its renters insurance partners (you can’t choose one of its partners), and you’ll already know some of them, such as Liberty Mutual and Travelers.

Tower Hill Insurance Group: Best Coverage for Florida Flood Losses

We chose Tower Hill Insurance Group because its renters insurance reflects the needs of Floridian residents.

Tower Hill caters to its customers and the perils that inflict rentals near the coast. Its policy covers the risk of natural disasters like windstorms

and hurricanes, as well as subsequent flooding,

There are few renters insurance companies that cover Florida’s catastrophic weather conditions. That’s because such companies find insuring Florida to be a huge risk, and the pay-outs are too high and often can’t be covered by the insurer.

But catastrophic coverage is typically not a policy covered by an insurance company.

The default option to get flood and wind insurance is through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

But with Tower Hill, you can get coverage by purchasing an endorsement or an add-on.

Using the add-on is attractive to many customers, as you’ll only have to deal with one invoice for both coverages.

What makes Tower Hill unique is that it offers greater coverage than what you’d get with the NFIP.

The coverage limit due to flooding is $3.5 million for the contents in your home.

In contrast, NFIP’s limits for flood losses for dwellings are just $250,000 and $100,000 for home contents.

Also, the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period.

Tower Hill is shorter for its flood insurance waiting period, which is 15 days.

But flood endorsement coverage is unique, as it has no waiting period.

Are You Required by Law to Have Renters Insurance in Florida?

Residents of Florida who are renting must consider renters insurance to protect their valuable belongings.

Though renters insurance is not legally required in Florida, renters can benefit significantly from the coverage. Also, many landlords now require you to purchase a policy before they let you move in.

Why Should You Buy Renters Insurance in Florida?

Florida is known for its high volume of property crime. It's a dangerous place during hurricane season and other months when the weather can be hazardous to residents.

Coverage for Property Crime

Safety is one of the biggest concerns for renters insurance in Florida.

In Miami, property theft is about 70% higher than the national average, and according to the FBI’s Crime Data, larceny will not slow down in the future.

So, your insurance rate will likely be high if you live near a densely populated beach with a high crime rate.

But if you rent the same style of an apartment that’s a little farther from the city and is a suburb known for its safe neighborhood, your rate will be lower.

Coverage for Hazardous Natural Disasters

Typically, renters insurance won’t cover flood damage because it’s often catastrophic, and claims can be high in cost, making the insurer unable to offer flood insurance.

However, for those who live near the coast, you can research and find an insurer with flood coverage as an add-on to your policy.

If you don’t get the add-on, and if any of your damages exceed the amount of your coverage, you will be responsible for paying the costs that aren’t covered.

If the insurer doesn’t have an add-on, you can turn to a private company specializing in flood insurance or look at the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

A standard policy renters insurance also doesn’t cover damages caused by earthquakes.

What is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Florida?

While renters insurance can vary widely based on various factors, the average cost in Florida is around $17.50 per month.

Depending on individual coverage needs, renters may find insurance plans ranging from basic protection to comprehensive coverage.

The rate is higher in Miami because of its hazardous weather conditions.

That’s because, in Florida, every coastline has been impacted by at least one hurricane since the 1850s and has not changed to this date.

Florida renters insurance is higher than the national average because the homes are susceptible to natural disasters that can’t be found in every state.

If your personal belongings get damaged, renters insurance can give policyholders peace of mind because the insurer will be able to cover the costs of your loss.

Can You Lower Rental Insurance Premiums?

Most insurance companies offer various discounts for renters insurance that will lower your rate. This is good, especially if you purchased many add-ons to cover your valuables fully.

The most popular discount is multi-policy, which is when you bundle your renters insurance with your auto insurance.

And the most common discounts in Florida include the following:

Security

Renters insurance companies give you a discount based on how secure your rental apartment is. If you have fire alarms, smoke detectors, have a doorman or camera in your lobby, you’ll get a discount.

Loyalty

If you’ve used the same renters insurance company for a few years, the insurer will give you a discount for being loyal.

Claim-Free

If you’ve never made a claim with your insurance, you will get a claims-free discount.

Increase Your Deductible

A deductible is an amount the insurance company makes you pay out of pocket before it pays for your damages.

If you increase your deductible, your premium rates will be lowered.

Say you increase a deductible from $250 to $500. This can create an annual savings of up to 15%.

If you lower your deductible, you’ll face higher premiums but also higher monetary value when you file a claim.

Auto Pay

You may qualify for a discount based on how you pay. Discounts kick in when you enroll in automatic payments, pay in full, and go paperless, which is when you choose to receive info or notices by email from your insurer.

Lower Your Limits to Lower Your Rates

Most insurance companies recommend a personal property limit of $40,000.

But is that what you want?

Forget about the limit for a second and perform an inventory of all your valuables. Try to price each item that you have. If you have receipts, that would be great, but most renters do not.

So, you should do an estimate of your belongings.

The main reason why is that you may be overpaying if you don’t add up the costs of your personal belongings that you want to cover.

Once you’ve added up the costs, you may find you need less coverage than the $40.000 limit.

You may end up thinking that you only need a $20,000 or $15,000 limit.

If you do, you may be able to reduce the limit to save on your premiums.

When You Need to Purchase an Additional Renters Insurance Coverage

Coverage limits are the total amount your insurer will pay for a covered loss. In some cases, renters insurance might not be enough to cover the total cost of protecting your possessions from weather-related disasters or other natural disasters like fires.

If you find yourself in a situation where extra coverage is needed, additional renters’ insurance is available for purchase.

For example, say you have an expensive print from a prominent artist, which gets damaged or stolen.

Let's say your policy covers up to $20,000 of property damage, but your print costs $25,000. The $5,000 difference won’t be covered unless you bought additional coverage added to your insurance.

What is the Difference Between an Actual Cash Value & a Replacement Cost?

When purchasing a policy, the insurance provider will give you an option between replacement cost and actual cash value.

Suppose you chose to get a rider for replacement cost; this policy pays the actual cost of replacing your belongings.

For example, if your iPad gets stolen and is five years old, your insurance will pay to purchase a brand new iPad today regardless of depreciation and up to the limits on your policy.

If you don’t want replacement cost, you can choose Actual Cash Value (ACV), which costs lower than a replacement cost. This is a policy that will only reimburse you for the depreciated value of your iPad if it gets stolen, damaged, or destroyed.

For this reason, replacement cost coverage is more favorable to customers than ACV.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a replacement cost policy adds about 10% to your premiums in comparison to an actual cash policy.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover in Florida?

Every renters insurance has a standard or basic policy. Here is what is covered:

Liability

Say someone has a bodily injury while at your rental because you just mopped the floor, and the person falls and hurts his knee or back and needs medical attention.

Liability protects you against lawsuits from people who have bodily injuries or property damages that you or your family caused to them.

Liability also covers your legal defense, and a standard policy includes up to $100,000 in liability coverage.

Personal Property

This policy protects your personal property if there’s a covered peril.

A covered peril is a damaging event that’s covered in your policy, such as theft, vandalism, or fire, to name a few.

Theft coverage is very important to have, especially in Florida, where crime is higher than the national average.

And if there are climate changes like lightning and windstorms and your property is damaged too, that’s also covered.

You’re also covered if there’s fire, smoke, or other damaging events.

Loss of Use

If a fire or another covered event in your building damages your unit to the point where you find it’s not inhabitable, loss of use will reimburse you for any hotel stays and any meals you have at restaurants.

Your insurance will also cover what you use as a necessity, such as soap, a toothbrush, and feminine hygiene products.

Medical Payments

This policy pays for medical care if there is bodily injury to a person that occurs in your rental, regardless of fault.

It’s important to remember that if medical care exceeds your coverage limits, you will be held responsible for paying the costs that aren’t covered.

That’s why it’s important to loosen your purse strings and pay for added coverage, known as an add-on or rider, to increase your policy limits so you don’t pay for a thing.

Basic covered losses include things like damage from fire, smoke, theft, vandalism, lightning, windstorms, explosions, water from internal sources like plumbing leaks, a furnace, an air conditioner, and a water heater, as well as damage by vehicle, and falling objects.

What is Not Covered in Renters Insurance in Florida?

Florida, in general, is susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes, high winds, tropical storms, sinkholes, and tornadoes.

Water damage caused by flooding from a hurricane that ruins your personal belongings is usually not included in a standard policy.

If you live in Miami or other coastal towns in Florida with a high risk of flooding, such as being at a low elevation or being near the coast, it’s imperative to add flood insurance to your policy.

This will raise your insurance rate but will protect your belongings.

But wind damage is almost always covered in a standard policy, no matter who you are insured by,

Coastal homes prone to wind damage may need to purchase a special add-on because the standard policy may not fully cover you, making you have to pay the rest out-of-pocket.

How to Find a Renters Insurance That Suits Your Needs

Do your research. Compare several insurances against each other.

Professionals prefer that you compare three companies, but that seems too low.

When you try to get a quote online to get comps, make sure you enter the same limits for each type of coverage.

For example, if you only want a $500 deductible, don’t get a quote from another insurance with a $1,000 deductible.

Then consider an insurer’s optional coverage, also known as add-ons.

Remember, you pay extra for an add-on, but if you want protection that goes over your coverage limit, you’ll be better off when a covered peril suddenly happens.

Does the insurer have a policy for jewelry coverage?

Do you need more coverage for all your Vuitton bags and luggage?

You’ll find that each insurance company offers different options and costs, so it’s best to shop around.

Insurance costs vary because your quote is based on your ZIP code (i.e., do you live in a safe community or gated complex?), credit history, and the amount of renters insurance you need.

Also, check out the company’s website. Is it intuitive or head-scratching?

Can you find the insurer’s number to talk to an agent about a policy?

If you are more technologically inclined, can you use the website to do everything online?

Can you get a quote, process a claim, pay your bills, or find all the documents related to your policy online?

If you do your due diligence, you may save yourself some hassle later.

Our Methodology

We thoroughly researched 16 of the top renters’ insurance companies in the state and narrowed the list down to those that operated in Florida.

We rated them on criteria that included ease of use, ratings, financial strength, customer, and affordability. Read our full in-depth renters insurance methodology.

How We Ranked and Picked the Best Renters Insurance Companies in Florida

We gathered information from multiple trusted sites in renters insurance and the websites of insurance companies. We narrowed our search down to the needs of Florida residents by prioritizing the following:

Policy Coverage

The insurer needed to have a wide range of policy coverages that addressed the needs of Floridians. These include catastrophic natural disasters such as torrential rain and hurricanes, high winds, and flooding that all neighborhoods on the coast experience. If the standard policy didn’t cover one or more of the above, we made sure to look for an insurer who had riders to protect your belongings when a natural disaster strikes.

Policy Costs

Renters insurance shouldn’t be exorbitantly priced. So we looked at insurance companies with low premiums and plenty of discounts to lower them.

For example, we researched companies that offer discounts for bundling renters insurance with auto insurance and security, such as having a rental behind gates or a rental with an active security guard at the entrance of your neighborhood. Those are just two examples.

Customer Service

You may sign up with a renters insurance company that looks great, but it becomes almost useless if the customer service is unreachable, not available at certain times, and not there 24/7.

The insurers needed to have accessible and convenient services.

For this reason, we looked at companies with a web presence or mobile app where you could take care of things like filing a claim, adjusting your policy limits, getting answers to questions you need, and more, which were designed to save you time.

Locations

We didn’t just research renters insurance quotes in Miami. Since we needed to compare quotes to find the best policy, we looked at other coastal towns near Miami that had the same concerns (wind, hurricanes, etc.), such as South Beach, Orlando, Key West, and more. That gave us a wider picture of how insurance rates vary per town, and see which towns had the lowest premiums and why.