8 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Michigan of 2023

Michigan is considered one of the most desirable states to live in.

Renters who live in Michigan—from Grosse Pointe to Detroit—know the state's beauty. It is home to 11,000 crystal clear inland lakes and lush pine forests.

And Michigan’s strong job market and low cost of living make its beautiful cities extremely attractive.

But renters here should not forget about taking out a renters insurance policy.

It’s not required to have, yet it’s imperative.

If your rental unit was burglarized and your laptop and expensive musical instruments were stolen, you’d have to pay out of pocket to replace your belongings.

That can be thousands of dollars or more.

According to PropertyNest research, the average basic renters insurance in Michigan costs $33.73 a month or $404.76 a year.

We did the work for you to find the best renters insurance companies in Michigan. Read on to find out all about what renters insurance offers. We looked at many factors: affordability, coverage options, ways to lower your premium, and how well customer service performed.

And take a look at our list of the best companies that may help you narrow down your choices.

Compare Renters Insurance in MI

Lemonade: Best for Online and Mobile App Coverage

Lemonade drastically changed the home and renters insurance industry by migrating services and live customer service agents to online using AI.

It has become an insurance darling to those who grew up in the Internet age, and it’s easy to see why.

Everything is done on Lemonade’s website and on its app, which saves you time as you can get instant quotes, buy coverage, and file claims, to name a few, anytime you want from the comforts of your home.

For Michigan residents, Lemonade is a top choice because its website and app are easy to use and easy to navigate and because the company can handle 30% of claims instantly.

In most situations, your claim may be paid in as little as three minutes.

Read the full review of Lemonade home insurance.

Liberty Mutual: Best for Cheapest Rates

Renters in Michigan who want the most affordable rate for renters insurance should turn to Liberty Mutual. Besides being the best overall, the online quote we received using Liberty’s website turned out to have the lowest premium we’ve seen, which was only $5 a month.

This makes Liberty the cheapest renters insurance in Michigan.

However, you will only likely pay $5 a month if you purchase a policy with very low coverage limits. That would be $5,000. Thus, to get the standard coverage limit that’s above that limit, you’ll more likely pay around $12 a month, which is still lower than State Farm.

But there’s more to like. The insurer offers many discounts, much more than its competitor, State Farm.

For example, the discounts offered that can bring your rate down include being claims-free, having home security, and paying your annual premium in full.

Read a full Liberty Mutual home insurance review.

Allstate: Best for Multi-Policy Discount

Allstate’s renters insurance has a higher premium than its competitors, namely Liberty Mutual and State Farm.

But with its multi-policy discount, that high rate will drop.

Also called bundling, when you carry both renters insurance and auto insurance from Allstate, you’ll get 10% off your auto policy and 25% off your renters policy.

That’s why Allstate’s site can boast a very low monthly rate starting at just $4.

Of course, Allstate’s low rate—the lowest rate in the industry--will go up because its renters insurance is bare-bones basic, and you’ll need to spend more on add-ons to get more comprehensive coverage.

But Allstate offers some very good discounts that ultimately drive your rate down. For example, if you live in a safe neighborhood, have never made a claim for a set time, or if you are retired or older than 55, to name just a few, each of these will get you a discount.

Read a full Allstate renters insurance review.

State Farm: Runner Up for Cheapest Rates

State Farm renters insurance in Michigan is known for many good things.

This includes unbeatable customer service—the insurer has many agents in every state—and the company’s online presence that helps to file a claim easier and faster.

They also have a great identity restoration plan that you can get as an endorsement if your personal information is stolen. For example, if thieves hijack your identity and use it to commit theft or fraud, State Farm will reimburse you for damages.

But what makes State Farm stand out is its substantially lower rates than the competition.

The average monthly premium is $13.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, this is lower than the average cost of renters insurance in Michigan, which is around $15 per month.

Read a full State Farm renters insurance editors review.

Farmers: Best for Customer Service

These days, most people—especially those who are young—like to maintain their renters insurance using a company’s website or app.

It’s more convenient and saves time.

But there are still a ton of renters who want to reach out and speak to a customer rep agent when they are having issues with their policy or when they want to file a claim.

Farmers is best for customer service because it places a high value on the relationship between a policyholder and a live agent.

Progressive: Best for Discounts

Progressive teams up with third-party insurers to provide renters insurance.

Progressive is known for offering extensive named peril coverages.

But for customers, Progressive is the best in its class because of the many discounts it offers policyholders that will drive down your premium.

That’s good, as Progressive’s basic renters insurance policy in Michigan is a high $23 a month, higher than any insurer on our list.

Without the discounts, we would’ve not recommended the company.

In any event, since there are many discounts to choose from, we’ve highlighted a few.

These are the ones that policyholders can easily qualify for, not the kind like, if you never make a claim in five years with your policy, you’ll get a discount. Realistically, that’s hard to achieve.

But note first that discounts vary depending on the area you live in and which company you’re insured with, as Progressive doesn’t act alone.

• Discount for getting a quote at least three days before your policy takes effect.
• Pay-in-full discount.
• Paperless discount for communication.
• If you have alarms, and security features like remote cameras, or if you live in a gated community or your rental complex has a doorman or security guard, you’ll get a discount.
• Discount when you bundle with another Progressive insurance, such as auto.

Read a full Progressive renters insurance review.

Travelers: Best for Unique Additional Coverages

Travelers is one of the best insurers around for Michigan residents because it offers a wide range of coverage options that other companies don’t have.

It even offers coverages that are usually not available at other insurers.

USAA: Best for No-Cost Extra Coverages

USAA is dedicated to serving retired military staff and their families.

It’s such a great insurer and offers so much that we wish USAA were for everyone.

But at least the military gets some big advantages when it comes to renters insurance.

For Michigan residents as well as for other states, USAA offers, in their standard policy, flood, storm, and earthquake coverage.

Other insurers offer this as an add-on that you pay extra for and which drives up your premium.

USAA also offers replacement cost coverage, so you get reimbursed for your items in full at today’s price if they were damaged or destroyed due to a covered peril.

Also, the insurer offers up to $750,000 worth of personal property coverage.

Is Renters Insurance Mandatory to Rent an Apartment in Michigan?

Renters insurance is not required by law in Michigan.

However, some landlords may require you to live in their building. They will ask for proof when you sign a lease.

Your landlord will have insurance for the apartment building or property, which is reserved to protect or repair the exterior due to damages such as fire or hurricanes, as well as maintain common areas such as elevators, hallways, and reception areas.

Your landlord’s insurance does not cover your personal belongings.

It’s wise to know that if you plan on ditching renters insurance, the landlord’s insurance will never cover you in any form, no matter your city or state.

So, it’s always a good idea to purchase renters insurance.

What is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Michigan?

According to PropertyNest research, the average cost of basic renters insurance in Michigan is $33.73 a month.

This puts the state average above the national average of $17 per month.

The premium rate for renters insurance changes for every renter.

That’s because the amount you pay depends on several factors, including, but not limited to:

Where you live (i.e., how safe your neighborhood is).

The cost of any high-value personal belongings that you plan on insuring.

When you get a renters quote from an insurer, always make sure you understand the coverage that’s right for you so you only pay what you need.

What Factors Determine Renters Insurance Rates?

No Flood Area

If you live in a neighborhood that is not prone to flooding, your rate will be low. Since floods and flood damage are rare in Michigan, these things will not affect your rate.

Crime Rate

You'll also pay more if your city or suburb has a high crime rate. Michigan has a high crime rate, which we’ll discuss below.

Safe Neighborhood

If you live in a safe neighborhood that’s near a fire hydrant, you’ll pay less.

If your rental is in a gated community or is fortified by guards, or if you have a doorman or live on a high floor, you’ll also pay less.

Credit Score

You'll also get a cheaper rate with a high credit score. If your score is low, you can expect a higher premium.

Claims History

You'll pay less if you have never made a claim for a period that your insurer decides.

Coverage Limits

If you have a lot of valuable belongings, your standard policy will not cover the full amount if they get stolen or damaged. As such, you need a rider to get full coverage, which means you’ll pay a higher rate.

Deductible

If you raise your deductible, your rate will be lowered.

Pets

Dog bites are common. Your liability insurance covers injuries caused by your dog, but you will pay a higher premium if you have a breed that is considered high-risk, such as a pit bull or a Doberman pinscher.

Some insurers will flat-out not cover these types of dogs.

Why is the Cost of Michigan Renters Insurance High?

The cost of Michigan renters insurance is higher than the national average of $15 a month.

That’s due to Michigan being a state that has high crime rates.

Insurance companies generally prefer insuring a renter who lives in a safe neighborhood close to a fire hydrant in case your building or rental house catches fire.

These companies want you to live on high floors compared to lower levels, the first level or the basement because property crimes or burglaries are more likely to occur.

Insurers also prefer that you live in a building with security cameras and monitors, and if you live in a doorman building, preferably if the doormen protect the lobby 24/7.

And if you have theft-protection devices like a smart camera, a deadbolt, smoke alarms, and other anti-theft devices, it makes it less likely that you’ll be a victim of crime.

How Can You Lower Rental Insurance Premiums?

The easiest way to get affordable renters insurance in Michigan is to do your research.

This means getting quotes from as many insurers as possible. Then compare and contrast them. Which policy is the most affordable?

You can get a quote online by giving an insurer your personal information and whatever the insurer requires of you, such as if you ever made a claim with a past renters insurance company.

Usually, you can get the online quote and then buy the policy online.

In most cases, though, as soon as you submit your application, a customer representative will call you at the number you added to your application to complete your quote and for you to make a decision.

This is the best way since the insurers can personalize your quote and possibly give you the lowest possible premium by applying as many discounts they offer that you may qualify for.

For example, if you opt for paperless billing and automatic payment, both will result in a discount.

But remember that the most affordable insurer might not be the best.

Thus, you should consider if an insurer has good customer service, such as how responsive and courteous a customer service rep is.

You can get a feel for the company when the company returns your call after getting an online quote.

Good service makes the process of buying coverage straightforward and quick. It also eases the stress of having to make a renters insurance claim.

Also, say you want to take out additional coverage so your belongings are fully covered. If the insurer puts a cap on how much coverage you can contribute, that’s not a company you want to work with.

And before you sign with an insurer, make sure you know as much as possible about the company.

One way to do this is to talk to an insurer’s agent or customer service rep.

Knowing all you can about a company is essential before taking out a renters insurance policy.

Learn about the insurance company and its policies' protection before making a final decision.

Know and understand your policy limits and ask about what additional coverages you can add for your protection.

Nearly all insurers have four types of coverage that come standard in a basic policy.

As discussed, these include personal property coverage, loss of use, liability coverage, and medical payments coverage.

If you're considering an insurer that doesn't offer all these, you should treat that as a red flag and a sign to look for another company.

Reps can also answer any questions you may have, especially about confusing things.

Renters Insurance Discounts

Many insurers offer discounts to policyholders that can ultimately lower the cost of your premium.

The most notable discounts for Michigan residents include:

• Multi-Policy Discount: Discount if you bundle renters and auto insurance.
• Being Claims-Free: If you don’t make a claim in a set period of time, you’ll receive a discount.
• Home Security: You'll get a discount if you install a security system, a smoke detector, or an alarm.
• Home Credit: You'll get a discount if you purchase new and costly home equipment such as a stove or a refrigerator.
• Paperless: If you go paper-free, you’ll also get a discount.
• Payment: You'll get a discount if you sign up for autopay.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

In Michigan, the standard renters insurance policy covers liability, theft, medical treatment, and loss of use. It is the same standard policy that is offered by other insurers in the state.

Here’s the standard coverage:

Liability Coverage

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

Liability also covers your legal defense.

Personal Property Coverage

Personal property coverage pays to replace the property that’s stolen or damaged due to a covered peril.

A covered peril in a standard policy is theft, burglary, vandalism, and climate changes like lightning, windstorms, hurricanes, explosions, water damage, and other events listed in your policy.

Loss of Use

This policy covers basic living expenses and temporary housing costs if your unit becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril like a fire.

Medical Payments

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

Renters Insurance Add-on Policies

Renters insurance covers wind damage, water damage, and hail.

But no matter what renters insurance company you pick, a renters insurance policy never covers flooding.

If your city or suburb is prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, purchasing separate endorsements for these disasters is usually recommended so your belongings are fully covered.

In Michigan, the most severe weather is snowfall, which can be more than 16 feet.

The heavy weight of the snow and the cold temperatures can cause freezing precipitation that could result in water damage to your pipes and more.

You must be vigilant in cleaning up your home's snow and frozen exterior parts. If you are, you should be good to go.

But other than that, Michigan is generally safe from natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

These events may occur less severely than in other parts of the country.

In fact, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Michigan has a low probability of hurricanes or tropical storms, and earthquakes are rare.

Thus, the Great Lakes region is one of the safest states regarding natural disasters.

Winds and flooding typically cause damage from a hurricane.

Damage to your belongings from winds is usually covered under your renters insurance as a covered peril.

But water damage due to flooding is not covered under renters insurance.

It requires a separate renters flood insurance rider.

But you don’t need that in Michigan, which means your premium won’t rise if you had to purchase, say, flood insurance.

This also means you don’t need to purchase extra coverage for hurricanes or tornados.

When You Need to Purchase Additional Insurance

Basic renters insurance pays for personal belongings, but if these are high in value, they may be subject to a low limit of liability, causing your insurer to only pay up to a certain amount.

The typical standard renters insurance value cap for high-priced items like jewelry is around $10,000.

To make sure that your jewelry is insured to its full value, you need to add a rider to your policy.

A rider or endorsement adds more benefits to your basic renters insurance policy.

But a rider comes with an additional cost, and your premium will go up.

The good thing is that your premium won’t become terribly unaffordable. Riders have low costs since they don’t involve underwriting too much.

Our Methodology

We thoroughly researched the top renters insurance companies in the state and narrowed the list down to those that operated in Michigan. 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 Michigan

To determine the best renters insurance company, we looked at several factors.

Discounts

Many people shopping for renters insurance avoid insurers with high monthly premiums. That’s just human nature.

But in most cases, an insurer with a high rate can still be a contender if you look at how many discounts it has, such as bundling, being clams-free, and going paperless.

So, we considered companies with many discounts and companies that look out of reach until you discover how many discounts they have.

Coverage

Every renter has different insurance coverage needs. So, when evaluating insurers, we looked for companies with a wide range of useful coverage options.

If not. We looked at endorsements and riders that extended your coverage so that you could be paid in full for your property.

Technology

We also considered if a renters insurance company had a website and a mobile app. If it did, and if both were intuitive and easy to use even for the novice, we put that company on our list.

Price

Renters insurance is supposed to give you peace of mind, so if the cost of it is higher than you would like to pay, we took that company off our list.

Insurance providers with low premiums or plenty of options to lower your premium (such as discounts) ranked higher on our list than others.

Location

We didn’t just research renters insurance quotes in the Great Lake State.

Since we needed to compare quotes to find the best policy, we looked at Michigan's most popular cities or suburbs.

These include Detroit, Ann Arbor, Troy, Novi, Livonia, Lansing, and Frankenmuth, Michigan’s biggest tourist attraction city.

That gave us a better picture of how insurance rates vary per town.

Customer Satisfaction

We scoured customer reviews from many trusted sites to see how well a renters insurance company performed.

We also considered rating companies such as AM Best and JD Powers to see if a particular renters insurance company, based on customer service performance, had a high score.