8 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Texas of 2023

If you're thinking about renting a home in Texas, you're in for a delightful experience. The Lone Star State offers an abundance of activities and attractions in every city. Every city in Texas boasts its own unique vibe and character, from the lively country and blues concerts in downtown Austin to the cultural hub of Dallas. While it's not mandatory by law, purchasing renters insurance is highly recommended for anyone renting in Texas.

Renters insurance is designed to safeguard against unforeseen expenses, such as medical bills for injuries that occur in your home or the replacement of stolen electronic devices. Without insurance, you would be responsible for paying these expenses out-of-pocket. However, obtaining renters insurance is both affordable and well worth the investment.

According to PropertyNest research, the average cost of basic renters insurance in Texas is $22.97 a month, or $275.64 per year.

Compare Renters Insurance Rates in TX

The Best Renters Insurance in Texas

• Lemonade – Best Renters Insurance That Gives Back
• Liberty Mutual – Best for Add Ons
• Allstate – Best Policy for Bundling With Car Insurance
• State Farm – Best Cheapest Renters Insurance
• Travelers – Best for Range of Coverage Options
• Progressive – Best for Named Perils
• Nationwide – Best For Having Local Agents in Texas
• Chubb – Best for Transparent Discounts

Lemonade: Best Renters Insurance That Gives Back

Lemonade is known for its online-only presence. Everything concerning your renters insurance is done online or on the company’s app due to AI, from getting a quote to making a claim, checking your policy, and paying your bill.

Lemonade renters insurance is the perfect solution for those who want affordable protection from theft, fire, or other causes. The basic plan costs just $5 per month with no hidden fees - but if you need more features, extra options are always available at cost.

Lemonade's renters insurance is not only affordable and comprehensive, but the company also has a philanthropic side that we like. A portion of every premium goes to a nonprofit organization of the policyholder's choice.

And, if there are any unclaimed funds at the end of the year, they are donated to causes chosen by Lemonade's board of directors.

The company is also very active in its community. For example, it has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for families in need in Texas.

Read the full Lemonade home insurance review.

Liberty Mutual: Best for Add Ons

Liberty Mutual offers renters insurance at very competitive rates, starting at $5 a month.

Liberty Mutual is also known for providing add-ons or riders so you can expand coverage to meet your needs.

In Texas, for example, they offer a renters insurance rider that provides additional coverage for items such as jewelry, furs, computers, and other electronics. This rider is available for an additional premium of $4 per month.

Liberty Mutual's customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer any questions about the company's products or services.

Liberty Mutual Renters Insurance Coverage

Blanket jewelry coverage

This added coverage is specifically designed to cover expensive jewelry. If your diamond ring gets damaged or stolen, you’ll have enough coverage to fully cover it, unlike a standard policy that only pays up to the limit.

Replacement coverage

ACV or actual cash value comes standard in Liberty Mutual’s basic renters policy. This means if your belongings are damaged due to a covered peril, Liberty will only reimburse you for the depreciated value.

To get a better deal, you need to buy replacement cost coverage.

With this add-on, Liberty pays in full the amount needed to replace a lost or damaged item.

So, if you bought your laptop three years ago, ACV will only cover the depreciated cost if it gets lost or damaged.

But a replacement cost will pay you in full for a brand new laptop that’s similar to the one you owned.

However, while Liberty offers you some great add-ons, remember that each costs a certain amount and will drive up your premium.

The good thing, though, is that Liberty offers you discounts to help decrease your rate.

Read a full Liberty Mutual home insurance review.

Allstate: Best Policy for Bundling With Car Insurance

Allstate is known for many things. It offers nationwide coverage, very affordable rates, and plenty of discounts.

Allstate offers discounts for bundling renters insurance with other policies, such as auto or life insurance. The basic renters insurance policy, after bundling, starts at $4 per month, making it a very affordable option for renters in Texas.

This makes it a desirable option for renters looking for comprehensive coverage at a great price.

For those who are looking for even more savings, Allstate also offers a discount for home renters insurance in Texas.

Apartment dwellers can save up to 10% on their renters insurance premiums by choosing Allstate.

With so many savings opportunities, it's no wonder that Allstate is one of the most popular choices for renters insurance in Texas.

In addition, if your rental is damaged due to a covered peril like fire and you can’t live there because the place needs to be rebuilt, your standard insurance policy will cover temporary living expenses.

These include hotel or motel stays, meals eaten at restaurants, and many more.

Read a full Allstate renters insurance review.

State Farm: Best Cheapest Renters Insurance

State Farm is one of the best renters insurance companies in Texas. The company offers low rates for renters insurance, and it also has a wide range of discounts.

For example, renters can receive a discount if they have a home renters insurance policy. Additionally, renters may be eligible for a discount if they live in an apartment.

State Farm also offers discounts for members of the military and seniors. As a result, renters in Texas can save money on their renters insurance by choosing State Farm.

State Farm’s average cost for renters insurance is only $10 a month, beating the average price of $19 in Texas.

Read a full State Farm renters insurance review.

Travelers: Best for Range of Coverage Options

Just a dollar less than the average renters insurance in Texas, Travelers made out list because it offered a wide range of coverage options in comparison to other similar insurers.

Travelers offers renters insurance in Texas to help protect your belongings in case of damages caused by covered events such as fire, smoke, theft, water damage, and more.

Even if you don't own your home or apartment, renters insurance can give you peace of mind by helping to replace your belongings if they're damaged or destroyed. And if someone is injured while at your home, renters insurance may also help cover their medical expenses.

Whether you're a renter in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, or elsewhere in Texas, Travelers has the renters insurance coverage options you need.

It even has some coverage options that other insurers usually do not offer.

Travelers Renters Insurance Coverage

Housing Improvements Coverage

If your landlord allows you to make alterations or upgrades to your rental, such as putting up wallpaper, the coverage will pay if it gets damaged due to a covered peril.

Equipment Breakdown

Travelers will pay for repairs if your dishwasher goes berserk or your washing machine gets busted.

Water Backup

Water backup damage is when a drain or sewer backs up, or a sump pump fails and water comes into your rental due to heavy rain, among others. This add-on covers damage to your property.

Other Coverage Options

• Additional coverage package
• Personal property replacement
• Identity fraud expense
• Valuable item coverage
• Extended liability

Read a full Travelers renters insurance review.

Progressive: Best for Named Perils

Progressive is a top choice for named peril coverage. By spelling out each peril the insurance covers, there’s transparency, and you don’t have to guess what your policy’s peril includes.

Most perils are standard, but Progressive goes beyond and offers extensive named peril coverages:

• Windstorms
• Fire and smoke
• Lightning
• Hail
• Tornadoes
• Explosions
• Theft and vandalism
• Car or aircraft crashing into your home
• Falling trees or other objects
• Weight of snow, sleet, or ice
• Water damage

Most named perils are natural disasters. Water damage is included, but water damage due to floods is not. This is what every insurance out there excludes.

So you should seriously consider taking out a flood insurance policy because flooding is Texas's most common natural disaster.

And since natural disasters like high winds, tornadoes, and tropical storms, to name a few, often happen in Texas, Progressive’s named perils will help keep you covered.

Read a full Progressive renters insurance review.

Nationwide: Best For Having Local Agents in Texas

Nationwide offers renters insurance in Texas to help protect your belongings in the event of a covered loss.

Nationwide renters insurance policies cover liability, personal property, and additional living expenses, and you can customize your coverage to fit your needs.

We chose Nationwide because it’s, well, nationwide insurance for renters that acts as a local insurance company.

Its agents can answer questions like the above and many more.

So rather than having one customer service call center that’s probably in a foreign country, the company does most cities in Texas with local agents.

That means local agent personalized assistance coverage for famous Texas cities like Houston and Dallas, as well as coverage for cities you’ve probably never heard of, including Bowie and Laredo, for example.

Another plus that Nationwide offers is the On Your Side consultation that’s offered free annually and includes insurance assessments to ensure you are getting the right amount of coverage necessary or making sure you are getting all possible discounts.

Chubb: Best for Transparent Discounts

Chubb caters to high-net-worth renters who turn to the insurer to protect their exorbitantly priced items like jewelry and artwork.

You can increase your coverage with the amount of your choice to fully protect these valuable items.

However, while Chubb has one of the highest premium rates, its array of discounts can lower what you pay.

If your home is well protected from fire, burglary, or other risks, then you’re less likely to make a claim for a loss.

So, for Chubb, the safer your home, the more you save.

Here are the discounts that can lower your premium. Most, as you can see, are to protect your home. And the best thing about the discounts is their total transparency, where you can see precisely the percentage you’ll save:

• A central station burglar alarm can save you 7%.
• Fire alarms can save you 7%.
• If your rental is in a gated community and controlled by guards, you can save 5%.
• If the gated community has a 24-hour patrol service that responds to your unit’s fire and burglar alarms, you can save 5%.
• If your rental building has approved security, you can save 5%.
• If your building features approved sprinklers, you can save 5%.
• If your rental has been insured by CHUBB and you make no claims for three years or more, you can save 10%.
• If you bundle your rental with auto coverage, you can save 10%.

Does the Law Require Renters Insurance in Texas?

Renters insurance is not required by law in Texas. However, some landlords may require it for you to live in their building. They will ask for it as part of your lease.

Your landlord will have insurance, but that’s used exclusively to protect the landlord’s building, such as the exterior and common areas, such as elevators, entrance halls, or lobbies.

Since your landlord’s insurance won’t cover any damage to the belongings in your unit, it’s always a good idea to purchase renters insurance.

Suppose you don’t have renters insurance and a fire, a burglary, or other unexpected events happen. In that case, you will be responsible for replacing your belongings, which can cost a lot of money, especially when you have valuable items like a laptop, the latest smart flat screen, or jewelry.

What are the Risks to Consider in Texas?

According to a study by NASA, Texas is ranked first in the U.S. in the variety and frequency of natural disasters.

Texas is besotted by:

• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Tropical storms

So, if a tornado strikes your home, the landlord’s insurance will cover only the building structure.

A hurricane in Texas will rip the roof off of your rental house or cause an incredible amount of damage to your interior.

If you have renters insurance, you are covered by most perils, but you may want to increase your limits if you live in Texas due to the sheer amounts of natural disasters that occur all year long.

For example, flooding is the state’s most common natural disaster, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

But flood damage is not covered by renters insurance in Texas, and it’s not covered by any renters insurance policy in the US because of the high payouts involved.

It’s recommended that you purchase flood insurance as an add-on so your belongings are covered if the flood causes interior damages to your rental.

And especially if your unit itself is at risk.

For example, flood insurance will give you peace of mind if you live in a ground-floor apartment or the basement or if you live near the beach or any low-lying area.

And if you rent an apartment or house on the Gulf Coast, you must make sure your renters insurance covers damage due to hurricanes and tropical wind storms.

Typically, the standard renters policy covers hurricanes and heavy winds, but here’s what you have to watch out for.

Since heavy wind is frequent near the coast, your policy may not cover you for wind damage due to you living in a high-risk area.

So you should also purchase wind coverage because more than 100 tornadoes strike Texas each year on average.

Another disaster that is common in Texas is wildfires.

The standard renters policy covers losses due to fire, but only up to a specific limit. You’ll want to talk to an agent to determine how much coverage you need to cover your personal items fully.

What is the Average Cost of Renters Insurance in Texas?

The average cost of basic renters insurance in Texas is $22.97 a month or $275.64 per year.

The cost of renters insurance in Texas is higher than the national average of $17 a month.

This is because of the frequency of natural disasters and because many cities in Texas have a high crime rate.

But remember, your average cost will be lower or higher depending on where you live.

And expect to pay more if you buy add-ons, such as flood insurance or additional wind damage coverage.

What Factors Determine Your Renters Insurance Rate?

No Flood Area

If you live in a neighborhood that is not prone to flooding, your rate will be low.

However, if you live in an area where hurricanes and flood damage are common, such as on the Gulf Coast, you’ll most likely pay more.

Crime Rate

You'll also pay more if your city or suburb has a high crime rate.

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 if you have a high credit score.

If your score is low, you can expect a high premium.

Claims History

If you have never made a claim for a period that your insurer decides, you’ll pay less.

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 have to add on 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. Injuries caused by your dog are covered by your liability insurance, 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.

How to Get Affordable Renters Insurance in Texas

The easiest way to get affordable renters insurance in Texas is to get quotes from as many insurers as possible. Then compare and contrast them.

Keep in mind that the most affordable might not be the best.

For example, if you purchase additional coverage for your belongings and the insurer is affordable but will put a cap on the cost of the add-on, then that’s an insurer you don’t want.

Another example is that a policy may only offer ACV and you have to pay extra to receive its better counterpart, replacement cost.

And rates will vary depending on your belongings' value and coverage limits.

However, we don't recommend buying a policy based on price alone.

Coverage options and customer service matter, too.

And before you sign with an insurer, make sure you know as much as you can about it.

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

It is important to know all that you can 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 to your protection.

Talk to them about what insurance is right for you, and what coverages they offer.

The more you know about an insurer, the more you’ll be able to choose the right insurance for you.

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

For example, there’s a common misconception regarding what is and what isn’t covered by a renters insurance policy. Be sure to ask the rep about that.

Also, flood coverage can be confusing. Ask about that as well.

Can You Lower Rental Insurance Premiums?

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

The most notable discounts for Texas 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. If your rental building has security cameras and doormen, that’s even better.
• 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.

When You Need to Purchase Additional Insurance

If you have high-value possessions, note that the standard policy will only cover up to your personal property limit.

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.

It’s necessary if your high-value items exceed normal policy coverage limits.

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

So if your pearls are appraised at $15,000, you have to suck it up and pay the extra $5,000.

However, with the rider, you will be fully covered.

But your rate will go up.

The good thing is that the rate won’t skyrocket.

Riders have low costs since they don’t involve too much underwriting.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

In Texas, the standard renters insurance policy covers liability, theft, medical treatment, and loss of use. It is the same standard policy that other insurers offer. The riders and add-ons make each renters insurance different and unique.

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 repair or replace stolen or damaged property in the event there’s a covered peril.

A covered peril in a standard policy is a damaging event due to theft, vandalism, fire, smoke damage, climate changes like lightning and windstorms, 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.

What Renters Insurance Doesn’t Cover in Texas

You need to know what your renters insurance does not cover so that you can buy additional policies to get fully covered.

In this way, you can prepare yourself for any emergencies you haven’t considered, such as natural disasters.

Flooding

As we mentioned, renters insurance will not pay for flooding caused by natural disasters.

But it will pay for water damage due to broken or burst pipes.

It will also pay for damages if your roof leaks due to a hurricane, but it’s important to note that the insurer won’t cover flood damage from the same hurricane.

Roommate Property

If you have a roommate, your renters insurance will not cover the roommate’s personal property. The roommate must purchase a policy to protect the roommate’s belongings.

Expensive Items

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.

To protect your valuables, you should purchase a “scheduled” rider.

Scheduling means you can increase the coverage amounts of your insurance for your belongings that are high in cost, like artwork.

Our Methodology

With many renters' insurance companies operating in Texas, we wanted to give you the most informative and objective recommendations.

To achieve this goal, our team conducted an extensive study of the most reputable providers while evaluating their ease-of-use ratings, financial strength metrics, customer support features, and affordability. Read our full in-depth renters insurance methodology.

How We Ranked and Picked the Best Apartment Renters Insurance Companies in Texas

Affordability

We chose renters insurance companies that were affordable for every type of renter.

Since there are so many companies to choose from, we whittled down our list to include insurers that cost less than the state average and the national average. We included a company with a higher premium rate in some cases, but that’s due to how unique it was.

Discounts

We also considered how many discounts an insurer offered to policyholders that could reduce their monthly rates.

We specifically paid attention to a company with a multipolicy discount, as bundling gives you the best discount to lower your premium significantly.

And the more discounts a company had, which leads to how much you can save, the more we made sure they were included in our list.

Coverage

The standard renters policy covers losses due to fire or theft, for example, but only up to a certain limit.

When trying to put our list together, we considered how much coverage an insurer offered to pay for any claims due to a covered peril.

The answer is not a lot. For example, if your jewelry is stolen, you’d have to schedule it to get full coverage.

So we looked at the types of coverage you can get beyond what a standard policy could offer, which means we looked at add-ons or riders that required additional costs but which made coverage more comprehensive.

Technology

An insurance company that has an online presence and a mobile app allows policyholders to save time because they can get a quote, make a claim, look up insurance coverages, pay a bill, and find additional riders at any time of the day they want.

So insurers using AI came down to convenience.

We only considered insurers if they had an easy-to-use website and mobile app that offered policyholders a lot of useful features.

Customer Complaints

When deciding on a renters insurance company, it's important to look at customer reviews. We scoured customer reviews from many trusted sites to see how well a renters insurance performed.

Locations

We researched renters insurance quotes in key cities in Texas, such as Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Plano. We then compared the quotes to understand better how much coverage would cost for your essential needs.