8 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Washington of 2022

If you rent in Washington, you should strongly consider purchasing a renters insurance policy.

Renters insurance will protect your belongings if they are stolen or damaged or destroyed due to heavy winds and extreme weather.

It will also protect you if someone is injured in your rental and needs medical attention.

And if that person ends up suing you, renters insurance will cover legal representation.

So, in the case of an emergency, renters insurance helps you out. If you didn’t have renters insurance, you’d have to pay out-of-pocket for the medical and legal bills of the injured person. The cost can skyrocket to over $300,000.

So, renters insurance protects yourself and your belongings during an emergency, an unforeseen event, and bad weather.

Put it this way: it’s recommended that you purchase a policy if you can’t currently afford to replace your belongings.

Many choose a policy based on how affordable it is. But choosing the right insurer goes beyond how low in cost the insurer is.

So, choosing the right renters insurance policy involves not just looking at an insurer’s prices and comparing them with other insurers, but also looking at their average rates, coverage options, how efficient and good customer service is, and discounts to lower your premium.

Below, we picked the top insurance providers that offer the best services for renters insurance in Washington. And not only that, we’ll let you on about everything you need to know about renters insurance.

Lemonade: Best for Consumer Experience

Lemonade is all AI, meaning you get instant quotes, buy coverage, and pay your bills to name a few, from the company’s website and mobile app.

It has the best consumer experience due to its user-friendly website and app.

Cleanly designed and easy to use, it’s easy to get an instant quote from Lemonade because the feature is right on the homepage. No more searching for a way to get a quote.

And if you have any questions about your renters insurance policy, Lemonade lays it all out by offering you a lengthy dedicated FAQ page where you can find all the answers to your inquiries.

Available for both iOS and Android, you use the app to not just get quotes but also to buy your policy. And here’s where it’s easy to file a claim.

Lemonade is often criticized for having no live agents or a customer service department. But that’s so this insurer can offer prospective policyholders cheap premiums.

Technically, it’s not true that you can’t contact a rep at Lemonade to file a claim. In the event of an emergency, Lemonade has a dedicated phone line you can call to get the claims process started.

And so, while many claims are transferred to a person on the claims team, which makes it somewhat a hassle, the company that just began to offer auto insurance says it handles 30% of claims instantly and wires money to your bank.

Lemonade offers a number of different plans to suit your needs and budget, starting with the basics for only $5 per month.

How’s Lemonade Rated?

• AM Best: A-
• NAIC: .81
• Not BBB accredited

See a full Lemonade home insurance review.

Allstate: Best for Cheapest Policy

Allstate is one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. and offers plenty of insurance products like home, auto, life, and pet insurance.

Because Allstate has the best features for its low-price range, we chose the company as the best overall.

This industry titan features renters insurance that covers all the basics, including substantial and useful endorsement options, multiple ways to reach customer service, and coverage for all 50 states.

Like Lemonade, reviewed here, you can buy a policy online and get a confirmation in the fastest method possible.

Allstate also has a reliable and intuitive app.

If you prefer to apply by speaking to an agent, Allstate also offers 24/7 customer service availability.

But being best overall also means you must have a great price, and Allstate delivers on that.

For the average standard or basic policy, Allstate costs $102 per year or a ridiculously low monthly rate of just $8.50.

That makes Allstate the cheapest insurer all around.

But note that the average rate is based on a policy with $30,000 in personal property coverage (with a $500 deductible), $100,000 in personal liability, and $1,000 in medical payments to others. 

So, your rate will go up and will most likely hover between $15 to $20 depending on how much coverage you choose.

How’s Allstate Rated?

• AM Best Rating: A+
• J.D. Power: 841/1000
• BBB: A+
• NAIC: 2.70

Read a full Allstate renters insurance review.

Liberty Mutual: Best Online Presence and App

Liberty Mutual offers renters insurance in all 50 states, in addition to Washington D.C.

What makes Liberty Mutual so enticing is that a standard policy starts at just $5 per month, although on average, and including any optional coverages you add, the policy will most likely cost you around $20 per month.

In addition to a fast online quote process, Liberty Mutual turned out to be our top choice for its website and app.

Liberty Mutual’s user-friendly website and app make it easy for consumers to find the right coverage for their needs.

The website is easy to use and offers a handy online quote tool. You can do a lot on the website, such as purchase insurance, manage your policy, file and track a claim, and find an insurance agent near you.

You can also find a local agent by calling Liberty Mutual’s customer service.

The mobile app, available for Android and iOS, is also intuitive. You can file a claim just like when you use the company’s website, and you can also make a payment, look up your coverages, add on coverages, and view your digital ID card.

With its online claims process and mobile app, you can “chat” with the insurer almost exclusively without needing to call a representative.

How’s Liberty Mutual Rated?

• BBB; A
• A.M. Best: A
• J.D. Power Overall Satisfaction Rating: 825/1,000

Read a full Liberty Mutual home insurance review.

State Farm: Best for Customizing Your Policy

State Farm, like Allstate, is one of the best renters insurers in the industry, offering very affordable rates and many ways to customize your policy.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), State Farm’s renters insurance for a basic or standard policy is around $15 per month or $180 a year when including about $35,000 in coverage.

The typical renters insurance rate in Washington is $140 per year or around $12 per month.

Even though Allstate is higher than the state average, the insurer offers many discounts to lower your premium.

In addition, Allstate offers many coverages that are unique in comparison to what other insurers offer.

Two of them come standard:

The standard Inflation coverage automatically increases the amount of your coverage on your personal items as inflation changes the cost of living.

The coverage provides payment based on the cost to repair or replace damaged items at the time of loss.

Business property coverage, which also comes standard, provides up to $1,500 of coverage for property used for a business.

Here are the unique coverage options that you can add to your policy at an additional cost:

How’s State Farm Rated?

• JD Power: 850/1,000
• AM Best: A++
• NAIC: 0.38

Farmers: Best for College Students or Those Who are Starting Out

Face it. College dorms are notorious for the lack of protection they offer college students. Keycode passcodes are the major form of security that college dorms have. They can be swiped, but you never know who’s coming behind you if you don’t turn around.

Parties also make dorms unsafe, especially when dorm building doors are left open so that all students can attend, not just those who live in the dorm. In addition, dorm room doors are also often left open so that students can drift from dorm to dorm freely to see which dorm has the best rager.

So, if you are a college student, you should think about getting renters insurance from Farmers.

You may not think you should get a renters policy because you don’t have much, but if you do a home inventory that adult renters do to determine how much coverage they need, you’ll find you have more than you realized.

College students need to protect their computers, laptops, printers, as well as their expensive textbooks or pricey clothing.

And since colleges or landlords are usually not responsible for your losses, getting renters insurance from Farmers may be your best bet.

This coverage will pay for any items that have been stolen from your dorm and will leave you feeling more protected because you don’t have to, for example, carry your laptop everywhere you go.

Farmers also offers this policy for those starting out and, due to a first job’s wages, or due to working as an unpaid intern, young people may have to live in the cheapest apartment rental they can find, which often can be unsafe.

Farmers has a quick claim response time and the company has been praised for making claims very easy.

In addition, if you just graduated and are moving to a new apartment, Farmers can easily help transfer your coverage to your new digs.

How’s Farmers Rated?

• AM Best: A
• JD Power 839/1,000
• BBB: A-

Progressive: Best for Different Ways to Pay Your Policy

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

Progressive renters insurance is known for its user-friendly website and app that offers a lot of customer autonomy, many discounts to lower your premium, and the ability to work for a world-class and reputable company.

Progressive renters is not cheap. The average cost of a policy is $206 per year, way higher than any of the insurers we reviewed here.

But the company has come up with a way to pay your premium by offering four different payment options.

Progressive offers payment options that cater to most people, or payment options that may be best for your budget.

In addition, if you bundle renters and auto insurance with Progressive, you get an extra five percent discount on your auto policy.

And for those who get a quote and take out a policy three days later, you get a discount.

Perhaps Progressive’s best offering is its single deductible which can save you a lot of money.

If you bundle renters and auto and one claim applies to both, you only need to pay a single deductible.

So, if someone steals your car, your auto policy will cover the theft.

And if someone steals the belongings inside your car, like your laptop or expensive handbag, your renters policy will cover the theft as well.

How’s Progressive rated?

• AM Best: A+
• JD Power Score: 835/1,000

American Family: Best for Unique Endorsements

American Family has fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, and it also offers many ways to customize your basic renters policy.

These are add-ons or endorsements. While you may pay extra for them, they tend to be good ways to have more expansive and comprehensive coverage.

Here are the best add-ons that American Family offers:

Diminishing Deductible

The most unique one is diminishing deductible. This means,

after you purchase a policy with the company, your deductible will automatically decrease with each renewal by $100.

And it will continue to drop by $100 each year.

There’s only one catch: you can only get diminishing if you haven’t filed a claim.

But diminishing works in your favor when you do file a claim. If the claim is approved, your out-of-pocket expenses will be lower.

Identity fraud expense coverage

If you’re a victim of identity theft, an add-on for identity fraud protection may be best for you.

If someone steals your identity, American Family will help you recover very important or confidential documents. In addition, this add-on will pay for legal fees if it’s needed and will monitor your sensitive information like your credit report.

Personal injury coverage

This endorsement can pay legal damages if you’re sued for issues such as libel, slander, or wrongful entry.

Equipment breakdown coverage

If your electrical products fail or suddenly stop working and you’ve taken good care of them, American will pay to replace or repair them, minus a $500 deductible.

Electrical products include your TV, laptop, stove, refrigerator, or any other electrical appliance.

Pet coverage

If your pet is injured or killed in a disaster covered by your policy, this add-on will pay up to $1,000 of veterinarian expenses.

Pet coverage is an add-on and should not be confused with pet insurance, which covers your pet if it is ill, for example.

However, one major downside of American Family is that you can’t purchase renters insurance online.

How’s American Family Rated?

• AM Best: A
• JD Power: 821
• NAIC: 3.12

Amica Mutual: Best for Discounts

Amica is a prestige insurance company. It has won numerous awards for customer satisfaction by JD Power and offers the most reliable renters insurance policy in Washington.

The cost of a basic renters insurance policy with Amica is a low $11. That’s pretty cheap.

Still, Amica beat the average renters insurance cost in the US, which is about $14 per month.

This estimate is based on a policy for a hypothetical 30-year-old tenant with $30,000 in personal property coverage, $100,000 in liability coverage, and a $500 deductible.

Besides cheap rates, Amica has many discounts that can help lower your already low premium.

The most popular discounts include:

How’s Amica Mutual Rated?

• JD Power: 894/1,000
• NAIC Complaint Ratio: 1.95
• AM Best: A+

How We Decided

To determine the best renters insurance companies, we looked at their discounts, coverage options, technology, customer reviews, and cost.

Discounts

If an insurer had many discounts, we put that company on our list.

Since renters insurance is relatively cheap already, it’s going to be hard for you to find meaningful discounts that can actually lower your rate. Some discounts only shave off $1 or $2 a year on your policy.

So, we took into account bundling your renters insurance with another insurance policy. That typically is your auto policy. If you bundle renters and car insurance, in some cases an insurer can help you save up to $15%.

The insurer who has that multi-line discount is Amica.

Coverage Options

Since every renter has different coverage needs, we looked at how many coverages an insurer offered.

Does the insurer offer a mix of optional coverages that you can’t live without, and which are both appealing and relevant?

Technology

If an insurer has a useful and easy-to-use website and app, we took note of that. Specifically, we looked at whether you can purchase a policy online or file a claim on an app.

Some companies require you to talk to a customer service agent to buy a policy. We tried to avoid those because it’s not an efficient way to use your time. If you can use the insurer’s website or app anywhere, and at any time of the day or when you feel like it, this provides convenience and we put that insurer on our list.

Customer Reviews

For customer reviews, we looked at how many customers gave insurers a good rating based on how they felt about a company’s customer service.

We also looked at an insurer’s JD Power rating to determine how renters felt about their insurance companies.

Price

Renters insurance tends to be affordable, but the more coverage you buy, the higher your rate will be.

Locations

We surveyed insurance coverage prices in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Bellevue.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

In Washington, the standard renters insurance policy covers liability, theft, medical treatment, and loss of use.

But no matter what the state, the standard policy never changes from what it offers.

What makes a basic policy unique is the customization you can get to tailor your policy to your needs, as well any add-ons or endorsements that you may want to purchase for additional coverage or protection.

So, the standard coverage includes:

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

This pays to repair or replace property that’s stolen or vandalized or that has been damaged due to fire, windstorms, smoke damage, and other perils your policy may cover.

Loss of Use

This policy covers basic living expenses and temporary housing costs if you can’t live in your rental unit due to damage and destruction from fire, smoke, and heavy winds.

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.

Is Renters Insurance Required in Washington?

Renters insurance is not required by law in Washington. However, some landlords may require it for you to live in their building.

Even though it’s not mandatory, it’s always a good idea to purchase renters insurance.

If you don’t have renters insurance and a fire, a burglary, or other unexpected events happen, you will be responsible for replacing your belongings, which can cost a lot of money.

Only renters insurance will make it easy for you to purchase replacements.

Is it Hard to Get Renters Insurance?

No, it’s relatively easy to get renters insurance. The process is simple:

First, understand what renters insurance covers and doesn’t cover.

Second, determine how much renters insurance you need.

For personal property, as we will discuss, you should get enough coverage close to or greater than the value of your items.

Third, compare renters insurance quotes from as many insurers as you can get.

Fourth, apply to the insurer you choose, either online, if the company lets you, or with an agent.

What if I Don’t Need Renters Insurance Because I Don’t Have a Lot of Property to Protect?

If you think you don’t need renters insurance because you don’t have enough valuables to protect, all renters insurers will tell you to do a home inventory.

A home warranty helps determine how much property you have, as well as how much each costs.

It’s easy. You itemize all your belongings and determine their cost.

If you know the prices for some items, that’s helpful. If you don’t have receipts or you can’t recall the costs, you can look up the prices on the internet.

And if you can’t find any of your belongings by searching online, you can use a roundabout figure from an item that is comparable to yours.

After itemizing and calculating the worth of each item, you’ll most likely find that you have property you may want to protect.

Did you forget that your couch costs $5,000?

Or your laptop was $4,000?

Even the smallest belonging should be itemized. These can include something expensive like a diamond ring or something reasonably priced like your iPad.

After carefully itemizing your property, in most cases, you’ll find you have enough property to insure.

So, once again renters insurance is a good idea.

What if I Don’t Want Renters Insurance?

If you rent and don’t want renters insurance, ask yourself if you could replace your malfunctioned kitchen appliance with out-of-pocket expenses that you alone have to pay.

But renters insurance doesn’t just cover your personal property.

It also covers any person visiting your unit who gets injured.

Say someone slips on the floor you just mopped and sustains an injury.

Regardless of who is responsible for the fall, your renters insurance will pay for the medical bills that the injured person racked up.

And if the injured person ends up suing you, your insurance will cover any legal fees, including legal representation.

If, say, you want to get away from the renters insurance deductible, know that paying it when there’s a need for a payout is the best and cheapest amount of money you’ll ever spend in your lifetime.

Also, most renters don’t want insurance because they believe it is expensive. But most companies come in lower than the state average, and the cost per month for renters insurance is probably less than buying a latte every morning before work.

If you can skip the latte, you can afford to purchase renters insurance.

How Much is Renters Insurance in Washington?

In the US, the average cost of renters insurance is $15 per month or $180 per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The typical renters insurance rate in Washington is $180 per year or around $15 per month.

For the standard or basic policy, Allstate costs $102 per year or a monthly rate of just $8.50.

The cost of a basic renters insurance policy with Amica is $130 per year or $11 per month.

That said, Allstate has the cheapest rates in Washington and is much lower than the Washington average.

As a runner-up, Amica is slightly higher than Allstate but still cheaper than the Washington average.

However, if you shop around, as you should, you can find a rate lower than the state average.

If you think these rates are expensive, consider that renters insurance is always cheaper than homeowners insurance.

Why is Renters Insurance Cheaper Than Homeowners Insurance?

A renter’s policy does not cover the rental structure, such as the exterior and interior of your apartment building, the latter including the lobby, the shared halls, and the elevator, to name just a few.

That’s your landlord’s responsibility.

So renters insurance is cheaper than homeowners insurance because your policy is not covering the structure of your rental, including a single-family home you rent, a condo, and an apartment complex.

However, the cost of your renters insurance policy ultimately depends on how much coverage you buy. Since personal property is only covered up to the policy’s limit, you may have to buy additional coverage or an endorsement to get your property fully insured.

This means, if your belongings were damaged or destroyed by a fire or stolen due to a burglary or other covered peril, your insurer will be able to replace or repair your belongings in full, minus the deductible.

What Determines Your Renters Insurance Rate?

There are several factors that affect the price of a renters insurance policy.

The most popular are:

Credit Score

Your credit score can negatively impact your premium.

People who have a high credit score generally pay less.

And those with poor credit scores will pay more.

Why?

Because it’s believed that people who have good credit are more likely than people with bad credit to pay their monthly rates on time.

Whether You Choose an Actual Cash Value or a Replacement Cost Value Plan

With ACV, insurers pay only for the depreciated value of your items if they are stolen or damaged.

With RCV, insurers pay the full cost at today’s prices. For example, if your laptop is four years old and gets destroyed, damaged, or stolen, you’ll be reimbursed at the full cost so you can purchase the same or similar type of laptop.

RCV, if it doesn’t come standard in a basic policy, which it often isn’t, will raise your premium.

Claims History

If you've ever filed a claim on any of your many insurance policies, you are considered a risk and will thus have your premium raised.

Amount of Coverage

If you increase your coverage, or if you buy more coverage to raise your property limits, you’ll pay more.

Your standard renters policy probably won't provide enough coverage to replace all those items.

So, you will buy extra coverage for them through an endorsement so that they will be paid in full if a covered peril damages or destroys them.

Where You Live

Insurance companies will determine your premium based on where you live.

So if you live in an area with a low crime rate, or if you live in an area that is not prone to natural disasters, your premium will be low.

The Size of Your Building or Unit

Insurers usually give lower premiums to people who live in large buildings with a lot of units.

And they often will give you a higher premium if you live in a smaller building with only a few units.

Building Construction

If you rent a house, apartment, or condo and it’s made of brick or masonry, insurers will charge you less than they would if your rental was constructed using a less “stable” or less “solid” material.

That’s because sturdier material is less affected by earthquakes, fires, and other covered perils.

Fire Detection and Prevention

If you install fire detection and prevention devices, as well as load up on fire extinguishers, your rental will be much safer and your premium will be lowered.

Security Measures

If your apartment or condo has doormen (24/7 is the best) or front-desk security or is located in a gated community, or if you have security cameras and deadbolts installed in your unit, your rental will be much safer.

As such, your insurer will reduce your premium because it’s perceived that you will be less likely to make a claim.

How Do You Find Affordable Renters Insurance?

Finding cheap renters insurance in Washington can be difficult, especially since there are so many insurers that cover the state.

Shopping around may be a necessity to save you a lot of money.

Get quotes from as many insurers as you can.

It may be easier to use a company’s website to get a quote because then it is instant and saves you time from calling an insurer’s customer service agent or rep.

Once you have enough quotes, compare each policy to try to find the lowest possible one.

Or do what we did. To compare affordable renters insurance companies, we based them on their JD Power score and their average rate.

You’ll be able to see who has the less costly option for you.

The JD Power rating uses a score out of 1,000 to determine how renters feel about their insurance companies. The national average is 835.

Company JD Power Score Average Annual Rate:

As you can see, Allstate and Amica Mutual both come out on top.

State Farm and Amica have the highest JD Power score.

How Can I Lower My Premium?

Discounts provided by an insurer can reduce your premium by hundreds of dollars per year.

Unlike auto and homeowners insurance, renters insurance tends not to have that many discounts.

That’s because rates are already low. If you receive a discount for paying your bill by autopay, you’ll only save a few dollars each year.

But if you bundle your renters insurance with your auto insurance using the same insurer and which is also called a multi-policy, that’s the one that will make a dent in your premium.

The insurers with the best discounts when you bundle rental and car include the following:

• American Family - You’ll get 30% off.
• Allstate - You’ll get 10% off
• Progressive - You’ll get 5% off.

All of our top choices for renters insurance in Washington also sell auto insurance, so remember to look into how much of a discount you can get when buying both insurances from one company.

What Should You Look for in an Insurer?

To search for a policy, many tenants base their decision on getting the lowest rate possible.

But having the best rate doesn’t mean the insurer is superior or better than other companies.

When searching for a policy, you should also look at how many coverage options a company has, how good the company’s customer service is, and its level of financial strength.

Coverage Options

Because some insurers pay only up to the policy’s limits, which is usually around $30,000, chances are your diamond brooch won’t be covered for the full amount.

That’s where coverage—or extra coverage—kicks in.

When dealing with your high-value items, you should purchase an add-on that protects your jewelry and reimburses you if the covered jewelry is lost, stolen, or becomes damaged due to a covered peril.

Or you can get an endorsement, which will also cost you extra, to cover your high-priced items.

And if you get your high-priced items appraised, you can schedule them.

As an optional add-on, scheduled personal property means you can increase your coverage and cover more risks, such as accidental loss of that diamond brooch.

Of, if the diamond brooch is stolen, scheduling it may mean you’ll get the full cost to replace it.

The key takeaway here is that you can add on as many endorsements or riders as you want. But the best way to get your personal property covered in full is to get enough coverage close to, or greater than, the value of your items.

If you want to risk it because you want to save money on the cost of your policy, you can purchase coverage with a limit that is lower than the value of what you own.

Customer Service

You’ll want an insurance company with great reviews and ratings so that if you ever need to file a claim, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your company has a strong track record of customer satisfaction.

In addition, a good customer service experience from your renters insurance company is essential.

The agent should be responsive and have the patience to explain to you everything about the policy you are buying in the simplest terms, or without using industry jargon.

If you receive good service when you’re buying a policy, this means that the process will be smooth and that the agent will have a wealth of knowledge in the insurance industry to find the right coverage you need easily.

And if the customer service rep has good service when you make a claim, this usually means you’ll likely be reimbursed after a covered loss in the fastest manner possible.

To evaluate customer service from renters insurers in Washington, we looked at the NAIC complaint index and JD Power's renters insurance survey.

Financial Strength

If a renters insurance company has a high level of financial stability, then you’ll get a better understanding of whether it will be able to reimburse you after a covered loss in the quickest possible time.

If the financial strength is not great, you may be looking for a payout that is perpetually delayed.

To get a sense of a company’s financial strength, we looked toward AM Best, which ranks insurers by their ability to pay.

What Natural Disasters are Covered or Not Covered in a Standard Renters Policy?

The following natural disasters, often called covered perils, are covered:

• Fire
• Wildfires
• Lightning
• Windstorm and hail damage
• Smoke damage
• Volcanic eruption
• Explosion
• Weight of ice, sleet, or snow
• Hurricanes
• Water damage unrelated to natural floods
• The following natural disasters are not covered in a standard renters insurance policy
• Earthquakes
• Natural floods

What Natural Disasters Occur in Washington?

Washington is considered one of the safest states in the U.S. 

When it comes to natural disasters, Washington state ranks in the top three safest places in the country. Rounding out the safest states is Oregon and Colorado.

However, there are risks:

• There are more than 1,000 earthquakes in Washington every year.
• Flooding is also a risk.
• And so too are severe storms such as strong winds, hail, rain, and freezing rain.

Severe storms, strong winds, and hail are all covered by a basic policy, so you don’t need to purchase separate insurance on top of your policy for coverage.

But earthquakes are never covered in a standard renter’s policy. It’s strongly suggested that renters get earthquake coverage as an add-on to their policy. You are putting yourself at risk without insurance.

Natural flooding also doesn’t come standard. If the area in Washington where you rent is prone to flooding, you should purchase flood insurance.

But there are differences between natural floods and floods that cause interior damage.

Natural floods that come into your renter’s property from outside and which leak into it and damage your belongings are not covered.

But flood damage that results from water back up or water that originates in the rental is covered.

Both earthquake and flood insurance will raise your premium, but if you didn’t have them and one or both occurs, you’ll be paying out of pocket for any damages and losses.