6 Best Renters Insurance Companies in Wisconsin of 2023
Many people who live in Wisconsin rent an apartment, condo, or even a house, whether they rent in a major city like Milwaukee or Green Bay or a smaller place like LaCrosse or Muskego.
No federal or state law requires Wisconsin renters to buy renters insurance, but some landlords require it to avoid disputes and protect their tenants.
We recommend renters insurance for every Wisconsin renter because many people don’t have enough savings to replace their belongings if they were stolen or destroyed.
According to PropertyNest research, the average cost of basic renters insurance in Wisconsin is $194.99 per year, which works out to just $16.25 per month, although you may pay more if you add riders or choose a high coverage limit.
We’ve taken the time to research the best renters insurance companies for Wisconsin renters, including details about the average cost, available discounts, and coverage riders.
Compare Renters Insurance Rates in WI
Best Renters Insurance Companies in Wisconsin
- Lemonade: Best for Convenient Online Services
- Liberty Mutual: Best for Renter’s Insurance Discounts
- Allstate: Best for Affordable Renters Insurance
- State Farm: Best for High Coverage Limits
- Farmers: Best for Non-Smokers
- American Family: Best for Add-On Coverage
Lemonade: Best for Convenient Online Services
Lemonade is a relatively new company in the world of renters insurance, but we’ve selected it for our list because it has the best and most convenient online and mobile services.
Many of today’s renters prefer to conduct business online, and Lemonade makes it easy to research coverage and obtain a quote in just a few minutes.
Lemonade is a company that gives back, donating unclaimed money from policyholders to charitable organizations each year.
We also like that Lemonade provides basic coverage at affordable prices with the option to buy more coverage for renters who need it.
Basic coverage with Lemonade starts at just $5 per month, which is below Wisconsin’s already-low average for renters insurance.
Of course, if you add riders or live in a high-risk area, you should expect to pay more.
Read a full Lemonade home insurance review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 853 |
|---|---|
| BBB | B+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 1.94 |
Liberty Mutual: Best for Renter’s Insurance Discounts
For over 100 years, Liberty Mutual has been a reliable insurance carrier for a variety of coverages.
Liberty Mutual offers a wide array of discounts on renters insurance, which is why we chose the company for our list.
You can buy standard coverage to replace damaged, destroyed, or stolen items, with riders to personalize your coverage to get the protection you need.
Prices for basic coverage from Liberty Mutual can be as low as $5 per month, which makes them an affordable option for Wisconsinites.
Now, let’s review the pros and cons of Liberty Mutual renters insurance as we see them.
Read a full Liberty Mutual Renters Insurance Review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 834 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A |
| BBB | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 2.37 |
Allstate: Best for Affordable Renters Insurance
Allstate Insurance is one of the largest insurance carriers in the US and a Fortune 500 company.
The company has a convenient mobile app plus online options that make buying renters insurance secure and easy–and the same goes for filing a claim.
We chose Allstate for our list because they have the most affordable average price in Wisconsin, in addition to offering some discounts to help you save.
The cost of a $20,000 renters insurance policy from Allstate is just $80 per year in Wisconsin, putting it below the state average.
Here’s how we see the pros and cons of choosing Allstate as your renters insurance company in Wisconsin.
Read a full Allstate renters Insurance review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 837 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 2.05 |
| BBB | A- |
State Farm: Best for High Coverage Limits
State Farm is the largest property & casualty insurance company in the US.
Because it’s a well-established and financially strong company, it’s a good choice for any Wisconsin renter who wants to be confident that their renters insurance claim will be paid.
We chose State Farm for our list because they offer coverage limits higher than some of the other companies on our list, making it a good choice for anybody with a lot of personal belongings to protect.
State Farm’s average cost for renters insurance in Wisconsin is just $115 a year, which is less than $10 per month.
Remember that this average includes people in big cities and small towns, as well as those who have opted for high coverage limits.
Now, let’s review the pros and cons of buying Wisconsin renters insurance from State Farm.
Read a full State Farm renters insurance editor's review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 836 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A++ |
| BBB | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 1.77 |
Farmers: Best for Non-Smokers
Farmers Insurance has been in business since 1927 and covers renters, homeowners, vehicles, and businesses.
We chose them for our list because they offer a unique discount to non-smokers as well as one for first responders.
Farmers also has a low number of customer complaints and receive high scores for its customer service.
The average annual cost of Wisconsin renters insurance with Farmers is $130 a year, which comes to just under $12 per month.
Here are some pros and cons of Farmers Insurance for Wisconsin renters to consider.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 831 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A |
| BBB | A- |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 0.56 |
American Family: Best for Add-On Coverage
American Family Insurance has a nearly century-long tie to Wisconsin, starting in Madison in 1927.
Known as AmFam for short, they offer reasonably-priced renters insurance in 19 states, including Wisconsin.
We selected them for our list because they have more riders to allow renters to customize their policies than any other company on our list, including pet coverage, travel protection, and even a diminishing deductible option.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 833 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A |
| BBB | A |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 0.37 |
| Company | PropertyNest Rating | J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | A.M Best Rating | BBB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | 5.0 | 853 | Not Rated | B+ |
| Allstate | 5.0 | 837 | A+ | A- |
| Liberty Mutual | 4.5 | 834 | A | A+ |
| State Farm | 4.5 | 836 | A++ | A+ |
| USAA | 4.5 | 886 | A++ | A+ |
| Erie Insurance | 4.5 | 851* | A+ | A+ |
| Travelers | 4.0 | 801 | A++ | A |
| Amica | 4.0 | 854* | A+ | A+ |
| Nationwide | 4.0 | 859 | A+ | A+ |
| Jetty | 4.0 | Not Rated | A | A+ |
Is Renters Insurance Mandatory to Rent an Apartment in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, renters insurance is not mandatory by law when renting an apartment.
However, it is still highly recommended by most landlords and renters alike due to the broad range of coverage renters insurance offers.
Why should you buy renters insurance:
- The cost of renters insurance is lower than the cost of replacing everything you own.
- Most people don’t have enough savings to replace their belongings if they were destroyed or lost–and those with other plans for their money.
- Your landlord’s property insurance does not cover your personal belongings.
- Your liability will be covered if someone gets hurt while in your rental unit.
- You’ll have the comfort of knowing you can replace everything if your belongings were to be stolen or damaged.
- Your belongings will be covered even if they’re not in your apartment when they’re damaged or stolen.
- You can buy extra coverage for high-value items like jewelry, electronics, or artwork.
What Factors Can Affect the Cost of Renters Insurance?
The average cost of renters insurance is affordable for most, but you should know that four key factors can impact how much you pay.
Coverage Limits
If you have a lot of personal belongings, you may opt to buy a policy with a higher-than-usual coverage limit, and in that case, you should expect to pay more than you would for a standard limit.
Deductible
You can choose a low or a high deductible, but you will pay more if you opt for a low deductible instead of a higher one.
Add-Ons
Typical add-ons for renters insurance include replacement value for your belongings or scheduling high-value items. If you choose to add riders to your policy, they will increase your cost.
Location
Your rental location plays a role in determining the cost since insurance companies typically charge more for rentals in high-crime areas or where severe weather may damage rental units.
How Much Renters Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
We can’t tell you how high a limit you need for renters insurance, but we suggest beginning with a complete inventory of your belongings, including the following items.
- Furniture
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Books
- Jewelry
- Small appliances & kitchen items
- Home decor items
We also suggest taking pictures to ensure you have proof of what was damaged or lost and consider the cost of replacing each item when you choose between actual cash value or replacement value coverage.
What Does Renters Insurance Cover in Wisconsin?
Before you purchase renters insurance, you’ll need to know what it covers and what it doesn’t cover.
Let’s start with what’s covered.
- Your personal property: Whether your property is in your rental or not, your renters insurance will cover the loss if anything is lost, stolen, or damaged.
- Your personal liability: If a guest is injured or has their property damaged while in your rental, your personal liability for the event is covered.
- Medical payments: Along with your personal liability, your renters insurance will also provide limited coverage for the injured party's medical expenses.
- Additional living expenses: If your rental should become damaged to the point where it becomes uninhabitable, your renters insurance will provide payments for you to live somewhere else until you can move back in.
| Type | Items | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Cash or Other Forms of Currency | Bank notes, bullions, gold or silver (non-jewelry), coins, medals, smart cards, stored value cards. | Most renters insurance policies will only cover up to $200 in stolen cash. |
| Electronic Equipment | Phones (iPhones, Androids, etc.), computers, laptops, iPads, earbuds, smart watches, TV sets, gaming systems, Alexa or Google home devices, etc. | Standard renters insurance policies cover the loss or damage of electronic devices. |
| Clothing | Designer purse/handbags, shoes, jewelry, designer watches | Standard renters policies cover your personal clothing or designer handbags etc. |
| Power Tools | Drills & drivers, saws. | Covered under the personal property coverage. |
| Kitchen appliances | Refrigerators, microwaves, blenders, electric mixers, ice makers, coffee machines, and other appliances. | Renters insurance covers personal appliances if they are damaged, stolen, or destroyed by a covered peril. |
| Prescription drugs | Will not cover stolen prescription drugs. | |
| Personal information | Bank accounts, identity information stolen from documents, or stolen personal equipment. | Most companies do not include identity theft as a covered peril in a standard renters insurance policy. |
| Firearms | Pistols, rifles | Legal firearms are covered under personal property coverage. |
What Does Renters Insurance Not Cover?
There are a few things that your renters insurance policy may not (and, in some cases, will not) cover:
- Damage over your policy limit: Renters insurance claims can run the gamut from the loss of a single item to a total loss of all your belongings; in the event you lose everything, you will receive reimbursement up to your policy limit–and if your losses exceed that amount, you will pay for them out of your own pocket.
- Damage caused by non-covered events: There are a few standard exclusions in most renters insurance policies, and if the damage to your property occurs due to a non-covered event, your claim will be denied.
- Loss or damage of unscheduled valuables: High-cost belongings such as art, jewelry, or electronics must be scheduled on a policy rider at an additional cost; if you do not schedule your valuables, your policy will not pay for their replacement.
Before you buy a policy, make sure to read the fine print to be sure you understand your coverage.
Synopsis
At Property Nest, we recommend renters insurance for every renter in the state of Wisconsin to provide financial peace of mind.
Remember, your landlord’s insurance covers only their property and will not protect you against losing your personal belongings.
Renters in Wisconsin who live near the water may want to consider adding extra coverage, including flood coverage.
You should always get quotes from at least three companies and compare costs and coverage before you buy a policy.
Methodology
We thoroughly researched the state's top renters’ insurance companies and narrowed the list down to those that operated in Wisconsin. 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 Chose the Best Renters Insurance Companies for Wisconsin
We always want to be transparent about how we choose the companies on our lists, so here are the five criteria we used to select the best renters insurance companies for Wisconsin residents.
Cost
We recognize that rent is expensive and that many renters prioritize price when shopping for renters insurance.
For that reason, we focused on carriers who had affordable prices compared to the national and state averages.
Coverage Options
Every renter is unique, with some needing more coverage or add-ons than others.
We prioritized companies with flexible policy options and deductibles, plus an array of riders to allow renters to get the exact coverage they need.
Customer Service
Many of us dread filing an insurance claim because we’ve come to expect a drawn-out and stressful process, and renters insurance is no exception.
Wisconsin renters deserve a hassle-free claims experience and reliable customer support, so we chose companies with a range of support options and a reliable history of honest communication and helpful customer service.
Discounts
We prioritized Wisconsin renters insurance companies that provide an array of discounts for renters, including discounts for loyalty, autopay, bundling, and security in their rental units.
Discounts can make even the higher-cost companies more affordable, and we gave extra points to companies with discounts that can be layered for maximum savings.
Technology
Today’s renters are tech-savvy, and they expect to be able to access customer support, policy information, and claims filing options online or on a mobile device.
Therefore, we chose companies with robust customer portals, user-friendly websites, free mobile apps, and other online resources for policyholders.
