Best, cheapest renters insurance in Texas

Best, cheapest renters insurance for Texas

We know most Texans would rather be out riding their horses on the vast open spaces of Texas rather than hunting down the best and cheapest renters insurance around. That is why we have done the hard part for you!

So saddle up and ride on, and read here for a full review and summary of the best renters insurance options for you — including our assessment of affordable rates, customer service ratings, and online quoting.

Popular renters insurance companies in Texas compared

Roost’s approach to choosing the best and cheapest renters insurance in Texas 

We compared the rates and coverages using each company’s online quoting systems to get quotes for renters insurance premiums. We requested $10,000 and $30,000 worth of personal property coverage with a $500 deductible and $100,000 liability coverage. 

We got quotes for urban renters in their mid-twenties living single in large apartment complexes with no roommates, pets, special coverages like flood insurance. 

To ensure a full longhorn-to-longhorn comparison, we reviewed similar coverage levels, app experience, online quoting experience, and customer service ratings for renters insurance companies in Texas.

How we compared renters insurance companies

Affordability 

We looked at costs across companies using a minimum personal property coverage of $10,000, a $500 deductible, and $100,000 liability coverage, and then increased the personal property coverage to $30,000, a $500 deductible, and $100,000 liability coverage.

Quality of coverage

We then rated the quality of the coverage options offered by each company in Texas relative to the cost of the renters insurance policy. 

Customer service

Your renters insurance company should be there when you need them. 

• How quickly do they respond to claims? 
• Do they make it easy for you to contact them? 
• Do they offer 24/7 chat?
• Are local agents available if you want to visit an office? 

We took a quick look at their FAQs and customer service offerings to get a sense of their approach to customer service. (If you have two or three companies on your shortlist, we recommend that you call each one or reach out to them using the chat service—your experiences will likely help you make a call.)

Online quoting experience

We rated the online quoting experience for renters insurance companies in Texas based on the overall ease of use and customization options. 

Did we feel locked in or directed to a plan that didn’t fit us very well? Lower rating. 

Did the website allow us to experiment with different coverage levels to see how it would affect our renters insurance premium quote? Extra points! 

The only renters insurance company that asked for a social security number was Progressive. 

App store rating

We looked up the app store ratings for android and Apple products to give you an idea of what other renters think of each renters insurance company’s app, their coverage, and customer service.

How much renters insurance do I need? 

If you are a Texas college student, $15,000 in personal property coverage is most likely enough for renters insurance. If you just started college in Texas you may still be covered under your parent’s insurance so be sure to check with them. 

If you live in Texas and are trying to decide how much renters insurance you need, add up the retail price of your belongings and add another 25% on top of it to account for stuff you may have forgotten. 

If your total is less than $5000, it may not make sense to get renters insurance right now. Or maybe a liability-only policy is all you need to protect yourself from a lawsuit or property damage repairs. 

If you want renters insurance coverage but can’t afford much read, Cheap renters insurance.

Which areas of Texas are least expensive for renters insurance? 

The hipster city of Austin turned out to have some of the cheapest renters insurance premiums in Texas while the Houston area had the most expensive. (Hmmm. Someday we’ll ask an insurance guy why.)

Here are some average renters insurance rates in Texas for you to compare prices.

How can I save on renters insurance? 

There are a lot of ways to save on renters insurance premiums in Texas:

• Bundle your auto insurance with your renters insurance 
• Raise your credit score
• Prepay your renters insurance for the year
• Don’t buy more renters insurance coverage than you need

Read more here on how to save money on your renters insurance.

What is renters insurance?

Renters insurance is made up of three parts—personal property insurance, renters liability insurance, and additional living expenses insurance. If money is tight you may decide to go with the most minimal coverage you can find. 

Companies like Lemonade that have renters insurance policies that start at just $5/mo, sweet! Whatever you need, you can find a renters insurance policy that will work for you.

Personal property insurance

Personal property insurance covers your things such as furniture, electronics, appliances, clothes, etc. You might be surprised at how much stuff you have after you add it all up.

• Bed frame $250
• Mattress and box spring $945Couch $500
• Kitchen chairs $90/chair
• TV stand w/storage $450
• Chest of drawers $220
• Jeans/dress pants $50 a pair, minimum $250 total
• Shirts $25, 5 of them $125
• Boots, hat, saddle, Etc. $700+
• Tablet $499
• Blender, espresso machine, cookware, dishes, etc. $640
• Miscellaneous $300

This list doesn’t even include TVs, DVD players, and bikes, and already adds up to almost $5000. Did you know the average two-bedroom apartment contains approximately $30,000 worth of stuff? It’s true!

And did you also know that while you’re enjoying a band at SXSW in Austin, that the valuables in your car would be covered if they were stolen? Phew!

Renters liability insurance

Renters liability insurance protects you from lawsuits and medical bills in situations that you may have been responsible for. Its coverage includes:

• Accidental injuries of guests
• Injuries to others caused by your pet
• Damage to your apartment that you may have accidentally caused 
• Damage to your neighbor’s apartment that you may have caused

Accidental living expenses

Accidental living expenses coverage pays for living expenses like a hotel if you are unable to live in your apartment due to an event like a fire.

Renters insurance FAQs for Texas

1. Is renters insurance expensive in Texas?

Texans pay some of the highest renters insurance premiums in the country. Texas is ranked 4th most expensive renters insurance out of all 50 states. Annual renters insurance premiums for a two-bedroom apartment in Texas range from approximately $200 a year to over $300 a year, depending on where you live.

2. What is the average cost of renters insurance in Texas? 

The average cost of renters insurance in Texas is $225 a year (about $19 a month). If that’s more than you can afford, shop around and compare prices. Some policies start at just $5 a month with companies like Lemonade.

3. My landlord offers renters insurance. Should I take it? 

Many landlord-offered renters insurance policies in Texas only cover damage to their property, meaning none of your stuff is covered. Read our article on What does a landlord-tenant liability policy cover to help you decide if this is a good option.

4. Does my roommate need renters insurance? 

Only if your lease requires that every tenant have renters insurance as a condition of them living there. If your roommate is your spouse or a relative, they may be covered under your current renters insurance policy in Texas. Read our article on roommates and renters insurance for more info.

5. Is renters insurance worth it in Texas? 

Whether or not renters insurance in Texas is worth it is really up to you. If, when you consider the amount of money you could save yourself in the event of a lawsuit, a fire, or theft, you may decide that it is worth having because of the potential future costs. Or it might just give you peace of mind.

6. Can my landlord require me to have renters insurance in Texas?

Yes, your landlord can require you to have renters insurance in Texas. It is within your landlord’s rights to include a renters insurance requirement as a part of your lease.