Best, cheapest renters insurance in Washington

If you’ve ever rented in the Evergreen State, you know there are ample renters insurance companies in Washington. But most renters we know would also prefer to try to summit Mt. Rainer than attempt to compare renters insurance policies. Fortunately, looking at the most affordable rates, quality customer service, and good policy features is the kind of stuff we love to do and share. (We know, strange. But helpful, too.)

Popular renters insurance companies in Washington compared

How we researched Washington’s best renters insurance 

We hopped onto the online quoting systems of multiple renters insurance companies so we could compare quotes for renters insurance premiums. We got quotes for $10,000 and $30,000 worth of personal property coverage with $500 deductibles and $100,000 liability coverage. 

We got quotes for renters in their mid-twenties, living in urban area apartments, with no spouses, roommates, or pets, and no special coverages like flood insurance. 

To ensure apple to apple comparisons we reviewed policies in Washington across similar coverage levels, online quoting experience, app experience, and customer service ratings.

How we compared renters insurance companies in Washington

Affordability 

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

Quality of coverage

Next, we rated the quality of the coverage options for the value of the renters insurance that different companies offer in Washington. 

Customer service

Is your renters insurance company there when you need them? Is it easy to get a hold of them? Do they offer 24/7 chat? Do they have local offices available? What is their claim response time? We took a look at Trustpilot to get a sense of overall trends. You can also get feel for the type of service you’ll get from a company’s FAQs and their customer service offerings (phone, email, chat, etc).

If you have two or three companies on your shortlist, call each one and reach out to them using the chat service—your experiences will likely clearly reveal which company you’ll want to work with. 

Online quoting experience

We rated the online quoting experience by overall ease of use and our ability to customize options. We prefer websites that offer easy customizable options because it allows you to experiment with different coverage rates to see how it would affect your renters insurance premium quote. The only renters insurance company in Washington to ask for personal information (SSN) 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 in Washington? 

Washington college students are usually safe with personal property coverage at around $15,000. If you just started college in Washington you may be covered under your parent’s insurance so make sure to check with them. 

The best way to decide how much renters insurance you need in Washington is to add up the retail price of your things and add another 25% on top of it to account for stuff you may have forgotten. If you come up with less than $5000 it may not make sense to get renters insurance. Or maybe a liability-only policy will be enough to protect you from a lawsuit or property damage repairs. 

If you want renters insurance coverage but are on a low budget, read our article, Cheap renters insurance.

Which areas of Washington are most expensive for renters insurance? 

After digging around a bit, we found that renters living in Tacoma and Boulevard Park were likely to pay the most for renters insurance in Washington. Their neighbors down south in Vancouver lucked out and are getting the cheapest renters insurance in the state. 

Here are some average rates in Washington for you to compare prices.

How can I save on renters insurance in Washington? 

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

• Pay your renters insurance annually

• Don’t overbuy coverage

• Keep a good credit score

• Bundle auto insurance with your renters insurance 

Read here for more ways to save on your renters insurance premiums in Washington.

What is renters insurance?

A quick reminder on what rent insurance is all about. Renters insurance is a lot like homeowners insurance minus the dwelling and structure coverage (except when applied to your apartment). It is made up of three basic parts—personal property insurance, renters liability insurance, and additional living expenses insurance. 

Renters insurance can reimburse you for stolen or destroyed personal property and protect you from lawsuits. Some companies like Lemonade have renters insurance policies that start at just $5 a month, sweet! 

Personal property insurance

Personal property insurance covers the cost of replacing your things and things you borrowed. This might be anything from your electronics to climbing gear and most things in between.

• Sectional sofa $575
• Lounge chair $100
• TV stand/storage $520
• Bed frame $300
• Box spring & mattress $970
• Drawer chest $200
• Jeans/Dress Pants $49 a pair x 5 $245 total
• Shirts $23, x 5 $115
• Running shoes, camping gear, etc. $500+
• 7” Tablet $550
• Mixer, espresso machine, cookware, dishes, etc. $625
• Miscellaneous $310

When you add a TV or two, your laptop, bicycle, and more you are easily pushing almost $10,000 already. Some estimates put the average two-bedroom apartment as containing up to $30,000 worth of stuff. 

And did you know that while you are wandering around Seattle’s Pike Street Market the stuff you left in your car will be protected if your car gets broken into?

Renters liability insurance

Accidents being accidents this kind of protection comes in handy when you least expect it. Renters liability insurance is helpful if you are sued while living at your apartment. Liability insurance covers you in many situations like:

• Damage to your neighbor’s apartment that you may have caused.

• If your dog bites someone.

• Guest injuries at your apartment.

• Apartment damage that you might have caused.

Accidental living expenses insurance

If you can’t live at home because of something like a fire, accidental living expenses coverage would pay for your hotel room and restaurants.

Renters insurance FAQs for Washington

1. Is renters insurance expensive in Washington?

If you live in Washington you’ll enjoy lower than the national average premiums. Ranking 32nd out of 50 states. Annual renters insurance premiums for a two-bedroom apartment in Washington range from approximately $160 a year to over $275 a year depending on where you live.

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

The average cost of renters insurance in Washington is $163 a year (about $13.58 a month). Shop and compare renter insurance premiums. You will find some policies that start at just $5 a month with companies like Lemonade.

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

Most landlord-offered renters insurance policies in Washington 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 figure out whether or not this is a good option for you.

4. Does my roommate need renters insurance in Washington? 

If your landlord requires every adult living at your apartment to have renters insurance, then yes, they do. If your roommate is a spouse or relative, they may be covered under your renters insurance policy in Washington. Read more about roommates and renters insurance here.

5. Is renters insurance worth it in Washington? 

Whether or not renters insurance in Washington state is worth it is up to you. When you consider the amount of money you might save yourself if you are sued or you lose everything in a fire, you may decide it’s not a bad idea to have.

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

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