Renters insurance in Houston is more expensive than renters insurance in other parts of Texas and the nation, so finding the cheapest provider can be a challenge. It’s often so high that many renters can’t help but ask themselves if they actually need it. Unfortunately, you do. You don’t just need it for property coverage, but you also need it for liability — especially if you often have a lot of people over.
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For all of the recommendations below, we used our SimpleScore methodology to find the best renters insurance companies in Houston. We analyzed coverage options, discounts, customer satisfaction, support and accessibility for renters insurance companies to assign a score that reflects our recommendations and review of renters insurance in Houston.
Here’s what we recommend for renters insurance in Houston, Texas.
The best renters insurance companies in Houston, Texas
Most affordable – Progressive
Choose Progressive if you want cheap renters insurance in Houston.
Progressive has outstandingly low rates compared to other providers in the area, which you can make even lower if you can take advantage of Progressive’s discounts. Progressive currently offers the following discounts to its members:
- Multi-policy
- Quote in advance
- Receive documents by email
- Pay in full
- Secured/gated community
- Single deductible benefit
With so many options, it’s very easy to get an already low premium down even further.
Also worth noting is that Progressive has an A+ financial rating with AM Best. This is especially important living in Houston because the likelihood of many people filing claims after a natural disaster each year is high.
Best for bundling – Allstate
If you need auto insurance, Allstate could help you save big by bundling.
If you also need car insurance, the best company to do both is Allstate. With Allstate, you’ll save 10% on your auto insurance and up to 25% off your renters insurance if you do both through them. That’s a lot of savings. When you consider that Allstate also offers numerous other discounts you can take advantage of for auto and renters, then it becomes clear that Allstate could likely save you the most money overall.
Most tech-savvy – Nationwide
If you like your insurance provider to be a 21st-century carrier, then Nationwide is for you.
The Nationwide mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices, is one of the best insurance apps on the market today. With the app, you can file a claim, check on the status of a claim, make a payment, review your policy, update your policy, as well as make any changes to your coverages. Most insurance apps only cater to auto claims, but with Nationwide you can do renters insurance, too.
Best regional provider – Harris County Insurance Center, LLC
Get the benefits of working with a local carrier while feeling like you’re working with a national provider.
Harris County Insurance Center has agents that speak both English and Spanish, and you can file a claim 24 hours a day. Unlike other regional providers, Harris County Insurance Center makes it possible to get a quote online without having to go to a brick and mortar shop or speak with someone over the phone. In fact, Harris County is getting so many things right we wouldn’t be surprised if they start servicing a larger area in the near future.
Choosing your provider
When choosing which carrier you want to work with, you’ll have a choice between a national carrier and a regional carrier. There are pros and cons to both. Let’s talk about them.
Local Carrier
Pros
- Support your local economy
- Work with an agent that knows exactly what you need
- Develop an ongoing working relationship with the same agents
Cons:
- May not have as many coverage options
- May not be as tech-savvy
- May be more expensive than national providers
National Carrier
Pros:
- More coverage options
- Cheaper premiums that smaller providers
- More tech-savvy (smartphone apps, online presence)
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Cons:
- Agents likely will not know Houston, Texas, very well
- Will not be able to develop an ongoing working relationship with an agent
- You will likely have to do everything online or over the phone
Additional renters insurance coverage in Houston
Houston, Texas, has one of the highest rates of crime in the entire country. According to the Houston Police Department, the chances of becoming a victim of violent crime is about 1 in 18. It’s a trend that has only gotten worse (2020 was one of the worst years the city had seen in decades). Obviously, crime is a reason that renters insurance is so much in Houston
Another reason renters insurance is so high is because of natural weather disasters. Houston is subject to both flooding and hurricanes. As a resident in this area you should highly consider purchasing additional coverage with your insurance company.
Flood insurance
A regular renters insurance policy does not protect your belongings if they are damaged by floodwaters. For this type of coverage, you need flood insurance.
[ Read: Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units? ]
You may be able to purchase flood insurance through the insurance provider you purchase renters insurance, but most people usually get it through the U.S. government through Floodsmart. Living in Houston, you are likely in a flood zone, but you can see if your particular area is subject to flooding by inputting your address into FEMA’s flood map. Given Houston’s history with flooding, you should even consider purchasing flood insurance if you live in a high rise apartment.
Hurricane insurance
Hurricane insurance is actually called windstorm insurance. The likelihood of you needing to purchase it as a renter is small. This is because damages caused by wind, hail, fire and lightning are more than likely covered by your insurance provider. Just make sure that, when you do purchase a policy, you read the fine print about any exclusions. The only likely exclusion you’ll see is damage caused by floodwaters.
How much does renters insurance cost in Houston?
According to the latest study by Insurance Information Institute, the average cost of renters insurance in Texas is currently $225 a year. The average is $179. However, there are a lot of factors that influence the cost of renters insurance. These include:
- Deductible
- Type of policy you have
- Actual cash value vs. replacement cost
- Amount of property coverage
- Amount of liability coverage
- Where you live
- Discounts (for example, many companies offer discounts for bundling policies)
Other factors that influence your final rate are whether you have any pets, and how much you estimate your personal property to be worth.
[ More: How Much is Renters Insurance? ]
Houston renters insurance FAQs
Yes, landlords can require renters insurance in Texas. Though you are not legally required to have it under state law, your landlord has the legal power to dictate the terms and conditions of the lease.
There are several factors that impact your renters insurance premium. The primary factors affecting the price of rental insurance in Houston include the size of the apartment or dwelling, how much liability you want to have, how much property coverage you want, as well as where your rental is located within the city.
Compared to the rest of the country, yes. The latest study from the Insurance Information Institute showed Texas to be the fourth most expensive state for renters insurance. This is because places like Houston are frequently exposed to natural disasters year after year, as well as high crime.
Too long, didn’t read?
Working with a national provider in Houston, Texas, has numerous benefits, but so does working with a regional provider. Houston is one of the rare places where it is actually a good idea to check out both local and national providers when shopping around.
Don’t feel completely ready? For an extensive guide to purchasing renters insurance, check out our Ultimate Guide to Renters Insurance.
We welcome your feedback on this article and would love to hear about your experience with the insurers we recommend. Contact us at [email protected] with comments or questions.
Source: thesimpledollar.com