If you're a renter living in Washington, D.C., you're probably going to be required to get renters insurance. Renters insurance covers your personal property, liability and often loss of use. While Washington, D.C.'s average renters insurance rate is below the national average, you should still compare providers to get the best price for your policy. We can help with that.
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How much is renters insurance in Washington, D.C.?
The average cost of renters insurance in Washington, D.C. is $183 a year, 16% cheaper than the national average renters insurance rate of $214 a year. Amica has the cheapest rate at $127 a year, or $11 a month. Travelers has the second-cheapest rate at $193 a year, or $16 a year.
| Company | Annual rate | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Amica | $127 | $11 |
| Travelers | $193 | $16 |
| State Farm | $202 | $17 |
| Allstate | $209 | $17 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
Renters insurance companies in Washington, D.C.
Standard renters insurance policies tend to offer similar coverage, regardless of where you buy them. This means that policy cost and company satisfaction trends are going to be two key factors when choosing a company.
We compared renters insurance companies based on their J.D. Power's overall satisfaction score. How an insurer resolves claims should be a key consideration when you're looking for a policy.
J.D. Power compiles an annual report focusing on insurance providers' overall satisfaction based on factors such as policy offerings, cost, billing process, policy information and claim resolution. Companies are ranked on a scale of one to 1,000, with 841 being the current average score. The higher the score, the better. Of the providers we analyzed, Allstate has the highest overall satisfaction rating of 837 out of 1,000. This is actually good, considering the size of the company.
The NAIC Complaint Index is based on the number of complaints a provider receives relative to its size. The average complaint index is 1%, which puts State Farm at the top with a complaint index of 0.08%
| Company | 2022 J.D. Power overall satisfaction (out of 1,000) | 2021 NAIC Complaint Index (lower is better) |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | 837 | 0.5% |
| Amica | - | 0.1% |
| State Farm | 836 | 0.08% |
| Travelers | 801 | - |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. | ||
What does renters insurance cover?
Renters insurance provides exceptional coverage at a relatively low price. You can cover your belongings against damage or destruction for just a few dollars a month. On top of that, renters insurance also provides coverage if someone is injured in your rental home, or if you need to temporarily relocate while your unit is repaired or rebuilt.
Personal property
The personal property coverage section of your renters insurance policy protects your possessions against covered perils. This includes:
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Electronics
Expensive items such as art, jewelry and other valuables may be paid out at a lower limit than your standard policy limit. Check with your company to make sure you understand your limits.
To make sure you get adequate coverage for your belongings, make a home inventory list. Make sure to include descriptions and serial numbers when possible, along with the cost of the item. This will help make sure you have accurate coverage if you need to replace all your belongings, and it may help speed up your claim.
It should also be noted that the personal property section of your renters insurance policy can cover your belongings that are in a storage unit, as well as your things if they're stolen or damaged while you're on vacation.
Personal liability
If someone is injured in your unit or you cause property damage and it goes to court, personal liability covers your legal fees and settlement costs. Most renters insurance policies have a default personal liability limit of $100,000, but this usually can be increased.
Medical payments
The medical payments portion of your renters insurance policy covers medical expenses if you're responsible for an injury. Policies tend to have limits from $1,000 to $5,000, but this too can often be raised.
Additional living expenses
Additional living expenses (ALE), also known as loss of use, covers the extra costs that can arise from relocation while your rental home gets fixed. ALE covers expenses such as:
- Rent
- Meals
- Laundry
- Rental furniture
- Transportation or commute costs
Policy limits for a renters insurance policy usually start at around $3,000. This might not seem like much, but keep in mind that ALE only covers extra expenses. For example, if your average food budget is $500 a month and increases to $700 while you're relocated, ALE will pay out the extra $200.
How to get renters insurance in Washington, D.C.
You aren't required by Washington, D.C. law to carry renters insurance, however your landlord will probably require it. Landlord insurance only covers the structure of the rental and not your belongings. Compare quotes from multiple renters insurance companies. Once you find a few that meet your budget and insurance requirements, compare their customer satisfaction and claim trends.
Once you find the perfect insurer for your needs, have your inventory list on hand to select the appropriate amount of personal property coverage, as well as any other limit changes you need to make, and sign on with your chosen provider. You are usually able to choose when you want the coverage date to start.
Methodology
We compiled renters insurance quotes from multiple ZIP codes in the Washington, D.C. area from the following companies:
- Allstate
- Amica
- State Farm
- Travelers
Quotes were pulled using the following policy limits:
- $30,000 of personal property coverage
- Loss of use: 30%
- $500 deductible
- $100,000 of personal liability
- $1,000 of medical payments to guests
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