Renters Insurance Florida

A guide to finding the best renters insurance in Florida

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Finding the Best Renters Insurance in Florida

Do you rent your home or apartment in Florida? If you’re looking for budget-friendly renters insurance, it’s essential that you do your homework and consider more than just who can offer you the lowest rates. For the best mix of value for money and coverage, you’re going to have to put a bit of effort in and compare prices from different insurance providers, making sure to factor in any discounts or concessions offered. The results you find may surprise you, and you might even decide it’s best to pay a bit more to get the coverage and customer service you deserve. When it comes to renters insurance in Florida, insurance companies look at more than just the type of residence you live in or how much you’re willing to pay and understanding more about what goes into pricing a quote can help you score a better deal on your insurance premiums. On the other hand, if you’re still on the fence or think you don’t need renters insurance, then consider what you have to lose if your home and all your belongings are affected by a common hazard, such as a burglary or severe weather — both of which are covered by renters insurance. Finding affordable and comprehensive renters insurance can feel like a bit of an uphill struggle with so many companies competing for your business, so we’re here to help make the purchasing process as simple and painless as can be by outlining a few key variables that come into play when purchasing renters insurance in Florida.

A Bird's-Eye View of Renters Insurance in Florida

Florida places 8th in the list of most expensive states for renters insurance in America, way above the national average. In general, Florida's rent prices tend to be higher, too, and many renters wind up spending a lot more of the recommended 30% on their housing. Add on the costs of day to day life and renters insurance in Florida can start to look like an unnecessary burden — but it doesn't have to be, especially considering the money you'll save if you ever have to file a claim to replace lost possessions or repair damage to your rented home. The state average for renters insurance in the Sunshine State works out to about $18 per month or $215 per year. West Palm Beach is the most expensive city for Floridians living in rented homes, with residents paying an average of $60 a month or $714 a year for their insurance. On the flip side, Tallahassee is the cheapest city in Florida for renters insurance at about $16 per month or $186 a year. Nevertheless, insurance companies consider more than just your location when calculating renters insurance premiums in Florida.
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Is Renters Insurance Required in Florida

Renters insurance is not required in Florida. However, some landlords may require their tenants to take out renters insurance before renting to them. Either way, purchasing renters insurance is a good idea seeing as your landlord’s coverage doesn’t cover everything and is basically limited to the building, any permanent fixtures and fittings, and their liability. While landlords in Florida are responsible for keeping the building in a well-maintained state and repairing any sudden damages, like burst pipes or broken heaters, they are not responsible for replacing any of your lost or damaged personal possessions – even if they were lost or damaged due to something the landlord is responsible for maintaining – or paying medical bills for or compensating guests injured while visiting you in your rented house or apartment. Luckily, renters insurance covers both your personal belongings and your liability. The bottom line is that without renters insurance, you risk assuming any cost and expense for things that might not necessarily be your fault, but aren’t covered by your landlord’s insurance, so that alone should be reason enough to consider taking out renters insurance in Florida seriously.

How Much is Renters Insurance in Florida

The chances are that if you're on this page, you're wondering how much will renters insurance in Florida cost you. As we previously mentioned, rates for renters insurance tend to vary significantly from person to person simply due to the sheer number of factors and variables that influence the way they're calculated. To help give you a clearer idea of what you can expect to be paying for your renter's insurance in Florida, we've put together a list of average renters insurance prices in Florida by city. Bear in mind, however, that while tenants in Tallahassee won't necessarily be paying as much as tenants in West Palm Beach, the price you'll ultimately be quoted depends on more than just the city you're located in. Things like your credit rating, claims history with other insurance providers, and the type of coverage you're looking for can affect your rate. As a result, your rate may end up being different from the one shown below for your city.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover in Florida

Standard renters insurance in Florida typically covers three main areas: personal belongings, loss of use, and personal liability. Most insurance providers in Florida will insure your personal belongings up to a specified limit based on their actual cost. What this means is that if your possessions are lost or damaged as a result of a covered event, your insurance company will compensate you for what it determines to be their current market value after depreciation. Other companies, however, might offer replacement cost coverage, meaning that they’ll reimburse you for your belongings’ full purchase price (up to the limit) regardless of current market value or depreciation. Insurance companies may even offer this second option as a paid add-on on top of actual cost coverage. Loss of use coverage is handy for when your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered event, and you’re forced to find temporary accommodation until you can move back in, with your insurance company covering any additional expenses like hotel bills. Personal liability coverage (usually up to $100,000) protects you against any unexpected costs faced if you’re found liable for property damage or third party personal injury in your home. Lastly, remember that the Sunshine State is prone to severe weather like storms and hurricanes, so it’s worth double-checking your policy to ensure you’re covered at all times or even paying a little bit extra for more coverage.
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Best Renters Insurance Companies in Florida Based on Consumer Ratings

Now that you have a better idea of why renters insurance is important and roughly how much it should cost. Now it's time to take a look at how to find the best renters insurance in Florida. For starters, you'll want to gather a list of the leading insurance providers in your area. State Farm is one of the best renters insurance companies in Florida based on consumer ratings from reputable sources like JD Power and the NAIC. State Farm was rated a 4 out of 5 (above average) by JD power for overall customer satisfaction and was given an NAIC rating of 2.47. XX received the highest JD Power rating with a XX out of 5, while XX was rated as the worst for customer satisfaction with a XX out of 5. As for complaints, USAA had the lowest NAIC complaint index with 0.27 while Security First was given a complaint index of 11.54, meaning they received 11.54 more complaints than the average company. When looking for the best renters insurance company, you'll want to look for a company that offers the highest JD Power rating and lowest NAIC complaint index possible while meeting your needs. Please take a look at the table below for a summary of how well the leading renter's insurance companies in Florida scored in their respective categories.

Compare Renters Insurance in Florida for the Best Rates

Now that you've got a basic understanding of what renters insurance is and what it costs, it's time to get stuck into finding the best rates on renters insurance in Florida. By far, the best way to ensure that you're getting the best rates possible is by simply comparing different renters insurance companies and shopping around for quotes from at least a couple of insurance providers. If you're looking to save big, don't forget to ask renters insurance companies about any discounts you might be eligible for. Most companies offer multi-policy discounts, so one of the easiest ways to get a discount on your renter's insurance is simply asking any existing providers you're insured with whether they offer discounts on any additional insurance policies you take out with them. Moreover, many companies tend to offer discounts to clients they deem to be a lower risk to insure, so be sure to let insurance providers know if you have a home security system installed. Another option to help bring down your premium is to pay a higher deductible in exchange for lower premiums. However, it's important that you carefully consider whether you'll be able to afford to pay for any expenses yourself before the deductible kicks in if you choose to go this route. These are just a few ways you can save money on your renter's insurance in Florida, and there's plenty more available to those willing to take the time to compare rates and offerings from different providers.