The average cost of renters insurance in Texas is $173 per year. For comparison, the national average is $148. However, shopping around is often the best way to find more affordable rates. To help you narrow the options, NerdWallet compared companies across the state to find the cheapest renters insurance in Texas, plus the best options for quality coverage.
Note: Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.
The cheapest renters insurance in Texas
NerdWallet analyzed rates across the state from a variety of companies to find the ones offering the cheapest Texas renters insurance. Below are the five companies with the most affordable rates.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
---|---|---|
State Farm | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | $135 |
Mercury | Not rated | $167 |
Guard | Not rated | $176 |
Progressive | Not rated | $182 |
USAA* | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | $101 |
*USAA renters policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families. |
» MORE: The cheapest renters insurance
The best renters insurance in Texas
If you’re looking for quality coverage from a top-rated insurer, consider buying a policy from one of our Best Renters Insurance Companies.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average annual rate |
---|---|---|
State Farm | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | $135 |
Travelers | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | $206 |
Nationwide | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | $285 |
USAA* | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | $101 |
*USAA renters policies are available only to active military, veterans and their families. |
More about the best renters insurance companies in Texas
See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.
4.5 NerdWallet rating The country’s biggest home insurer offers solid renters insurance with lots of ways to manage your policy online. Coverage options More than average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints Fewer than expected 4.5 NerdWallet rating The country’s biggest home insurer offers solid renters insurance with lots of ways to manage your policy online. Coverage options More than average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints Fewer than expectedState Farm
State Farm
The country’s largest insurer, State Farm offers identity restoration coverage that you can add to your renters policy for $25 a year. This coverage helps you monitor and recover your credit after an identity theft incident and will reimburse associated expenses up to $50,000. Another useful feature you can add to a State Farm’s renters policy is inflation coverage, which raises your coverage limits to keep up with rising prices.
To learn more, read our State Farm renters insurance review.
Renters insurance coverage from a large, tech-friendly company. Coverage options About average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Fewer than expected 4.5 NerdWallet rating Renters insurance coverage from a large, tech-friendly company. Coverage options About average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Fewer than expectedTravelers
Travelers
Travelers offers solid coverage alongside a user-friendly website where you can file claims, pay bills and chat live with a company representative. You can customize your policy by upgrading to replacement cost coverage, which means the company will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements if your belongings are stolen or destroyed. You can also add extra insurance for valuable items such as an engagement ring or musical instrument.
Read our Travelers renters insurance review for more details.
4.5 NerdWallet rating Renters insurance coverage with a few useful add-ons. Coverage options About average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Close to expected 4.5 NerdWallet rating Renters insurance coverage with a few useful add-ons. Coverage options About average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Close to expectedNationwide
Nationwide
Along with standard coverage for liability and personal belongings, Nationwide renters insurance includes coverage for expenses due to theft, like unauthorized credit or debit card transactions and forged checks. You may also be able to add coverage for jewelry and other valuables or for damage due to backed-up drains.
Learn more in our Nationwide renters insurance review.
5.0 NerdWallet rating Strong coverage for active military, veterans and their families. Coverage options More than average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Far fewer than expected 5.0 NerdWallet rating Strong coverage for active military, veterans and their families. Coverage options More than average Discounts Great set of discounts NAIC complaints Far fewer than expectedUSAA
USAA
Unlike most insurance companies, USAA includes coverage for flood damage as part of its renters policies. It also covers your stuff on a replacement cost basis, meaning that your claim payouts won’t be reduced just because some of your belongings have lost value since you first bought them. But only veterans, active military and their families can buy USAA renters insurance.
Check out our USAA renters insurance review to learn more.
How much is renters insurance in Texas?
The average cost of renters insurance in Texas is $173 a year, or about $14 a month. That’s about 17% more than the national average of $148 a year.
In most U.S. states, including Texas, many insurers use your credit-based insurance score to help set rates. Your insurance score is similar but not identical to your traditional credit score.
In Texas, those with poor credit pay an average of $297 per year for renters insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s about 72% more than those with good credit.
» MORE: How much is renters insurance?
Average cost of renters insurance in Texas by city
How much you pay for Texas renters insurance will depend in part on where you live. For example, the average cost of renters insurance in Houston is $246 per year, while renters in Dallas pay $195 per year, on average.
Below are average rates for renters insurance in 25 of the largest cities in Texas.
City | Average annual rate | Average monthly rate |
---|---|---|
Amarillo | $167 | $14 |
Arlington | $194 | $16 |
Austin | $167 | $14 |
Brownsville | $231 | $19 |
Conroe | $180 | $15 |
Corpus Christi | $257 | $21 |
Cypress | $284 | $24 |
Dallas | $195 | $16 |
El Paso | $186 | $15 |
Fort Worth | $195 | $16 |
Frisco | $158 | $13 |
Garland | $190 | $16 |
Grand Prairie | $198 | $16 |
Houston | $246 | $21 |
Irving | $201 | $17 |
Katy | $235 | $20 |
Laredo | $167 | $14 |
Lubbock | $210 | $17 |
McKinney | $155 | $13 |
Mission | $217 | $18 |
Plano | $158 | $13 |
Richmond | $220 | $18 |
Round Rock | $149 | $12 |
San Antonio | $213 | $18 |
Spring | $230 | $19 |
» MORE: What does renters insurance cover?
What to know about Texas renters insurance
Natural disasters, such as tornadoes and tropical storms, happen regularly in Texas. If one strikes your home, your landlord’s insurance will cover only the building structure, not any damage to your possessions. That’s why it’s important to know what’s covered (or not) when shopping for renters insurance in Texas.
Floods
Flooding is the state’s most common disaster, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, but standard renters policies won’t cover it. If you’re at risk — for example, if you live in a ground-floor apartment near the beach or another low-lying area — you may want to purchase separate flood insurance. Learn more about flood insurance for renters.
Hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes
Renting a place on the Gulf Coast? Make sure your renters insurance covers damage from hurricane and tropical storm winds. Though many standard renters policies cover wind-related claims, such coverage may be specifically excluded if you live in high-risk areas near the coast. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association offers wind and hail policies to those who can’t find coverage elsewhere.
» MORE: Hurricane prep: What Texas renters need to know
Even if you’re not in an area prone to hurricanes, you may still want to check your wind coverage. More than 100 tornadoes strike the state each year, on average.
Wildfires
Wildfires are another common disaster in Texas. While most renters policies cover losses due to fire, you’ll want to make sure you have enough personal property coverage to replace all your belongings if the worst happens. The calculator below can help you estimate how much your possessions are worth.
What determines Texas renters insurance rates?
You may pay more or less than the average annual premiums listed above, depending on various factors.
Your location
If you live on the Gulf Coast where hurricanes are common, or in a neighborhood with a high crime rate, you may pay more for a renters policy.
Your credit
As noted above, many insurance companies look at your credit history to evaluate how likely you might be to file a claim. People with better credit tend to get cheaper renters insurance rates.
» MORE: How poor credit could raise your renters insurance rates
Your claims history
If you’ve filed any renters insurance claims in the past few years, your insurer may charge more for your policy. NerdWallet analyzed Texas renters insurance rates for tenants who’d previously filed a theft claim and found that they were 17% higher than rates for someone without a recent claim, on average.
Your coverage limits
If you have more possessions — or particularly valuable possessions — to cover, you’ll typically pay more for renters insurance.
Your deductible
Raising your deductible is an easy way to lower your Texas renters insurance premium, as long as you feel confident you can access enough cash to pay it if necessary. (A deductible is the amount subtracted from your claim payout.)
Other policies
If you buy your renters and auto insurance from the same company, you can often get a bundling discount.
Your home’s features
Home security systems, fire alarms and 24-hour building security guards could earn you discounts.
Your dog
Dog bites are a common cause of renters liability insurance claims. So if your pup is a breed that insurance companies consider high-risk, such as a pit bull or Doberman pinscher, your premium might be higher (if the animal is covered at all).
» MORE: Personal liability renters insurance: What you need to know
Texas Department of Insurance
If you have questions, concerns or complaints about your renters insurance, the Texas Department of Insurance may be able to assist. You can call its consumer helpline at 800-252-3439 for service in both English and Spanish.
When you buy or renew a renters policy in Texas, your insurance company is required to give you a copy of the department’s Consumer Bill of Rights for renters insurance. This document is worth a read: It explains how Texas insurance companies can use your credit information, establishes timelines for claims processing and lists circ*mstances under which your policy can and can’t be canceled.
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Frequently asked questions
Is renters insurance required in Texas?
Although Texas law doesn’t mandate the purchase of renters insurance, your landlord may require you to have it in order to sign your lease.
How can I save money on Texas renters insurance?
The best way to save money on renters insurance is by shopping around with multiple companies. (For a fair comparison, get quotes for the same deductible and coverage limits from each company.) You may also be able to lower your rate by bundling your renters and auto insurance with the same insurer, signing up for autopay or choosing a higher deductible.
What does renters insurance cover in Texas?
Renters insurance typically covers your belongings if they’re damaged by fires, smoke, windstorms, vandalism and other scenarios listed in your policy. It will also cover theft. Renters insurance policies include liability coverage, too. This part of your policy pays if you injure someone else or damage their property. Learn more about renters insurance coverage.