The Best and Cheapest Renters Insurance in Pennsylvania

If you’re considering buying renters insurance in Pennsylvania, you’ve got plenty of affordable options. Pennsylvania renters insurance policies cost $145 per year or $12 per month, on average. For comparison, the national average is $165 per year, or $14 per month.

NerdWallet analyzed insurers across the state to find the best and cheapest renters insurance in Pennsylvania.

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.

These are the companies we found with renters insurance rates below the state average.

If you want to buy a policy from a highly rated company, consider one of these carriers from NerdWallet’s list of the Best Renters Insurance Companies. Click on the company name to read our review.

More about the best renters insurance companies in Pennsylvania

See more details about each company to help you decide which one is best for you.

Amica has strong customer service, scoring above average for consumer satisfaction in a recent JD Power study.[1] It also draws a very low rate of complaints to state agencies. Is homeownership in your future? Ask about Amica’s Renters Rewards program. It lets you earn up to $500 toward a future Amica homeowners policy.

Average rates: Not available.

» READ MORE: Amica renters insurance review

State Farm has a robust website where you can get quotes, pay bills, file claims and learn about insurance. Renters can save by bundling multiple policies or installing safety devices in their home. Ask your agent about inflation coverage, which regularly raises your personal property limit to keep up with rising costs.

Average rates: Below are State Farm’s average rates for a range of personal property coverage limits in Pennsylvania.

» READ MORE: State Farm renters insurance review

Erie’s prices are lower than average in Pennsylvania, but its coverage is more generous than some other renters policies. Erie covers your belongings on a replacement cost basis. So if they’re damaged or stolen, Erie will pay enough to buy brand-new replacements. Some companies pay less for older items that have lost value. Erie also offers flood insurance for renters in at-risk areas.

Average rates: Below are Erie’s average rates for a range of personal property coverage limits in Pennsylvania.

» READ MORE: Erie renters insurance review

Auto-Owners offers many renters insurance discounts. For example, you can save by bundling more than one policy or paying your bill on a yearly basis. Other discounts may be available for having smoke detectors, deadbolt locks or other protective devices in your home. Auto-Owners sells insurance through independent agents, so you can’t buy a policy online.

Average rates: Not available.

» READ MORE: Auto-Owners renters insurance review

The Hanover renters insurance is available only through agents. They can help you choose among the company’s three coverage packages. You can opt for the bare-bones Basic package or upgrade to Select, which adds replacement cost coverage for your stuff. The top tier, Select Plus, comes with water backup and personal injury coverage.

Average rates: Not available.

» READ MORE: The Hanover renters insurance review

If you’re looking for a company that’ll be around for the long haul, Travelers is a good choice. Founded in 1864, it has the highest financial strength rating from credit rating agency AM Best. The company’s policies cost more than average in Pennsylvania, but bundling and claim-free discounts may help reduce your price.

Average rates: Below are Travelers’ average rates for a range of personal property coverage limits in Pennsylvania.

» READ MORE: Travelers renters insurance review

USAA’s coverage isn’t available to everyone. The company serves only active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families. If that includes you, USAA’s coverage is worth considering. Renters policies from USAA cover flood and earthquake damage, unlike policies from most other insurers. They also include replacement cost coverage for your belongings. These features may make USAA’s policies worth the above-average price in Pennsylvania.

Average rates: Below are USAA’s average rates for a range of personal property coverage limits in Pennsylvania.

The average cost of renters insurance in Pennsylvania is $145 per year, or about $12 per month. That’s 12% cheaper than the national average of $165 per year.

In most U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, those with poor credit pay an average of $305 per year for renters insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s more than twice the price of those with good credit.

How much you pay for Pennsylvania renters insurance will vary based on where you live. The average cost of renters insurance in Philadelphia is $216 per year, while Pittsburgh renters pay about $170 per year, on average.

Below are average renters insurance rates for some of Pennsylvania’s largest cities.

» MORE: How much is renters insurance?

Pennsylvania is prone to certain natural disasters, and renters insurance won’t cover damage from all of them.

Flooding

Floods are the state’s most common natural disaster, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.[2] Unfortunately, most renters insurance policies don’t cover flood damage.

Buying flood insurance may not be necessary if you live in an upper-floor apartment. But it's worth considering if you’re in a ground-floor unit near a body of water or in an area prone to flash floods. An insurance agent can help you find options.

» MORE: Flood insurance for renters: What you need to know

Fires

Unlike floods, fire damage is generally covered by renters insurance policies. That could include a kitchen fire in your apartment or smoke damage from a blaze in a neighboring unit.

Tropical storms, thunderstorms and tornadoes

These types of storms often hit Pennsylvania during warmer months. Whether your renters policy will cover your stuff depends on the nature of the damage.

Say a tornado sweeps through your neighborhood and destroys your belongings. You’d likely get an insurance payout because wind is one of the “named perils” most renters policies cover. But if a thunderstorm swamps your neighborhood and damages your furniture, you wouldn’t get a payout unless you had flood insurance.

Winter storms

Renters insurance typically covers damage to your belongings due to the weight of snow or ice.

Say a blizzard damages the roof of your apartment complex and snow ruins your stuff. Your policy would likely cover the damage. Some policies might also pay to replace food lost during a winter storm power outage.

You may pay more or less than the average rates listed above, based on factors like these:

Where you live

Does your neighborhood have a high crime rate? Is your area at risk for certain natural disasters? If so, you might pay more for renters insurance.

Your credit history

As noted above, many companies charge more for renters insurance if you have poor credit. The price differences can be significant, as you can see from the annual rates in the table below. Learn how to raise your credit score.

Your coverage

As you might expect, you’ll pay a higher rate if you need more coverage. So if you own a lot of stuff, or you need higher liability limits, expect a more expensive premium.

Below you can see how your rate will go up if you increase your personal property limit.

Previous claims

Insurance companies often raise rates after renters file a claim. That's because they assume those renters will be more likely to file another one in the future. Check out the table below to see how much more you’d have to pay per year after filing a theft claim.

Your deductible

One way to lower your premium is by choosing a higher deductible. That means you’ll pay more out of pocket before your insurance company steps in to cover a claim. The savings may not be worth it if you’d struggle to pay the full deductible in an emergency.

Below, see how much your rate would go down if you raised your deductible from $500 to $1,000. The differences are often fairly small, so the savings might not be worth it to you.

Your other policies

Bundling your renters policy with another type of insurance, such as an auto policy, can often get you a discount. See our list of the best auto and renters insurance bundles.

Your home’s features

You can often get a discount if your home has protective devices like a burglar alarm or sprinkler system. Insurers reward such devices because they may help prevent potential claims.

Your dog

Some insurance companies consider certain breeds a higher risk for dog bite liability claims. Owners of pit bulls, Doberman pinschers or other breeds may pay more for renters insurance — or be refused coverage altogether.

» MORE: Why you need pet liability insurance

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department website offers various tools for consumers. For example, you can look up agents or learn about insurance policies. There’s also a complaint form where you can raise concerns about your insurer. For personal assistance, call 877-881-6388.