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 $118 per year, on average. For comparison, the national average is $151.

NerdWallet analyzed rates to find out which companies offer the 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 of $118 per year.

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, topping the consumer satisfaction rankings in a recent J.D. Power study. It also draws a very low rate of complaints to state agencies. Is homeownership in your future? You may be able to get an Amica Essentials policy, which lets you earn up to $500 toward a future Amica homeowners policy.

Get more details in our 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.

Get more info in our State Farm renters insurance review.

You may be able to save money on Erie insurance by bundling renters and auto policies, getting an advance quote or having safety devices in your home. The personal property section of your policy covers your belongings anywhere in the world. If you rent all or part of your home out to others, consider adding home-sharing coverage. Erie also offers flood insurance.

Read our Erie renters insurance review to learn more.

Does your home have smart-home technology, a burglar alarm or an interior sprinkler system? If so, you might be able to save on Travelers renters insurance. You may also be eligible for a bundle or claims-free discount. Extra coverage may be available for expensive items such as jewelry or computers.

Get more details in our Travelers 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. The Renters Plus package may be available as an upgrade. It can cover things like backed-up drains and food that spoils in a power outage. Auto-Owners sells insurance through independent agents.

Learn more in our Auto-Owners renters insurance review.

CSAA issues renters insurance policies on behalf of AAA in select states, including Pennsylvania. AAA members may be eligible for discounted rates on renters insurance from CSAA. A bundling discount may also be available if you buy both car and renters insurance. AAA membership comes with benefits like roadside assistance and identity theft monitoring.

Read our AAA renters insurance review to learn more.

Renters policies from USAA cover flood and earthquake damage, unlike policies from most other insurers. They also include replacement cost coverage for your belongings. But USAA’s coverage isn’t available to everyone. The company serves only active military, veterans, some federal workers and their families.

The average cost of renters insurance in Pennsylvania is $118 per year, or about $10 per month. That’s 22% cheaper than the national average of $151 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 $226 per year for renters insurance, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s 92% more than 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 $203 per year, while Pittsburgh renters pay about $127 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 typically cover damage from all of them.

Flooding

Floods are the state’s most common natural disaster, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department[1]. 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 own apartment or smoke damage from a blaze in a neighboring unit.

Tropical storms, thunderstorms and tornadoes

These types of storms can strike Pennsylvania during the 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 most of 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 your stuff is ruined by the snow. 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. Learn how to rebuild your credit.

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.

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.

Previous claims

Insurance companies often raise rates for renters who’ve previously filed claims. That's because they assume those renters will be more likely to file another one in the future. In Pennsylvania, someone with a recent claim would pay about 14% more for renters insurance than a person with a clean record, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.

Your other policies

Bundling your renters policy with another type of insurance, such as an auto policy, can often get you a discount on one or both premiums.

Your home’s features

You can often get a discount if your home has protective devices such as a burglar alarm or sprinkler system.

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 your dog needs liability coverage even if she’s perfect

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department website offers various tools for consumers. For example, you can look up insurance 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.