Auto-Owners
- Many discounts available.
- Very low rate of consumer complaints.
- Can't get quotes or file claims online.
- Not available in all states.
About Auto-Owners renters insurance
Auto-Owners renters insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and is among NerdWallet’s Best Renters Insurance Companies. Based in Michigan, Auto-Owners offers policies through independent agents in 25 U.S. states. Its rates are cheaper than the national average, too. Auto-Owners renters insurance is worth a look for its solid coverage and variety of discounts.
Best for: People who want to work with an agent to get the right coverage.
Not ideal for: Renters who live outside Auto-Owners’ coverage area. For example, the company doesn’t serve New England or the West Coast.
Where Auto-Owners stands out
Discounts. Auto-Owners offers many ways to reduce the cost of your renters insurance premium.
Consumer complaints. Auto-Owners draws a low rate of complaints to state regulators, suggesting that most of its policyholders are satisfied with their coverage.
Where Auto-Owners falls short
Online services. The company website lacks features you’ll find on some other insurers’ sites, such as online quotes and claims filing.
Availability. Auto-Owners doesn’t sell its policies in all U.S. states, so not all renters will be eligible for coverage.
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What Auto-Owners renters insurance covers
Landlords sometimes require tenants to buy a policy with a minimum amount of liability insurance, but otherwise, the coverage you choose is generally up to you. Below are the four types of coverage included in most standard renters policies:
- Personal property
Personal property coverage can replace belongings such as furniture and electronics if they're stolen or damaged.
- Personal liability
Renters liability insurance pays out if you're responsible for injuring other people or damaging their property.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage pays for hotel stays, meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home is repaired.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat injuries to other people in your home, regardless of fault.
For more details, see What Does Renters Insurance Cover?
Optional coverage
Besides the standard coverage above, you can add a Renters Plus package that covers:
Refrigerated food that spoils during a power outage.
Water damage due to backed-up drains or sewer lines.
Waterbed liability.
A waived deductible for glass damage.
You can also add replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings. Without it, Auto-Owners would pay for destroyed items on an actual cost value basis. In other words, you'd be paid only what the items were worth at the time of the claim. Having replacement cost coverage ensures you’ll get enough to buy brand-new items.
Got a valuable engagement ring or a pricey piece of art? You may want to buy extra coverage for these items in the form of a property and valuables policy. An appraisal may be required.
Auto-Owners renters insurance rates
Auto-Owners renters insurance costs $132 a year, or $11 a month, on average, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. That’s cheaper than the national average of $151 a year.
Discounts
You may be able to save on your renters insurance premium by:
Bundling multiple policies with Auto-Owners.
Paying your premiums on time for at least three years.
Paying your annual premium in full, upfront.
Signing up for paperless billing and paying online.
Having smoke detectors, deadbolt locks or other protective devices in your home.
Getting a quote for your renters policy in advance.
Having no recent renters claims (also called a “favorable loss history”).
Living in a property that’s resistant to wind damage.
Consumer complaints and satisfaction
Complaints: One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. Auto-Owners scores highly on this measure, drawing a very low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums. NAIC home insurance complaints cover various policy types, including homeowners, renters, mobile home and condo insurance.
J.D. Power rating: Auto-Owners renters insurance ranked below average for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Home Insurance Study.
Where Auto-Owners renters insurance is available
Auto-Owners offers insurance in 25 states.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all renters in a given state.
» MORE: The cheapest renters insurance
Consumer experience
Website: Policyholders can pay bills, set up automatic payments, read policy documents and track claims. Online quotes aren't available.
App: The app offers similar features to the website, including bill pay, claim status and policy documents. But the app’s middling ratings suggest it may not work well for all users.
Claims: To report a claim, call your independent agent. If it's outside of business hours, you can call the company at 888-252-4626. An adjuster will be assigned to your case.
Customer service: You can contact Auto-Owners at 800-346-0346 or through an email form. However, Auto-Owners recommends calling your agent for policy changes, billing and claims information.
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Other renters insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other renters insurance companies:
How we review renters insurance
Our editorial team considers these factors when reviewing renters insurance companies:
- 📞 Customer experience
This rating is based primarily on consumer complaints to state regulators, as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. We also evaluate whether companies have customer-friendly features such as online claims filing and quotes.
- 🛡️ Coverage
We look at how companies cover your personal belongings and how many common optional endorsements they offer.
- 💲Affordability
We evaluate the discounts a company offers and, when available, its median rates.
- 🏦 Financial strength
We use AM Best and Demotech ratings to confirm each insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
See our complete renters insurance rating methodology.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 175 million renters insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
More than 150 renter profiles.
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. Here is a list of our partners and here’s how we make money.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does Auto-Owners offer?
What other types of insurance does Auto-Owners offer?
Auto-Owners sells homeowners, condo, motorcycle, life and auto insurance, among other policies. Learn more about Auto-Owners car insurance.
How do I get an Auto-Owners renters insurance quote?
How do I get an Auto-Owners renters insurance quote?
You can’t get an Auto-Owners quote for renters insurance online. Instead, you’ll need to contact a representative to discuss your policy options.
How long has Auto-Owners been in business?
How long has Auto-Owners been in business?
Auto-Owners was founded in 1916.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Home Insurance Study. Accessed Dec 16, 2025.
Renters insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s renters insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including affordability, financial strength, consumer experience and coverage options. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full renters insurance rating methodology.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners from 2022 through 2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Renters insurance rates methodology
To find the average cost of renters insurance in the U.S., NerdWallet calculated the median rate for 30-year-old tenants from multiple insurance companies in every ZIP code across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Sample tenants were nonsmokers with good credit and no recent claims, living in a two-bedroom apartment. They had a $500 deductible and the following coverage limits:
$30,000 in personal property coverage.
$100,000 in liability coverage.
$10,000 in additional living expenses coverage.
$1,000 in medical payments coverage.
We made minor changes to the sample policy in cases where rates for the above coverage limits or deductibles weren’t available.
We then compared the insurer's median rates to the median rates for other companies.
These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
