Besthome insuranceCaliforniaThe Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in California (2024)
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Generally, Allstate is the best overall insurance provider in California. But the top option may vary depending on your specific needs. For instance, Chubb ranks as the best for service quality, while State Farm is the best for expensive homes and for bundling with a car insurance policy.
MoneyGeek evaluated the best home insurance companies in California for different types of homeowners. Available coverages and discounts were also reviewed to find you the best option.
If you’re more concerned with savings than service quality, MoneyGeek also analyzed the cheapest home insurance companies in California.
Besthome insuranceCaliforniaThe Best Homeowners Insurance in California
Best overall - Allstate
Best for service quality - Chubb
Best on a budget - Allstate
Best for expensive homes - State Farm
Best for veterans - USAA
Best for bundling - State Farm
The Best Overall Homeowners Insurance Companies in California
When shopping for home insurance, some homeowners focus on both service quality and affordability. MoneyGeek ranked the top providers based on affordability, claims reputation, customer service and financial stability.
According to our rankings, the best home insurance companies in California are:
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100
While USAA got the highest overall score of 98 out of 100, it was excluded from the analysis since its policies are only available to military families.
MoneyGeek shares why Allstate and State Farm scored highest and lists some unique coverage and discounts these insurers offer.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California
1
Allstate
Score:87
Allstate got a perfect rating in affordability. On average, an Allstate policy costs $1,333 per year in California. It tied for second in financial stability and ranked third in user satisfaction. Allstate offers unique coverages like home rental protection.
More About Allstate
Allstate has rare optional coverages, including the HostAdvantage® Home-Sharing Insurance that protects homeowners renting out their homes. Allstate policyholders may access an energy efficiency upgrade, which pays for the additional cost to replace damaged covered items with more energy-efficient options. The company even offers significant discounts like the Claim Rateguard, which prevents premium increases due to the filing of claims.
2
State Farm
Score:86
State Farm, which has an average annual rate of $1,664, ranked second overall in California. It ranked first in satisfaction, tied for first in stability and ranked fifth in affordability. State Farm offers rare coverages like service line coverage.
More About State Farm
State Farm offers unique coverages that policyholders may add to their plans. You can get additional protection against the cost to repair or replace certain service lines, which is not available with all insurers. You can also get additional protection against expenses due to damages caused by an earthquake or volcanic explosion.
HOW WE DETERMINED THE BEST CALIFORNIA HOME INSURANCE
MoneyGeek collected quotes from across the country and balanced them against J.D. Power property claims rating and customer satisfaction scores. The ratings were used to score the best home insurance nationally and in California.
That said, actual insurance costs and customer experience may vary depending on your circumstances. Read MoneyGeek’s methodology for more information.
The Best Homeowners Companies in California for Service Quality
Some homeowners prioritize customer service and claims experience over affordability. If that is the case for you, MoneyGeek ranked the best insurance providers in California based almost entirely on customer satisfaction and claims experience.
The best-rated home insurance companies in California based on service quality are:
- Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100
USAA got a MoneyGeek score of 100 out of 100, making it the top-ranking company in California, but it was not included in our analysis because it is only available to military families.
MoneyGeek broke down why Chubb, Nationwide and State Farm scored the highest for homeowners looking for the best service experience regardless of rates.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California for Quality Service
1
Chubb
Score:82
Chubb got a high claims rating score, which means customer experience during the claims process is regarded to be of high quality. Its score for customer satisfaction was lower.
More About Chubb
Chubb’s unique coverage offerings make it a great option. The additional risk consulting coverage makes sure you get full protection with the help of highly-trained risk consultants. You may also opt for cash settlement coverage. You get cash settlement based on your policy limit if you choose not to rebuild or move to another location after a total loss.
2
State Farm
Score:81
State Farm received a higher score in satisfaction than claims. This means that they are regarded as having high-quality policy offerings and procedures.
More About State Farm
If you are looking for additional coverage, State Farm offers unique options. For instance, getting the optional mold coverage allows you to get up to $20,000 for mold damage. If you are a member of a homeowners association, you may add loss assessment coverage that will protect your portion of a covered loss that the association assesses to its members.
The Best Homeowners Companies in California on a Budget
The cost of insurance may be one of the biggest considerations of some homeowners. MoneyGeek found the top companies for individuals who still want great service but are focused on saving on their monthly bills.
Based on MoneyGeek’s evaluation, the best home insurance companies in California for homeowners on a budget are:
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100
- ASI: MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100
On average, Allstate policies cost $1,333 per year. Meanwhile, the average annual cost of ASI home insurance policies is $1,412.
USAA ranked first and received a score of 97 but was excluded from our rankings since it only offers policies to military families.
MoneyGeek evaluated reasons that make Allstate the highest-scoring company for homeowners on a budget and broke down some unique coverages and discounts it offers.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California on a Budget
pros
Affordable home insurance coverage at roughly $1,333 per year
Discounts including claim forgiveness, bundle and new home
cons
No home renovation discount
Customer satisfaction rating of 3.96 out of 5
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
In terms of affordability, Allstate ranked the highest in California. The company got a perfect score of 5. Additionally, Allstate policyholders get various discount opportunities. For instance, you can save money by bundling your home and auto insurance policies. If you switch to Allstate and have no recent claims, you can save on your premium. If you stay claims-free, you can get 5% back on your renewal every year. Homeowners with newly constructed homes can also get a discount from Allstate.
Allstate also offers rarer discounts like the Claim Rateguard, which ensures you won’t be hit with premium increases due to a claim.
The Best Homeowners Companies in California for Expensive Homes
Expensive homes typically have additional insurance needs. To help you find your top options, MoneyGeek scored the best home insurance companies in California for homes that would cost $2 million to replace. Customer satisfaction was also considered.
The top-rated companies for expensive homes in California are:
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100
- AAA: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100
To further explain why State Farm got the highest score among the companies offering home insurance for expensive homes, MoneyGeek broke down unique coverages offered to those in need of a lot of coverage.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California for High-Value Homes
pros
Affordable home insurance for expensive homes at approximately $6,256 per year
Customer satisfaction rating of 4.09 out of 5
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
State Farm got a high customer satisfaction rating. It offers relatively affordable policies for expensive homes.
The company also offers certain coverages that tend to be good for high-value homeowners. These include the following:
- Scheduled Personal Property: State Farm policyholders can get additional protection for valuables. The standard limits are $2,500 for jewelry and furs, $2,500 for silverware and goldware, $1,500 for business property, $2,500 for firearms and $500 for Fire Department service charge.
- Cyber Event / ID Theft: State Farm’s optional Identity Restoration and Fraud Loss coverage provides additional protection by offering case management services and expense reimbursement to policyholders whose identities were used in fraudulent activities. If you have this coverage, you can get reimbursement for expenses related to data recovery and system restoration.
The Best Homeowners Companies in California for Veterans
MoneyGeek evaluated the top insurance providers in California to find the best option for military families. USAA got a MoneyGeek score of 98 out of 100, making it the highest-rated company in the state.
USAA received a high rating in terms of affordability. The average cost of USAA policies in California is $1,580 per year.
The company also has perfect ratings for customer satisfaction and financial stability.
Additionally, USAA tailors its services to current and former military members as well as their families.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California for Veterans
pros
Coverage tailored to military families
Customer satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
MoneyGeek affordability score of 4.71 out of 5
cons
Not available if you don’t have a military background
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA ranks well for customer satisfaction and affordability.
The company also offers unique coverages and discounts beneficial to military families. For instance, USAA policies include Contents Replacement Cost coverage. This coverage pays for the cost of replacing your belongings without considering depreciation. You can also add optional coverages. For example, the Home Sharing Coverage is a great option for those renting out a room or their entire home as it protects the homeowners and guests.
Veterans can get significant discounts by bundling home and auto insurance policies with USAA. The company also offers saving opportunities for homeowners with protective devices in place.
The Best Homeowners Companies in California for Bundling
In most cases, bundling home and auto insurance can help you get more affordable policies. If you are also looking for auto insurance, MoneyGeek also evaluated the best auto and home insurance bundles in California.
The two companies offering the best home insurance policies with the best car insurance in California are:
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100
Choosing to bundle your home and auto insurance policies typically gives you access to extra discounts. It is also more convenient to combine both policies if you already get them from the same company.
The Top Home Insurance Companies in California for Bundling
pros
Home MoneyGeek score of 4.29 out of 5
19% bundling discount
cons
Auto MoneyGeek score of 3.55 out of 5
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
While State Farm only has a 3.55 rating for auto insurance, the company’s home insurance score is 4.29 out of 5. Additionally, you can get a 19% discount by bundling your home and auto insurance policies.
State Farm offers unique home insurance coverages, including an Energy Efficiency Upgrade. If a covered loss caused damages to a heating unit, air conditioning unit or water heater, this optional coverage would pay up to 150% of the loss payable for upgrading to more energy-efficient items.
Auto insurance policyholders can also get additional coverages, such as rideshare insurance. This helps those who work for rideshare companies get medical, emergency roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement coverage even while working for a ridesharing company.
How to Find the Best Home Insurance in California
When looking for home insurance in California, it is important to balance cost, service reputation and financial stability. MoneyGeek collected this information for you and listed the best-rated home insurance companies in California. However, you can also go through the process yourself.
1
Research Customer Service Reputations in California
MoneyGeek collected information about the customer service reputations of home insurance companies in California. You can also review J.D. Power satisfaction scores and NAIC complaint ratios of insurance providers in your state. Visiting the California Department of Insurance website can also help you learn more about home insurance.
2
Compare Quotes for Yourself
The insurance quotes MoneyGeek used for this analysis are based on a sample homeowner profile in most of California. However, they may not be applicable everywhere. You can compare quotes for yourself. Make sure you get quotes from at least three insurance providers to get a good idea of how much your home insurance would cost.
3
Make Sure the Company Has Coverages You Want in California
While insurance companies advertise the coverages and discounts they offer, some features may not be extended to every state. As a result, it is important to confirm with insurance providers if they are offering the coverages and discounts that you are looking for.
4
Double-Check Financial Stability Ratings
The financial strength rating of insurers is also an important factor you should consider. Regional insurance companies serving California residents may have lower ratings. However, large insurance companies tend to be financially stronger.
FAQs About the Best Home Insurance in California
The best home insurance in California depends on what you are looking for and your circumstances as a homeowner. MoneyGeek answers some of the most common questions to help you get started.
Overall, the best homeowners insurance company in California is Allstate. The company balances affordability, customer service, claims experience and financial stability.
That said, the top option for you may vary depending on your specific needs.
The best cheap insurance company in California is Allstate. The average cost of an Allstate home insurance policy in the state is $1,333 per year. That said, getting cheaper insurance may not always be the best option. Checking the quality of service may also help you find the right policy at a fair price.
Expert Advice on Home Insurance in California
- What advice would you give for first-time buyers looking for homeowners insurance in your state?
- How do regulations and laws in your state impact the amount or type of coverage a homeowner should buy?
- Are there any environmental factors homeowners should consider when selecting a home insurance plan in your state?
Matthew Falconer
Branch Manager and Certified Mortgage Planner at CrossCountry Mortgage
Steven Shagrin
JD, Certified Money Coach/Master Money Coach & Trainer, Certified Professional Retirement Coach, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Registered Life Planner, Former CFP®
Xin Che, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Finance at California State University, Fullerton
Michael Reher
Assistant Professor of Finance, University of California San Diego Rady School of Management
Dima Leshchinskii, Ph.D.
Professor of Finance at Menlo College
Nuriddin Ikromov
Associate Professor at California State University, Sacramento
Frank McEnulty
Finance Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach
Blanca Montejano
CEO/President of Vianca's Insurance & Financial Services
Bud Nelson
Adjunct Professor of Finance at Point Loma Nazarene University
Ray Calnan
Associate Professor of Real Estate at California State University, Northridge
Robert Taylor
Professor at the College of San Mateo
Jake Hill
CEO of DebtHammer
Evan W. Walker
Attorney at Evan Walker Law
Earl L Jones
Insurance Agent and Agency Owner at Farmers Insurance
Methodology
MoneyGeek scores for homeowners insurance in California were calculated by using a scaled and weighted average of J.D. Power Property Claims and Customer Satisfaction Scores, real homeowners insurance quotes and financial stability ratings from A.M. Best. Our scoring system weighted J.D. Power scores 60%, affordability 30% and financial stability 10%, adjusting weightings in the sections focused on affordability and service experience specifically.
MoneyGeek analyzed homeowners insurance quotes from the top insurance companies in California that were provided in partnership with Quadrant. Our analysis includes quotes from ZIP codes across California. Quotes were gathered with an average home profile of 2,500 square feet, built in 2000, with an average dwelling coverage value of $500,000, liability coverage of $100,000 and personal property coverage of $100,000.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
