Who Has the Best Renters Insurance in Hawaii? (2024)
Allstate offers the cheapest renters insurance quotes in Hawaii, at $16 per month.
Compare Cheap Renters Insurance in Hawaii
Best Cheap Hawaii Renters Insurance
To find the best cheap renters insurance in Hawaii, ValuePenguin editors compared cost, coverage availability and customer service reviews. To find the cheapest rates, our editors collected quotes from 20 of the largest cities and towns across Hawaii.
Cheapest renters insurance rates in Hawaii
The cheapest renters insurance quotes in Hawaii come from Allstate, where an average policy costs $16 per month.
That's $7 per month cheaper than the statewide average. The average cost of renters insurance in Hawaii is $23 per month, or $280 per year.
Compare Cheap Renters Insurance in Hawaii
Renters insurance rates in Hawaii differ a lot from one company to the next. A policy from the most expensive company, Progressive, costs $12 more per month than coverage from the cheapest company, Allstate.
Cheap renters insurance quotes in Hawaii
Company | Monthly cost | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $16 | |
| Assurant | $21 | |
| Progressive | $28 | |
State Farm offers renters insurance in Hawaii, too. However, Hawaii renters have to call an agent to get a quote.
Best renters insurance overall in Hawaii: Allstate
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Editor's rating
- Cost: $16/mo
Allstate has the cheapest renters insurance in Hawaii, and it offers flood coverage.
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Cheapest rates in HI
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Offers flood insurance
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Fast online quotes
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Poor customer service ratings
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Few coverage add-ons
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Expensive auto insurance makes it bad for bundling
Allstate offers the best insurance coverage for most Hawaii renters. A policy from Allstate costs $16 per month, on average. That's $7 per month cheaper than the statewide average.
In addition to renters insurance, Allstate also offers flood insurance.
Flood insurance is important for many Hawaii renters. It's the only way to protect your stuff from water damage caused by a tsunami, hurricane or heavy rainfall. And working with one company for all of your insurance needs can make the claims process much easier.
Allstate is one of the few major insurance companies that offer online quotes in Hawaii. It also has a well-rated app that you can use to file a claim, pay your bills or make changes to your policy. That makes Allstate a great choice for renters who prefer to manage their policy online.
However, Allstate's poor customer service reviews mean it may take longer to get your life back to normal after a disaster. Allstate earned a below-average score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. It also gets 79% more customer complaints than an average company its size.
A basic policy from Allstate comes with enough coverage for most renters. But, it doesn't offer as many upgrades as other companies. For example, Allstate doesn't offer earthquake coverage, which is important in certain parts of Hawaii, like the Big Island.
Best renters insurance company for customer service: State Farm
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Editor's rating
State Farm offers reliable customer service, but Hawaii renters can't get a quote online.
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Dependable customer service
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Lots of coverage add-ons, including earthquake coverage
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Helpful local agents
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Few discounts
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Can't buy a policy online
State Farm is the best choice in Hawaii for renters looking for great customer service and a personal relationship with an agent.
State Farm earned a good score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. It also gets an average number of customer complaints for its size.
This could be partially due to the large number of local State Farm agents. State Farm has over 80 insurance agents across 21 of Hawaii's largest cities. Having an agent who knows you and is familiar with your policy can make filing a claim much easier.
State Farm offers lots of ways for Hawaii renters to customize their coverage. For example, you can add earthquake coverage, which is the only way to protect your belongings from damage due to earth movement, like if your TV falls off the wall during a quake.
Earthquakes can be common in Hawaii, especially on the Big Island, so this add-on could be very helpful to renters in the islands.
However, State Farm isn't a good choice for Hawaii renters who don't want to work with an agent. That's because you have to call a State Farm agent to get a renters insurance quote in Hawaii — you can't compare rates online.
In addition, State Farm doesn't offer many ways to lower your insurance bill. The only ways to save are by bundling your renters and auto insurance, and by installing a security system.
Best for military families renting in Hawaii: USAA
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Editor's rating
USAA's basic policy comes with extra coverage and excellent customer service.
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Standard policy includes earthquake and flood protection
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Excellent customer reviews
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Great for bundling with auto insurance
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Only available to renters with military ties
USAA is an excellent option for Hawaii renters with military ties. The company only sells insurance to members of the military, veterans and their families. That means most Hawaii renters aren't eligible to buy a policy. However, Hawaii is home to the largest percentage of military members in the U.S. at around 7%.
A standard renters insurance policy from USAA includes coverage that other companies typically charge extra for.
USAA's basic policy protects against earthquake and flood damage. These are both big risks in Hawaii, which makes these extra coverages especially useful. It also includes replacement cost coverage and water backup coverage, in case backed-up plumbing causes water damage.
USAA has one of the best customer service reputations in the insurance industry.
That means you can count on USAA to take care of you in an emergency. The company earned the highest score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey. In addition, it only gets one-third as many customer complaints as an average company its size.
Cost of renters insurance in Hawaii by city
Keaau renters pay the highest insurance rates in Hawaii, while people living on the island of Oahu have the cheapest quotes.
Renters insurance in Oahu cities — including Honolulu, Kane'ohe, Pearl City and Waipahu — costs an average of $22 per month. That's only $1 per month less than the state average.
Renters in Keaau, on Hawaii's Big Island, pay an average of $28 per month — $5 per month more than the Hawaii average.
Hawaii renters insurance quotes by city
City | Monthly rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Ewa Beach | $24 | 1% |
| Haleiwa | $25 | 6% |
| Hilo | $22 | -5% |
| Holualoa | $25 | 6% |
| Honolulu | $22 | -6% |
How to find the best renters insurance in Hawaii
To find the best renters insurance in Hawaii, start by figuring out how much coverage you need. Then, you can shop around for quotes and compare customer service reviews. The best renters insurance companies offer great customer service and the coverage you need at an affordable price.
Figure out how much coverage you need. Most basic renters insurance policies come with the same standard coverages. This includes some amount of protection for your belongings, medical payments for guests injured in your home, and extra expenses if you have to move out of your home due to damage.
However, many Hawaii renters need more coverage than a basic policy provides. For example, renters living near the coast should consider flood insurance to protect their stuff from water damage caused by hurricanes or tsunamis.
It's important to understand what coverage you need from your policy before you start getting quotes. That way you're not considering companies that don't offer the protection you need.
Compare quotes from multiple companies. In Hawaii, there's a difference of $12 per month between the cheapest and most expensive online renters insurance quotes. That could mean savings of up to $144 per year.
Many companies don't offer online quotes in Hawaii. But, it's a good idea to call companies like State Farm, Island Insurance and First Insurance Co. of Hawaii to get quotes over the phone. That way, you can be sure you're getting the best price possible.
Compare customer service reviews. It's important to choose a company you can count on to take great care of you after an emergency.
Companies with good customer service do this by offering a quick and easy claims process. On the other hand, poor service could mean a lot of back and forth with the insurance company before you settle your claim.
What renters insurance coverage do I need in Hawaii?
Hawaii has many types of natural disasters, including hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
It's important to make sure you have protection for these types of damage, especially if you live near the coast or close to a volcano.
Renters insurance doesn't pay for flood damage caused by tsunamis, hurricanes, heavy rain or other weather events.
The only way to protect your belongings from flood damage is to buy a separate flood insurance policy. Some renters insurance companies, like Allstate, also sell flood insurance. Buying both policies from the same company can make your life a lot easier.
For example, imagine that both water and wind from a tropical storm damage your rental home. If you have both policies with the same company, you can file both claims at the same time. Otherwise, you'll need to work with two different companies to replace your stuff, which can be a hassle.
Basic renters insurance policies typically pay for wind damage.
However, if you live in a high-risk area, your insurance company may not offer you wind coverage. In this case, you should consider buying a separate wind insurance policy.
The best way to find wind insurance in a high-risk area is to work with a local independent insurance agent. A local agent should be familiar with the risks in your area, as well as which companies will offer you coverage.
Renters near the coast may have a higher deductible for damage caused by named storms. It's important to know whether you have a different deductible for hurricanes so you're not surprised with a big bill after a disaster.
Volcanic eruptions cause multiple types of damage, and renters insurance doesn't cover all of them.
For example, if the heat from a lava flow causes your rental home to catch on fire, your insurance company will typically pay for the damage. However, if the volcanic eruption causes earth movement, your renters insurance typically won't cover the damage. The only way to protect your belongings from ground movement is by buying earthquake insurance.
Where you live also affects whether your renters insurance covers volcanic activity.
Insurance companies may not offer volcano coverage to renters in high-risk areas. Renters living in lava zone 1 or 2 can usually only get volcano insurance through the Hawaii Property Insurance Association.
Frequently asked questions
How much is renters insurance in Hawaii?
Hawaii renters can expect to pay an average of $23 per month, or $280 per year, for coverage. That's roughly the same as the national average. Renters insurance rates only vary by about $6 per month across the Hawaiian islands.
Do you need renters insurance in Hawaii?
Renters insurance isn't required by law in Hawaii. However, your landlord or property management company may ask you to buy a policy as a part of your lease agreement.
How much is renters insurance in Honolulu?
Renters insurance in Honolulu costs an average of $22 per month, or $262 per year. However, Honolulu renters can find much cheaper rates with Allstate, where a policy costs around $16 per month.
Methodology
To find the cost of renters insurance in Hawaii, ValuePenguin editors compared quotes from three of the largest insurance companies offering online quotes in the state. Rates were gathered for 20 of the most populated cities.
Quotes are for a 30-year-old woman living alone with no history of insurance claims. Rates include $30,000 of personal property coverage, $100,000 of personal liability, $1,000 of medical payments to others and a $500 deductible.
To determine the best renters insurance companies in Hawaii, ValuePenguin compared three measurements of service quality:
- ValuePenguin editor's rating: Our editors rate insurance companies based on customer service reviews, coverage options and overall value.
- NAIC complaint index: Calculated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the complaint index measures an insurance company's complaints relative to its market share, or size.
- J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study - Renters Insurance: This study ranks 14 of the nation's largest renters insurance companies based on their customers' overall satisfaction. It takes into account customer feedback regarding service, policy offerings, pricing and more.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.