Best Homeowners Insurance In California For 2024

Although Nationwide boasts an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best, it scores poorly in customer satisfaction, according to various negative reviews online. It does, however, have a significant agent presence in California with numerous local offices.

With Nationwide’s standard policy, homeowners benefit from coverage rarely offered by other carriers, like protection from credit card fraud and ordinance or law coverage for code-compliant rebuilding.

You have the option to enhance your coverage with features like Better Roof Replacement, which will pay for higher-grade roofing materials if they need to be replaced after a qualifying event.

The Brand New Belongings option ensures replacement cost coverage for your items. You’ll be reimbursed for their depreciated value if they’re damaged or destroyed, and after purchasing new items, you can send receipts to Nationwide to recover the cost difference.

State Farm earned our top spot for its strong agent network in California, high levels of customer satisfaction, and affordable premiums. Its high J.D. Power ratings for service are crucial, given the presence of agents, claims adjusters, and claims offices in California, particularly after severe storms like tornadoes.

At State Farm, you can opt for a basic homeowners policy and tailor it by adding additional coverage options. These can include protection for rebuilding to meet new legal standards, identity theft coverage, and insurance for valuables such as jewelry and collectibles. State Farm holds an A++ rating from AM Best, reflecting its top-tier financial strength.

To initiate a quote from State Farm, you can start online, though purchasing a policy will require working with a local agent. Policyholders have access to their accounts through the website or mobile app, where they can also file claims and sign up for paperless billing. The website also includes a resource library for learning about insurance.

Farmers ranks highest not only for the perks it offers, but also for its outstanding “online experience,” where it effectively communicates these perks and discounts to both existing and potential customers. The perks include:

• Guaranteed Replacement Cost: No matter the cost, Farmers will pay the full price to rebuild your home.
• Claim Forgiveness: After staying claim-free for five years with Farmers, filing a claim won’t raise your premiums.
• Multi-Policy Savings: Save up to 34% on home insurance when you combine multiple policies with Farmers.
• Declining Deductible: Earn $50 toward reducing your deductible each year your policy is active.
• Claim-Free Discount: Get a discount on your home insurance after being claim-free for three years.

The 9.3/10 score that Farmers received factors in its lower J.D. Power ratings for customer satisfaction in policyholder service.

Boasting 11 home insurance discounts, Allstate exceeds the industry average of seven. In my analysis, a number of these discounts stand out as being unique.

You can find these discounts at Allstate:

Claims forgiveness: Extra protection that keeps your rates from increasing after a claim.
Claims-free: Earn 5% back when renewing if you remain claims-free each year.
Deductible reward: Get $100 off your deductible just for signing up.
Bundle: Save up to 25% when you bundle home and auto insurance.
Automatic payment: Get 5% savings with automatic payments.
Loyalty: Earn up to 10% off for continuing coverage with Allstate.
Home buyer: Discount for people who’ve recently bought a house.
New home: Discount for insuring a newly constructed home.
Responsible payment: Get extra savings for a good payment history.
Early payment: Up to 10% off for purchasing a new policy at least a week before your current one ends.
Protective device: Discount for installing safety systems like fire alarms or theft protection.

With nine optional homeowners insurance coverage types, Allstate nearly doubles the industry average of five. Aside from common options like ID theft protection and scheduled personal property, they offer a distinctive yard and garden coverage, which increases limits for replacing landscaping and lawn equipment such as riding mowers.

With an average annual policy cost of $1,362, Chubb offers the cheapest home insurance in California, coming in $1,170 under the state average.

In California, Chubb offers some of the most affordable home insurance rates, designed specifically for high-value homes. Alongside competitive premiums, they provide extended replacement cost coverage, meaning your items are repaired or replaced even if they’ve depreciated. Chubb is also known for its financial strength and excellent customer service.