How to think about renters insurance in California: what to buy and why (2026)

For most California renters, $30K personal property + $100K liability is enough. Lemonade typically files lowest at $12-18/mo; the bundled-with-auto play is the next consideration if you have an auto policy with State Farm or Allstate.

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How to think about this

California is a prior-approval state under Proposition 103 (1988), which means every rate change above 7% requires a public hearing before the Department of Insurance and can be challenged by consumer groups.

California-specific things to know

• Prop 103 prior-approval system requires public hearings for rate increases above 7%.
• Most major carriers paused new homeowners business in fire-prone ZIPs between 2022-2024; CDI’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (2024) reopened parts of the market.
• Credit-based insurance scoring is prohibited for auto policies under California law.

When the recommendation changes

Methodology: /methodology/rate-authority/

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