Best, cheapest renters insurance in Oregon

Looking for reliable and inexpensive renters insurance in Oregon can feel more overwhelming than tracking Bigfoot and avoiding mystery spot holes. So we hunted it (the renters insurance, not Bigfoot) down for you. Read on for the best and cheapest renters insurance based on our assessment of affordable rates, customer service ratings, and online quoting.

Popular renters insurance companies in Oregon compared

Roost’s approach to choosing Oregon’s best and cheapest renters insurance 

To compare the rates and coverage, we used each company’s online quoting systems to get quotes for renters insurance premiums. We requested $10,000 and $30,000 worth of personal property coverage with a $500 deductible and $100,000 liability coverage. 

We got quotes for renters in their mid-twenties, in urban area apartment complexes, with no roommates or spouses, no pets, and no special coverages like flood insurance. 

To ensure a full hazelnuts-to-hazelnuts comparison, we reviewed similar coverage levels, online quoting experience, app experience, and customer service ratings for renters insurance companies in Oregon.

How we compared renters insurance companies in Oregon

Affordability 

We looked at premium rates from company to company using a minimum personal property coverage of $10,000, a $500 deductible, and $100,000 liability coverage, and then increased the personal property coverage amount to $30,000, a $500 deductible, and $100,000 liability coverage.

Quality of coverage

Next, we rated the quality of the coverage options offered by each company in Oregon relative to the cost of the renters insurance policy. 

Customer service

Your insurance company should be there when you need them. Did they make it easy for you to contact them? Did they offer 24/7 chat? Are local agents available if you want to visit an office? How quickly do they respond to claims?

We took a quick look at their FAQs and customer service offerings to get a sense of their approach to customer service. (If you have two or three companies on your shortlist, we recommend that you call each one or reach out to them using the chat service—your experiences will likely help you make a call.)

Online quoting experience

We rated the online quoting experience for renters insurance companies in Oregon based on overall ease of use and customization options. Did we feel locked in or directed to a plan that didn’t fit us very well? Lower rating. 

Did the website allow us to experiment with different coverage levels to see how it would affect our renters insurance premium quote? Extra points! Progressive was the only company to ask us for our social security number in order to receive an online quote. 

App store rating

We looked up the app store ratings for android and Apple products to give you an idea of what other renters think of each renters insurance company’s app, their coverage, and customer service ratings.

How much renters insurance do I really need in Oregon? 

If you are an Oregon college student, $15,000 in personal property coverage is probably enough. If you just started college in Oregon you may even still be covered under your parent’s insurance so be sure to ask them. 

If you live in Oregon and are trying to decide how much renters insurance you need, add up the retail price of your belongings and add another 25% on top of it to account for stuff you may have forgotten.

If your total is less than $5000, it may not make sense to get renters insurance right now. Or maybe a liability-only policy is all you need to protect yourself from an expensive lawsuit or property damage repairs. 

If you want renters insurance coverage but can’t afford much, check out Cheap renters insurance.

Which areas of Oregon are the least expensive for renters insurance? 

We discovered that the Beaverton area had some of the least expensive renters insurance premiums in Oregon while Portland was the most expensive.

Here are some average renters insurance rates in Oregon for you to compare prices.

How can I save on renters insurance in Oregon? 

There are a lot of ways you can save on your premiums:

• Prepay your renters insurance for the year
• Don’t buy more renters insurance coverage than you need
• Bundle your auto insurance with your renters insurance 
• Raise your credit score

Read more here on how you can save money on your renters insurance in Oregon.

What is renters insurance?

Renters insurance is made up of three basic parts—personal property insurance, renters liability insurance, and additional living expenses insurance.

If money is tight you may decide to go with the most minimal coverage you can find. We know companies like Lemonade that have renters insurance policies starting at just $5 a month, super cool! Whatever your needs, you can find a renters insurance policy that’ll work for you.

Personal property insurance

Personal property insurance covers your things such as electronics, furniture, appliances, clothes, etc. If you sit down and add it all you might be surprised and just how much stuff you have.

• Sofa couch $555
• Office chair $110
• Hiking boots, backpacks, Etc. $300+
• TV stand with storage $530
• Bed frame $250
• Mattress and box spring $945
• Chest of drawers $220
• Jeans/dress pants $50 a pair, minimum $250 total
• Shirts $25, 5 of them $125
• Miscellaneous $300
• Tablet $699
• Blender, espresso machine, cookware, dishes, etc. $640

This list doesn’t even include TVs, DVD players, and bikes, and already adds up to almost $5000. Did you know the average two-bedroom apartment contains approximately $30,000 worth of stuff? Sheesh?!? 

And did you also know that while you’re enjoying one of Portland’s many festivals along the Willamette River, the valuables in your car would be covered if they were stolen? Keep it weird, Portland!

Renters liability insurance

Renters liability insurance protects you from lawsuits and medical bills in situations that you may have been responsible for. It covers things like:

• Damage to your neighbor’s apartment that you may have caused
• Injuries to others caused by your pet
• Damage to your apartment that you may have accidentally caused 
• Accidental injuries of guests

Accidental living expenses insurance

Accidental living expenses coverage pays for living expenses like a hotel if you are unable to live in your apartment due to an event like damage from a storm.

Renters insurance FAQs for Oregon

1. Is renters insurance expensive in Oregon?

If you live in Oregon, you’ll enjoy lower than the national average renters insurance premiums. Oregon ranked 30th out of 50 states. Annual renters insurance premiums for a two-bedroom apartment in Oregon range from approximately $161 a year to over $278 a year, depending on where you live.

2. What is the average cost of renters insurance in Oregon? 

The average cost of renters insurance in Oregon is $168 a year (about $14 a month). If that’s more than you want to spend, shop around and compare prices. You can find some policies that start at just $5 a month with companies like Lemonade.

3. My landlord offers renters insurance in Oregon. Should I take it? 

Many landlord-offered renters insurance policies in Oregon only cover damage to their property, meaning none of your stuff is covered. Read our article on What does a landlord-tenant liability policy cover to understand whether or not this is a good option for you.

4. Does my roommate need renters insurance in Oregon? 

If your lease requires anyone living at your apartment to have renters insurance, then yes. If your roommate is your spouse or a relative, they may be covered under your current policy. 

5. Is renters insurance worth it? 

Whether or not renters insurance is worth it is really up to you. Minimally you should consider liability coverage to protect yourself against expensive lawsuits, plus it will give you peace of mind.

6. Can my landlord require me to have renters insurance in Oregon?

Yes, your landlord can require you to have renters insurance in Oregon. It is within your landlord’s rights to include a renters insurance requirement in your lease.