Table of Contents
- How much does renters insurance cost in Alabama?
- Average price of renters insurance in Alabama
- The cheapest renters insurance in Alabama: Liberty Mutual
- The best renters insurance in Alabama: Liberty Mutual (again)
- Other Alabama renters insurance providers you should consider
- What else do you need to know about renters insurance in Alabama?
- How we gathered our data on Alabama renters insurance prices
How much does renters insurance cost in Alabama?
In Alabama, renters insurance costs $28.72 per month on average, which is much higher than the national average of $20 per month.
In most of the state, renters insurance costs between $25–$31 per month. Liberty Mutual offers Alabama’s cheapest premiums ($14.17, in Hoover), whereas Allstate provided the most expensive quote we received (a staggering $51.92 in Montgomery).
On average, Mobile is the most expensive city in AL, with renters insurance premiums from all companies averaging $47.75 per month. This is because tornadoes are very common in Mobile, and insurers raise the price of renters insurance in areas with a high risk of natural disasters.
Below we’ve listed some other factors that affect premiums in Alabama:
- Your claims history: If you’ve filed a lot of claims in the past few years, your insurer will charge you a higher rate. Conversely, if you have a claims-free record, you’ll get a lower rate.
- How much coverage you get: If you buy more coverage or add a renters insurance endorsement to your policy, your insurer will raise your premiums.
- Home safety: If you live next door to the fire department, your policy will be cheaper; if you live further away, it will be slightly more expensive. Similarly, your premiums also depend on your neighborhood’s crime rate and how many home safety features you have (e.g. burglar alarms and smoke detectors).
The price of your policy is also affected by your credit score and the renters insurance deductible you choose, which is the amount your insurer reduces your claim payout by. In most policies your deductible will default to $500. Opting for a higher one will lower your premiums, and vice versa.
Average price of renters insurance in Alabama
The following table shows the cost of renters insurance in Alabama’s 15 most populous cities.
Average price of renters insurance in Alabama by city
| City | Average price (monthly) | Average price (yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $25.60 | $307.23 |
| Montgomery | $30.25 | $362.96 |
| Huntsville | $26.49 | $317.87 |
| Mobile | $47.75 | $573.02 |
| Tuscaloosa | $27.67 | $332.00 |
| Hoover | $28.12 | $337.38 |
| Dothan | $28.25 | $339.03 |
The table below shows the average cost for a policy from the major insurance companies in Alabama.
Average price of renters insurance in Alabama by insurer
| Insurer | Price | Difference from average |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $35.85 | +$7.13 |
| GEICO | $21.78 | -$6.94 |
| Progressive | $27.35 | -$1.37 |
| State Farm | $17.61 | -$11.11 |
| Liberty Mutual | $16.53 | -$12.19 |
| Nationwide | $26.50 | -$2.22 |
| Midvale | $36.32 | +$7.60 |
The cheapest renters insurance in Alabama: Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual offers the cheapest renters insurance in Alabama, selling policies for $16.53 per month on average, which is 42% cheaper than the state average ($28.72).
Their prices are affordable in every city, ranging from $14.50 to $19.50. Liberty Mutual is the cheapest option in all but two of the cities we looked at (State Farm is marginally cheaper in Phenix City and Florence). In Vestavia Hills, Dothan, and Prattville, Liberty Mutual’s prices were lower than their cheapest competitor’s by more than $30 per year.
Should you get Liberty Mutual renters insurance in AL?
To get cheap renters insurance, you often have to compromise on coverage, so it’s usually better to go with a slightly more expensive insurer that offers better protection.
However, Liberty Mutual is an exception to the usual rule. They aren’t just the cheapest option in Alabama — they also provide the best renters insurance in the state. To see why, scroll on.
The best renters insurance in Alabama: Liberty Mutual (again)
In addition to their cheap prices, Liberty Mutual’s large network of insurance agents and readily obtainable flood insurance set them apart from their competitors in Alabama.
Benefits of Liberty Mutual renters insurance in Alabama
- Flood insurance: If you live in Baldwin County, which is particularly flood-prone, you should consider getting extra protection because most renters insurance providers don’t cover floods. Unlike many of their competitors, Liberty Mutual partners with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), so you’ll be able to buy a separate flood policy from your insurance agent.
- Local insurance agents: If you want to speak to a professional, Liberty Mutual has agents throughout Alabama who can help you buy the right coverage. Moreover, if you’re affected by a natural disaster like a tornado, Liberty Mutual will send catastrophe response experts to your area to make filing your renters insurance claim much more straightforward.
- Discounts: Liberty Mutual mentions five renters insurance discounts on their website, including one for bundling your auto and renters policies together and another for paying online. If you’re a university student or a graduate from a partnered college, like the University of Alabama, you’re also eligible for a 12% discount on your policy.
Disadvantages of Liberty Mutual renters insurance in Alabama
- Limited personal property coverage: Liberty Mutual’s renters insurance personal property coverage is limited to $25,000, which might not be enough if you have lots of belongings to insure. They do offer a renters insurance jewelry rider if you want more coverage for your wedding or engagement ring, although if you buy it, your premiums will increase accordingly.
Liberty Mutual’s disadvantages in Alabama aren’t too severe, which is why they’re our pick for the overall best renters insurance in the state.
Other Alabama renters insurance providers you should consider
Although Liberty Mutual is the best all-round insurer in AL, it’s worth mentioning some other insurers that are particularly good for:
- Mobile home renters
- Military families
- People living in tornado-prone areas
Best Alabama renters insurance for mobile homes (and military families): USAA
Mobile homes and manufactured homes make up more than 13% of all residences in Alabama, and they’re especially vulnerable to damage from extreme weather and other natural disasters. We recommend USAA to all mobile home residents because their standard policies include renters insurance coverage for earthquakes and floods, in contrast to most of their competitors.
Unfortunately, USAA only sells insurance to people with military links, so you’ll only be able to buy a policy if you’re one of the following:
- A currently serving military member
- A veteran
- The spouse or child of another USAA member
If you’re eligible for a policy, we strongly recommend getting renters insurance from USAA. In addition to their natural disaster coverage, their reputation for customer service is excellent and their prices are generally fair.
If you’re ineligible for USAA’s membership, Liberty Mutual is a good alternative, but make sure to tell your agent that you’d like to buy flood insurance from the NFIP.
Best Alabama renters insurance for tornado coverage: State Farm
Tornadoes hit few states as regularly and violently as Alabama. Fortunately, most providers will insure you against tornadoes and many other types of related damage. (For instance, renters insurance covers fires, which tornadoes can often cause.)
What sets State Farm apart is how long they’ll cover you. Most of their competitors only offer additional living expenses coverage for up to 12 months, but rebuilding can take much longer than that if your entire neighborhood is affected. State Farm provides financial support for up to 24 months, which should cover the entire duration of your rebuild.
How to learn more about renters insurance providers in Alabama
If you want to read more about the best renters insurance companies in Alabama, check out our reviews of the following providers:
- Allstate
- GEICO
- State Farm
- USAA
- Progressive
- Lemonade (they’re currently not available in Alabama, although they might be in the future)
What else do you need to know about renters insurance in Alabama?
Before you buy a policy, you should make a note of the following questions about renters insurance in Alabama:
Does renters insurance cover wind damage in Alabama?
Renters insurance generally covers wind damage. However, some insurers, including State Farm and Allstate, have started excluding windstorm coverage from some of their policies in Mobile and Baldwin County, which were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Katrina.
If you live in one of Alabama’s coastal areas, check with your insurer to make sure they’ll cover wind damage. If they don’t, go to the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association’s eligibility map to check if you’re able to buy a separate windstorm policy to protect yourself. You should also speak to your insurer to see if they partner with the AUIA.
Does renters insurance require a credit check in Alabama?
Yes, renters insurance providers in Alabama use credit checks to assess your creditworthiness, and they’re allowed to charge you a higher rate if you have a low score. It’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to get renters insurance with no credit check in AL.
Can landlords require renters insurance in Alabama?
Yes, your landlord can require proof of renters insurance as long as the lease agreement mentions it. There’s no federal law that requires renters insurance, but many landlords do make it mandatory.
If your lease requires it, you need to get renters insurance or your landlord could evict you.
How we gathered our data on Alabama renters insurance prices
All of the prices we received in Alabama were based on the following assumptions:
- Insured party: 30-year old male, employed, unmarried, with no pets
- Personal property coverage: $30,000
- Personal liability coverage: $100,000
- Guest medical coverage: $1,000
- Loss-of-use coverage: Insurer’s default (usually based off personal property coverage)
- Deductible: $500
The quotes you receive will vary slightly from ours because insurers base their prices on each individual’s chosen coverage limits and their personal situation (e.g. their marital status, credit score, and age).
Some insurers will also ask for a down payment (not included in our quotes), which is usually equivalent to one month’s premiums. Refer to our guide on how to get renters insurance with no down payment if you don’t want to pay these fees.
The price of renters insurance in Alabama: complete data set
Below, we’ve listed all of the quotes we received from insurance companies in Alabama for every city and insurer.
| City | Allstate | GEICO | Progressive | State Farm | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide | Midvale | Farmers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $23.75 | $16.83 | $25.13 | $15.50 | $14.58 | $25.73 | $34.50 | $48.80 |
| Montgomery | $51.92 | $21.58 | $24.35 | $19.17 | $17.00 | $27.56 | $37.00 | $43.39 |
| Huntsville | $29.17 | $20.50 | $25.03 | $16.83 | $16.08 | $26.23 | $30.93 | $47.14 |
| Mobile | $49.83 | $34.50 | $38.92 | - | - | - | $43.14 | $72.37 |
| Tuscaloosa | $23.75 | $25.00 | $26.04 | $19.17 | $19.42 | $25.87 | $38.29 | $43.79 |
| Hoover | $41.67 | $17.92 | $25.44 | $15.50 | $14.17 | $26.16 | $35.26 | $48.80 |
| Dothan | $29.58 | $21.42 | $28.69 | $19.42 | $16.83 | $27.14 | $37.38 | $45.56 |
A dash signifies that we weren’t able to get a quote for that insurer and location. Call an agent in that city for details.
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