You don’t actually have to own a car to get insurance from Auto-Owners. The Michigan-based company offers a variety of policy types through independent agents in 26 U.S. states. Auto-Owners renters insurance is worth considering for its solid coverage options and variety of discounts.

You can’t get a quote or buy your policy online. Instead, you’ll have to reach out to a local agent who can talk you through your options.

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How Auto-Owners renters insurance star rating
4.5NerdWallet rating 
Auto-Owners renters insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The homeowners insurance scoring formula takes into account policy coverage options and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, the financial strength of the company, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.

Based on this rating, Auto-Owners is among NerdWallet’s Best Renters Insurance Companies for 2023.

State availability
Auto-Owners offers insurance in 26 states.

» MORE: The best cheap renters insurance

Auto-Owners renters insurance coverage
Landlords sometimes require tenants to purchase a policy with a minimum amount of renters liability insurance, but otherwise, the coverage you choose is generally up to you. Below are the four types of coverage included in most standard renters policies:

Type of coverage

What it does

Personal property

Covers your clothing, furniture, electronics and other belongings.

Loss of use

Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs.

Liability

Pays out if you're responsible for injuries to other people or damage to their property.

Medical payments

Covers injuries to other people in your home, regardless of fault.

For more details, see What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

In addition to the standard types of coverage above, you can add a Renters Plus package that covers the following:

Refrigerated food that spoils during a power outage.

Water damage due to backed-up drains or sewer lines.

Waterbed liability.

A waived or reduced glass deductible if your belongings are damaged by broken windows or storm doors.

You can also add replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings. Without it, Auto-Owners would pay for destroyed items on an “actual cost value” basis, which means you’d get only what the items were worth at the time of the claim. Having replacement cost coverage ensures you’ll be paid out enough to buy brand-new items.

Got a valuable engagement ring or a pricey musical instrument? You may want to buy additional coverage for such items in the form of a property and valuables policy. An appraisal may be required.

Discounts
You may be able to save on your renters insurance premium by:

Bundling multiple policies with Auto-Owners.

Paying your premiums on time for at least three years.

Paying your annual premium in full, upfront.

Signing up for paperless billing and paying online.

Having smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, deadbolt locks or other protective devices in your home.

Getting a quote for your renters policy in advance.

Having no recent renters claims (also called a “favorable loss history”).

» MORE: The average cost of renters insurance in every state

Consumer complaints
Auto-Owners had fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints cover other home policy types, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)

Consumer experience
Website: Although you can’t get a quote on the Auto-Owners website, existing policyholders can log in to pay bills, set up automatic payments, read policy documents and track claims.

App: The app offers similar features to those on the website, including bill pay, claim status and policy documents.

Claims: You must call your independent agent to report your claim. If you’re calling outside of business hours, you can call the company directly at 888-252-4626. An adjuster will be assigned to your case.

Customer service: You can contact Auto-Owners at 800-346-0346 or through an email form. However, Auto-Owners encourages you to reach out to your agent for policy changes, billing and claims information.

Where Auto-Owners stands out
Discounts. Auto-Owners offers a lot of ways to reduce the cost of your renters insurance premium.

Consumer complaints. Auto-Owners draws a low volume of complaints to state regulators, suggesting that most of its policyholders are satisfied with their coverage.

Where Auto-Owners falls short
Online services. The Auto-Owners website lacks some of the features that you’ll find on many other insurance companies’ sites, such as online quotes and claims filing.

Availability. Auto-Owners doesn’t sell its policies in all U.S. states, so not all renters will be eligible for coverage.

Other renters insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other renters insurance companies:

Farmers. A Farmers renters insurance policy may offer additional coverage options not usually included in a standard policy.

Geico. Geico renters insurance policies come from unaffiliated third parties.

Nationwide. Nationwide renters insurance offers more than just the basics.

Travelers. Travelers is available in most states and offers multiple insurance products, making bundling easy.a