Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
Home insurance policies are designed to give homeowners peace of mind. Knowing that you will be protected in the case of an unexpected event like fire, theft, or vandalism can help you sleep well at night.
Unfortunately, choosing the best home insurance company for you can be challenging. There are many insurers that service San Diego, but they differ in terms of coverage, cost, quality of customer service, and more. The This Old House Reviews Team has evaluated many homeowners insurance companies in San Diego to help you find the best fit for you.
Top 4 Homeowners Insurance Companies in San Diego
- Lemonade: Best Value
- Allstate: Best Overall
- Amica®: Best Customer Service
- Farmers: Most Customizable Coverage
Lemonade
Newcomer Lemonade has brought a new, innovative approach to the industry that focuses on efficient technology and giving back to charity. The provider pools all of the customers’ money for premiums, then donates whatever is left over at the end of the year to a charitable cause. To file claims, homeowners can simply upload videos to a convenient mobile app. Nearly one-third of claims are handled instantly.
Pros and Cons of Lemonade Homeowners Insurance
✔ Easy-to-use mobile app
✔ Almost a third of claims handled instantly
✔ Charitable Giveback program
✘ No auto insurance
✘ Not available nationwide
Plans and Pricing of Lemonade
We got an instant quote for a new construction, single-family, roughly 2,200-square-foot home in Eureka, California. The premium came out $60.75 per month. You can request a quote online to find out how much it would cost to cover your San Diego home.
Cost
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $350,000 |
| Personal property | $175,000 |
| Loss of use | $105,000 |
| Liability | $300,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $1,000 per person |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $60.75 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Lemonade offers several different discounts:
- Fire protection
- Protective devices
- Gated community
- Multi-policy
Lemonade Endorsements
Lemonade offers multiple endorsement options.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Scheduled personal property | Covers the cost to replace damaged or stolen items like jewelry, art, musical instruments, and furs |
| Home business | Covers operating a business out of the home |
| Earthquake | Covers the cost of repairing and rebuilding structures after damage from an earthquake |
| Sewer backup | Covers cost of damage to home after sewer backup |
| Type | Description |
Allstate
Allstate is one of the biggest home insurance companies in the US. The insurer sets itself apart with its 24/7 customer service center and many customization opportunities. Unlike some of its competitors, Allstate has a 24/7 center for all home insurance questions—not limiting communication to business hours. This makes the provider a solid choice for homeowners who want to speak directly to customer service representatives in real time.
Pros and Cons of Allstate Homeowners Insurance
✔ Wide variety of endorsement options
✔ Second-largest homeowners insurance provider in the U.S.
✔ 24/7 customer service for all insurance questions
✘ Average customer satisfaction ratings
Plans and Pricing of Allstate
We received an instant quote for a single-family, roughly 2,200-square-foot home in San Diego valued at approximately $520,000. The monthly premium came out to $127.90 per month.
Cost
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $524,481 |
| Other structures | $52,449 |
| Personal property | $393,361 |
| Loss of use | $104,897 |
| Liability | $300,000 per occurrence |
| Medical payments to others | $5,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $127.90 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Allstate offers a variety of discounts to help reduce your premium:
- Multi-policy
- Early signing
- Claim-free
- Home alarm
- Roof
- Smoke-free
- Storm shutter
- Homebuyer
- Easy Pay Plan
- Age 55 and retired
- Welcome and loyalty
Allstate Endorsements
Here you can see a sample of Allstate’s endorsements. Add-on coverages might vary depending on the state you live in.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal umbrella policy | Increases limits of personal liability coverage and adds coverage for lost wages and legal fees |
| Earthquake | Covers repairs or replacement of your home after an earthquake |
| Flood | Covers repair or replacement of your home in the event of a flood (required for homeowners in certain locations) |
| Water backup | Covers water damage caused by clogged drains or sump pump failure |
| Scheduled personal property | Covers valuable personal belongings, including jewelry, antiques, and more |
| Business property | Covers computers and other home office equipment or equipment from a small business run out of the home |
| Sports equipment | Covers golf clubs, skis, bicycles, and other sports equipment |
| Identity theft protection | Covers legal fees and others costs associated with identity theft or fraud |
| Green improvement reimbursement | Increases coverage to upgrade appliances with more energy-efficient uses after a loss |
| Electronic data recovery | Covers costs from recovering lost computer data |
| Yard and garden | Covers trees, landscaping, and ornamental plantings or adds coverage for lawn equipment |
| Musical instruments | Covers valuable musical instruments |
| Type | Description |
Amica
Amica offers robust, comprehensive coverage alongside valuable bonus features like its Contractor Connection. The program puts vetted, experienced contractors in contact with homeowners within as little as 24 hours for repairs. All the workmanship comes with a five-year warranty for peace of mind, and homeowners can track the repair progress online.
Pros and Cons of Amica Homeowners Insurance
✔ Comprehensive coverage
✔ Affordable rates
✔ Contractor Connection
✘ Does not use local agents
Plans and Pricing of Amica
We received an instant quote for a single-family, roughly 2,200-square-foot home in San Diego valued at approximately $980,000. The monthly premium came out to $200.
Cost
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $980,000 |
| Other structures | $98,000 |
| Personal property | $490,000 |
| Loss of use | $294,000 |
| Liability | $500,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $5,000 |
| Deductible | $2,500 |
| Monthly Cost | $200 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Amica offers a variety of discounts:
- Multi-policy
- Claim-free
- E-discount
- Autopay
- Loyalty
- Alarm system
- Automatic detection devices
- New and remodeled homes
Amica Endorsements
Amica offers a wide range of add-on coverage options.
Amica Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal property replacement | Fully covers the replacement cost for stolen or damaged items, instead of depreciated value |
| Scheduled personal property | Offers more extensive protection for valuable items like jewelry and antiques |
| Automatic dwelling coverage increase | Increases coverage limits when the cost to rebuild your home exceeds what your underlying policy allows |
| Credit card | Covers up to $5,000 if your card is used fraudulently |
| Water backup/sump pump failure | Covers damage from water backup and sump pump failure |
| Computer | Covers computers, tablets, smart televisions, and smartphones |
| Catastrophic | Covers damage due to earthquakes and floods |
| Liability and medical payment | Increases liability coverage for legal fees and medical expenses |
| Type | Description |
Farmers
Farmers is a trusted household name that offers several standout features. Its declining deductibles policy means that each year your policy is active, Farmers will take $50 off of your deductible. With its claims forgiveness program, Farmers will waive the surcharge if you go five or more years without filing a claim.
Pros and Cons of Farmers Homeowners Insurance
✔ Declining deductibles
✔ Cosmetic damage coverage
✔ Claim forgiveness
✘ Fewer endorsements than competitors
✘ Website not highly detailed
Plans and Pricing of Farmers
We received an instant quote for a single-family, roughly 2,200-square-foot home in San Diego valued at approximately $520,000. The monthly premium came out to $130.
Cost
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $522,000 |
| Other structures | $52,200 |
| Personal property | $287,100 |
| Loss of use | $104,000 |
| Liability | $300,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $1,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $130 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Farmers offers several discounts to reduce your monthly premium:
- Non-smoking
- Multi-policy
- Claim-free
- Protective devices
- New home
- Roofing materials
Farmers Endorsements
Farmers offers some optional add-on coverage to help you round out your coverage.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Eco-rebuild | Provides additional coverage to rebuild your home with energy-efficient materials after a covered loss |
| Personal articles floater | Provides extra coverage for valuables like art, collectibles, or jewelry |
| Identity Shield | Provides coverage if your identity is stolen, up to your policy limit |
| Contents replacement cost | Provides the full replacement cost of stolen or damaged property (not less depreciation) |
| Type | Description |
What type of home insurance coverage should you expect?
The majority of home insurance companies offer six standard forms of coverage, including dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use/additional living expenses, personal liability, and medical payments to others. You can find a breakdown below.
Coverage
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Dwelling + other structures | Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your home’s interior and exterior structure, along with any other structures on the property |
| Personal property | Covers the cost of replacing personal possessions, including clothing, furniture, and electronics |
| Personal liability | Covers the cost of attorney fees, court fees, and any damages resulting from someone being injured on your property |
| Loss of use/additional living expenses | Covers living expenses like dining and accommodations if your home is temporarily uninhabitable due to covered damage or destruction |
| Medical payments to guests | Covers the medical expenses if someone is injured in your home |
| Type | Description |
Compare the Best Home Insurance Companies in San Diego
See how the top home insurance companies in San Diego stack up on key metrics.
Comparison
| Provider | Get A Quote | Superlative | Monthly Cost* | States Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | Get My Quote | Best Value | $25 and up | 23 |
| Allstate | Get My Quote | Best Overall | $127.90 | 50 |
| Amica | – | Best Customer Service | $200 | 47 |
| Farmers | Get My Quote | Most Customizable Coverage | $130 | 50 |
| Provider | Get A Quote | Superlative | Monthly Cost* | States Covered |
*Cost may be calculated for homes of slightly varying values
Our Conclusion
We selected each of our top recommendations because they offer standout features that set them apart in the industry. Allstate has comprehensive coverage and a 24/7 customer service center for all queries—not just claims—so customers can reach them at any time. Amica has the valuable Contractor Connection program to assist with the repairs process. Farmers offers declining deductibles and claims forgiveness that’s beneficial for customers who make it five years without a claim, while Lemonade’s technologically advanced system is efficient and can simplify the claims process for homeowners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Homeowners Insurance in San Diego
How much is homeowners insurance in San Diego?
The amount you pay for your San Diego home insurance will depend on many different factors, including the company you choose, where you live, the size and square footage of your home, the materials it was built with, and more. Of our quotes, we received estimates of $43 and $84 for a home with an insured value of roughly $270,000.
Who has the best homeowners insurance rates?
We have reviewed many companies and found that Lemonade, Costco, and Metlife have some of the most affordable rates.
What is the cheapest homeowners insurance in California?
Of the companies we have evaluated, Lemonade has the cheapest homeowners insurance in California.
Our Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team values accuracy, transparency, and trust. With that in mind, we created a thorough, objective rating system to score each home insurance company based on the following six factors:
- Coverage (30)
- State availability (7.5)
- Customer service (15)
- Technology (12.5)
- Reputation (20)
- Additional benefits (15)
Our Reviews Team has a full-time researcher who collects and regularly updates data points from every company to help us compare them on key factors such as coverage, service, and dependability. Read more on our methodology here.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.