Erie Renters Insurance Review (2024)

Our rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Year founded: 1925
J.D. Power rating: 851 out of 1,000
AM Best rating: A+*
State availability: 12 states and Washington, D.C.

Erie renters insurance coverage is available in the District of Columbia and 12 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Policy quotes are only available through the company’s independent agents, not offered online. You can find local agents with the company’s online search tool and get in touch using your preferred method of contact.

According to data from Quadrant Information Services, Erie renters insurance costs $16.42 a month. Rates can vary depending on where you live, the options you select for coverage and any discounts you receive, such as Erie auto insurance bundling.

The national average for renters insurance is $15 a month or $180 a year, according to 2019 data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The cost of Erie insurance falls in line with the national average in some locations, while trending a bit higher in other areas.

Cost of Erie Renters Insurance by State

Erie Discounts

Erie Insurance offers a few discounts that renters can use to save money on their coverage. However, discounts can vary by state, so check with your local agent before factoring any savings into your cost calculations.

• Multi-policy discount: Bundle your Erie renters and auto insurance, or other types of insurance products, to save on your policies.
• Security discount: Save if your rental has alarms or sprinkler systems.
• Auto-pay discount: Set up automatic payments to enjoy another discount.
• Advance payment discount: Pay your full premium upfront for more savings.
• Advance quote discount: Get a quote more than a week before you need your renters policy to go into effect and you could knock some money off your bill.
• Age of insured discount: Earn a discount for your age.

An Erie renters insurance policy offers plenty of coverage add-ons and a varying deductible option. In most states where Erie insurance is available, you can get replacement cost settlement for damaged or stolen items — in contrast to the actual or depreciated value of your items.

• Worldwide personal property coverage: This type of coverage helps pay to replace or repair your damaged, lost or stolen possessions, whether in your rented home or at an outside location like a friend's place or a vacation spot.
• Loss of use coverage: You'll likely incur expenses such as hotel stays, food costs or even pet boarding fees if you have to temporarily live somewhere else after a covered loss. This insurance helps cover those additional expenses.
• Medical payment coverage: If someone gets hurt in your rental, medical payment coverage will pay some or all of their medical expenses, up to your policy limit.
• Personal injury liability coverage: You get protection in case of a lawsuit relating to cyber bullying, discrimination, slander and more.

It is important to note that renters insurance typically does not cover your roommate’s belongings, even if you use them. You can also purchase additional protection to cover valuables or other extra-expensive items.

Additional Coverage

Erie has the following add-on options for its renters insurance policies:

• Add-on bundles: In available states (other than North Carolina), renters can get the Advantage, Plus or Select bundle. The Advantage bundle offers extra coverage and higher coverage limits for valuable items plus Identity Recovery coverage in situations of identity theft. The Plus bundle includes watercraft and trailers, and the Select bundle offers criminal defense reimbursement coverage and other options.
• Home-sharing coverage: Designed for homeowners who rent out their primary home, this homeowners insurance add-on can help renters in case of an accident, theft or damage. It is not available for secondary, seasonal or vacation homes. Coverage is also available with an ErieSecure Rental plan or Ultrapack Plus business policy.
• Earthquake: If an earthquake damages your property or possessions, this add-on can cover all or most of the replacement or repair costs.
• Flood: Some renters opt for separate flood insurance, especially if they have valuable items. An Erie agent can help you figure out if flood insurance is appropriate and find the right policy for your situation.
• Sewer and drain backup: In most states, Erie offers additional coverage to help renters pay for their property if it’s damaged by sump pump, sewer or drain backups.

Other add-ons may be available to you depending on the state in which you live. For example, North Carolina renters can further tailor their policies with coverage for identity recovery, scheduled personal property and limited water backup. Scheduled personal property coverage includes collectibles, jewelry and sporting equipment.

Erie is a regional insurance company that uses a network of local, independent agents to offer personalized service. However, having independent agents means the quality of customer service may depend on a customer’s location, although Erie emphasizes excellent service as a baseline.

Despite the company’s focus on customer service, Erie Insurance reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot are mixed. A few customers report positive experiences with adjusters or agents. Most complaints involve communication issues with agents, canceled policies, rejected coverage applications and denied claims.

Since online customer reviews include all insurance products that Erie offers, the following testimonials highlight the company as a whole.

“We looked around and got great recommendations for Erie Insurance. My wife got into an accident this past year, and Erie handled everything — one call to our insurance agent [and] they coordinated everything. Very good rates and customer service. We're quite happy [Erie].” —Hotajax via Trustpilot

"I filed a claim back in February with my homeowner's insurance. [Erie] paid out for the initial claim but as we got into the repairs, we found there was more going on that needed to be fixed. I called the insurance adjuster and left messages. She finally called me back and said there should be an additional payment, but [Erie] had not sent any payments. I have called and left messages and emailed but the adjuster won't return my calls or text. I don't know where else I can call to get some kind of resolution. I just want answers on whether or not they are going to cover the repairs to my home." —Anonymous via the BBB

To find out more about insurance complaints, renters can turn to the NAIC. The organization tracks complaints and possible ethics issues across state lines. Erie's main NAIC number is 26263.

Erie Insurance can be a good choice for renters in 12 covered states and the District of Columbia looking for a personalized approach to their insurance needs. The company gives customers various ways to customize coverage and bundle policies. The average cost of Erie renters insurance is $16.42 a month, which is in line with national premiums.

Unlike some other providers, Erie has customers do business through local agents rather than relying on digital methods. However, the company may not appeal to renters who expect to be able to do everything online, including getting instant quotes and submitting a claim.

We suggest getting quotes from at least three providers before deciding on a renters insurance policy. If you are shopping for coverage on a budget, check out our picks for the cheapest renters insurance providers nationwide.