Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance in San Bernardino

Homes in San Bernardino are quickly growing in value. The median price of recently sold homes is $383,000, with listing prices up 14{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} from the previous year. Homeownership rates in the city have historically hovered at close to half (47{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb}). If you own or plan on buying soon, a home insurance San Bernardino policy is often a wise investment, especially if you carry a mortgage.

Average homeowners insurance San Bernardino rates are $1,147 per year for a $250K dwelling. Lenders require all homeowners to have coverage. If you do not, your lender may purchase a policy on your behalf which may be more expensive than finding your own. Bankrate collected rates and data on the top home insurance companies to help you find cheap home insurance San Bernardino coverage. The carriers selected made the list for cost, coverage options and discounts available.

Best cheap home insurance companies San Bernardino

There are dozens of insurance companies operating in California. Finding the cheapest coverage would take some time. Bankrate has done most of the legwork for you. The following carriers are a combination of cheap home insurance San Bernardino rates and positive customer reviews, based on the annual study published by J.D. Power.

USAA

USAA has the cheapest homeowners insurance San Bernardino rates at only $561 per year on average for coverage, which comes to less than $50 per month. USAA also consistently gets high scores in J.D. Power’s annual study. However, coverage can only be accessed by veterans, members of the Armed Forces or qualifying family members. If you qualify, your home policy comes with replacement cost coverage for free. You may also buy flood insurance directly through USAA instead of through FEMA or a separate insurer.

Learn more: USAA Insurance review

Mercury

Mercury is based in California and offers the second-cheapest HO-3 coverage in the city. Opting for the standard homeowners insurance policy is generally the least expensive way to go, but add-ons like Mercury’s extended replacement cost insurance may be worth the investment. It insures your home for up to 150{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} of your limit. Considering the rising property values and skyrocketing cost of building materials, extended replacement cost makes sense if you need to restore or rebuild your home.

Learn more: Mercury Insurance review

State Farm

State Farm is the largest insurance carrier in the country and comes in as a mid-range cost option for homeowners insurance in San Bernardino. Of the carriers mentioned so far, State Farm has the largest local presence in the city, with 25 agents and offices in the area. In addition, State Farm’s discounts can help you lower your insurance premiums simply for being a safe driver, or bundling multiple insurance policies or signing up for automatic payments.

Learn more: State Farm Insurance review

Progressive

Progressive is available through four independent agents in the area or through the company website. If cost is a major factor for what home insurance company you will select, try Progressive’s Homequote Explorer. It provides a snapshot of what several insurance carriers in your area will charge for home insurance, so you can compare Progressive’s quote to the competition, all in one place.

Learn more: Progressive Insurance review

Nationwide

Nationwide is a great option if you are comfortable managing your policy online or through the carrier’s user-friendly mobile app. The provider is not the cheapest of all homeowners insurance San Bernardino companies on average, but you may be able to beat Bankrate’s average rate findings by taking advantage of a number of Nationwide’s discounts. You can receive a discount if you purchased your home in the last 12 months, made renovations or added protective devices, such as a home security system or smoke alarms.

Learn more: Nationwide Insurance review

San Bernardino home insurance recommendations

Homeowners insurance in San Bernardino is not required unless you have a mortgage. In that case, the lender will expect that you maintain an up-to-date HO-3 policy. However, even though home insurance is not mandatory, the cost of coverage, which may be as little as $50 per month, could be a lifesaver in case of a natural disaster or burglary. Not having home insurance after a major event means you would have to pay to replace your home and/or its contents out of pocket. Besides a basic homeowners insurance policy, some people consider the following add-ons:

• Flood insurance: Some areas in San Bernardino are in a flood zone. Flood insurance is not included as part of a standard policy and will cover you in the event that your home is lost or damaged due to flooding.
• Earthquake insurance: The entire State of California is at risk for earthquakes. An HO-3 does not include the peril as part of a standard policy. You may be able to purchase coverage through your insurance company or the California Earthquake Authority.
• Extended replacement cost: As mentioned, San Bernardino’s home values are rising quickly — and so is the cost of building materials. Extended replacement cost coverage can cover up to 150{de3fc13d4eb210e6ea91a63b91641ad51ecf4a1f1306988bf846a537e7024eeb} of your home insurance policy’s limit to account for higher rebuilding costs.

Home insurance discounts in San Bernardino

You can save more on your home insurance even after you receive a quote by investigating what discounts a carrier offers. Most insurance companies offer several types of discounts that could shave some money off your premiums. San Bernardino residents may want to look into the following possibilities:

• Bundling: Most San Bernardino homeowners also own a vehicle. Bundling homeowners and car insurance with the same insurance company could lower your rates on both coverages.
• Claims free: The longer you go without a home insurance claim, the larger the discount you could receive from your insurance provider.
• Protective devices: Upgrading your home with deadbolt locks, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors or a security system could help you create a safer home environment and save on home insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best home insurance company?

The best provider for you will depend on what coverage options are most important to you, what discounts a provider might offer and your rate. The best way to find the best homeowners insurance in San Bernadino is to get several quotes and compare your options.

How much does home insurance in San Bernardino cost?

Bankrate’s analysis of the cost of homeowners insurance San Bernardino found that rates in the city average $1,147 per year for a $250,000 dwelling.

How much home insurance do I need in San Bernardino?

To determine how much home insurance you will need in San Bernardino, speak with a local agent for help. Using your home’s value may provide a good ballpark, but the cost of building materials has risen sharply. You may need to set a higher limit for your home insurance to account for rising rebuilding costs.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on 40-year-old male and female homeowners with a clean claim history, good credit and the following coverage limits:

• Coverage A, Dwelling: $250,000
• Coverage B, Other Structures: $25,000
• Coverage C, Personal Property: $125,000
• Coverage D, Loss of Use: $50,000
• Coverage E, Liability: $300,000
• Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000

The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible and a separate wind and hail deductible (if required).

These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes may be different.