What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (2024)

Renters insurance may cover personal belongings damaged from a covered peril plus additional living expenses, like groceries and lodging, if you're unable to live at your residence while it's being repaired because of a covered loss. Your renters policy also includes personal liability coverage if you're legally responsible for someone else's injuries or damages. Renters insurance won't cover the actual structure you live in — that's your landlord's responsibility.

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What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (2)

How does renters insurance work?

A renters policy provides financial reimbursem*nt for covered losses to your personal belongings. If a covered peril occurs, you'll file a claim with your renters insurance company to receive compensation for your loss, up to your policy's limits, sub-limits, and minus any deductible. Quoting a renters insurance policy is quick and easy—your insurer will typically ask less than a handful of questions about your rental unit and value of your personal possessions.

Do I need renters insurance?

Renters insurance isn't legally required, though certain apartment complexes and landlords may require it. Even when optional, it's a good idea to cover what you've spent a lifetime accruing. The average Progressive rental policyholder has $24,278 in personal property coverage.* If you were robbed or lost all your clothes, furniture, and everything else in a fire, your landlord is not responsible for your belongings.

What does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance covers personal property, personal liability, medical payments and additional living expenses or loss of use, up to the limits of your policy. Learn more about what renters insurance covers and the types of renters insurance coverages.

What does renters insurance not cover?

Damage to the structure of your rental home or unit won't be covered under a renters policy. Your landlord's insurance policy typically covers damage to the dwelling's roof, ceiling, and walls, caused by things like bursting pipes and vandalism.

How renters insurance is priced

These factors and more can impact your cost for renters insurance:

  • Location: A safer area with less crime generally means a lower cost.
  • Coverage limits: Selecting the lowest limits that accurately cover the value of your belongings and assets can help lower your cost.
  • Number of units in your building: More units often means a lower price.

Learn more about renters insurance cost factors and pricing information, then learn how you can save on renters insurance with Progressive's renters insurance discounts.

Renters insurance FAQs

Will renters insurance cover pets?

Depending on your policy, your renters insurance liability coverage may pay for injuries or damages your pet causes to others, but it generally won't cover damage to the property you rent caused by your pet.

Are termites and other pests covered by renters insurance?

No, renters insurance doesn't typically cover damage caused by pests or extermination costs. However, mice, bed bugs, and other pests may be your landlord's responsibility.

Is property in self-storage units covered by renters insurance?

Renters insurance may cover personal property stored in self-storage units, but the coverage limits are often much lower. Learn more about how renters insurance covers property in self-storage units.

How does renters insurance work with roommates?

If you have roommates, renters insurance won't cover their property, personal liability, or temporary living expenses unless they're on your policy. Whether you can add your roommate to your policy may depend in your state and provider. Learn more about renters insurance with roommates.

How to get renters insurance

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (3)

Online

Answer some questions about your property and then customize your coverages.

Get a renters insurance quote and buy online

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (4)

Call a rep

Speak with a licensed representative who can guide you through the process.

Call 1-866-749-7436

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (5)

Through an agent

Connect with an independent agent near you.

Find an agent online

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (6)

Get a renters insurance quote online or call for advice

  • Or, call 1-866-749-7436

Learn more about renters insurance.

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? (2024)

FAQs

What is Renters Insurance & How Does it Work? ›

A renters policy provides financial reimbursem*nt for covered losses to your personal belongings. If a covered peril occurs, you'll file a claim with your renters insurance company to receive compensation for your loss, up to your policy's limits, sub-limits, and minus any deductible.

How do you explain renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance protects your personal property in a rented apartment, condo or home from unexpected circ*mstances such as theft, a fire or sewer backup damage – and will pay you for lost or damaged possessions. It can also help protect you from liability if someone is injured on your property.

What is renters insurance quizlet? ›

Renter's Insurance. insurance that protects tenants of a property owned by someone else against theft, property damage, loss of personal property, and loss of use.

What is the main reason someone would want to have renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance protects your belongings from loss, damage, or destruction following things like burglaries, fires, tornadoes and other covered events. Plus, renters insurance also protects your liability (and your money) if someone is injured at your rental home or apartment.

What is typically not covered by renters insurance? ›

Flooding, earthquakes and sinkholes are all examples of natural disasters that are not covered by a typical renters insurance policy. All three of these events can easily damage your personal property, so you should buy additional coverage if you think you're at risk.

How does insurance work? ›

Insurance is a contract that transfers the risk of financial loss from an individual or business to an insurance company. They collect small amounts of money from clients and pool that money together to pay for losses. Insurance is divided into two major categories: Property and Casualty insurance (P&C)

How important is renters insurance? ›

Renters insurance can help you repair or replace property after loss due to many types of damage or theft. It can also provide coverage for an accident at your residence. Policies usually have very affordable annual premiums.

What is true about renters insurance? ›

A renters policy provides financial reimbursem*nt for covered losses to your personal belongings. If a covered peril occurs, you'll file a claim with your renters insurance company to receive compensation for your loss, up to your policy's limits, sub-limits, and minus any deductible.

What is rental coverage insurance? ›

Rental reimbursem*nt coverage helps you pay for transportation expenses, such as a rental car or public transportation fare, while your own vehicle is being repaired after a covered insurance claim. It does not apply if your vehicle needs routine maintenance work or if you need to rent a car on vacation.

What is renters insurance and homeowners? ›

The main and most obvious distinction between renters insurance and homeowners insurance is that a homeowners policy safeguards the home's physical structure against covered perils while renters insurance won't protect the home or building occupied by the tenant.

What are reasons people typically do not get renters insurance? ›

Some Feel They Don't Have Enough Property to Insure

Most people own more personal property than they think. It really doesn't take a lot of property to amount to $20,000 or more. A renters insurance policy will not only replace things, but it also offers liability protection.

Who has the cheapest renters insurance? ›

Our Picks for the Cheapest Renters Insurance Providers
  • Lemonade: Our top pick.
  • State Farm: Our pick for affordable premiums.
  • Toggle: Our pick for custom pricing.
  • Allstate: Our pick for seniors.
  • Nationwide: Our pick for valuable endorsem*nts.
May 23, 2024

What is the main reason someone would want to have and need to have renters insurance brainly? ›

Final answer:

Renters insurance is important because it covers personal property, liability, and additional living expenses not covered by the building owner's insurance.

When considering renters insurance, what simple steps should you take? ›

When you're ready to buy a renters insurance policy, follow these simple steps:
  1. Estimate the value of your personal property. Take inventory of your belongings and estimate their total value. ...
  2. Check with your landlord. ...
  3. Understand what's included in a policy. ...
  4. Gather quotes and compare policies.
Sep 26, 2023

What are three major parts of a renters insurance policy? ›

Renters insurance has three basic coverage components: personal possessions, liability, and additional living expenses.

Which of the following is not covered by renter's insurance? ›

Items not covered with renters insurance include: Personal property loss that exceeds the coverage limits on your renters insurance policy. Liability situations that exceed the limits on your policy. Damages caused to the structure of the building you are renting (which is covered by your landlord's homeowners policy).

What are the three major parts of a renter's insurance policy? ›

Renters insurance has three basic coverage components: personal possessions, liability, and additional living expenses.

What items are typically covered with someone's renter's insurance? ›

Renters insurance is an insurance policy that can cover theft, water backup damage, certain natural disasters, bodily injuries and more in a rented property.

What does proof of renters insurance mean? ›

Proof of insurance is a document that shows your landlord, lender, or other individual that you actually have renters or home insurance.

How does rental property insurance work? ›

A landlord policy typically covers any physical damage to the home that's caused by fire, bad weather or criminal activity such as a break-in. It also covers any additional buildings, including a shed or detached garage. Equipment, like lawn mowers and snow blowers kept on the property to maintain it, is also covered.

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