Looking for renter’s insurance? The average renter's insurance premium in the US is around $174 per year. Renters insurance is a valuable financial tool to help you cover your personal property for a very affordable price.
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There are dozens of insurance companies that provide renters insurance and tens of options in the renter policy you can customize. Why do you need renters insurance? How much coverage should you choose? What is the average premium in your area? What risks are not covered by renters insurance? We want to answer all the questions for you in this article.
Why do you need Renters Insurance?
When you rent an apartment or a house, your landlord usually buys landlord insurance for the property which covers the building. However, when unexpected happens, you need the renters insurance to cover your personal belongings, such as your laptop, furniture, and clothing, etc.,
In addition to your personal belongings, renters insurance commonly covers your liability if someone is injured on your property. Sometimes, landlords will have a minimum requirement on the liability amount.
đź’ˇTakeaway: Renters insurance covers your personal belongings and liability for others' injuries on your property.
What are the types of coverage for renters insurance?
The most standard types of coverage are described below. The coverage may vary from state to state and company to company. You should always check your own renters policy to review the limits of your coverage
- Personal Property
This is the total value of your personal stuff. It commonly includes furniture, clothing, and electronics. One thing you should be aware of is that most carriers exclude expensive items such as jewelry, art, cameras, or high-end bicycles in this coverage. Studies show that the average person has $35,000 worth of personal possessions. - Liability
This covers your bills when you're responsible for some injuries that happened on your property. According to our quote data, this coverage won't impact as significant as personal property to your final premium. - Loss of use
When your property becomes unlivable under a covered reason. This is the max living expense you can reimburse. - Medical payment
If your guest or neighbor is injured on your property, this is the max amount of the medical expense. - Deductible
For each approved claim, this is the amount you need to pay. This impacts your premium significantly.
đź’ˇReplacement cost vs. Actual cash value
If you read replacement cost or actual cash value from your policy, these are two types of methods to measure the value of your lost stuff. The replacement cost means the full value of the item, while the ACV is the value reduced by the amount the item has depreciated.
What are the steps for purchasing a renters insurance policy?
So you’ve decided that renter’s insurance is a good investment and want to protect your belongings. (Smart decision!) Now what?
- Calculate the total value of your belongings.
Evaluate the value of your furniture, clothing, and electronics. The majority of policies have a limit on particularly expensive items, so consult with your provider. For example, Lemonade requires that items such as expensive bicycles and jewelry are listed separately. According to our quote history, customers usually choose a personal property policy starting at $5,000. They may then go up to limits from $10,000- $30,000. - Check your lease agreement to determine your liability.
If your landlord has a requirement for tenants to purchase renter’s insurance, they usually have a minimum liability requirement listed directly in the lease agreement. As a general idea, some high-end apartments require liability policies in the range of $300K. - Choose your deductible wisely.
In the event that you need to make a claim, this is the amount that you will be required to pay out of pocket if your claim is approved. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums. However, be certain that you have chosen a deductible that best fits your particular financial situation. While a lower premium seems nice, that higher deductible can be a strain in the event of a loss. - Consider other parties that may need to be covered under your policy.
You can add your landlord as an “interested party” to your policy, and this will allow them to be notified if your policy is canceled. Most companies cover your spouse by default, but some may ask you to list your spouse’s name or other details. Be sure that you verify that your spouse is covered.
In the event that you have roommates, you may need to do further research. Some policies cover roommates, and some do not. While Lemonade does not cover roommates under their policies and they will need to purchase their own individual insurance, Liberty Mutual will allow coverage of up to 3 roommates on a single policy.
đź’ˇNote: Read your policy carefully about the limit of your personal item. If your expensive items are higher than the limit, you need to talk to your agent or call the customer service line to endorse those items.
How much is renters insurance?
The national average for renter's insurance is around $174 per year. The premium is determined by factors such as your location, your age, and your coverage, etc., In some states, your credit report is also used to determine your premium. Below is a report of the average renters insurance price in the US. You can click any state to learn more details.
| State | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $235 |
| Alaska | $166 |
| Arizona | $178 |
| Arkansas | $212 |
| California | $182 |
| Colorado | $159 |
| Connecticut | $192 |
| Delaware | $159 |
| District of Columbia | $158 |
| Florida | $188 |
| Georgia | $219 |
| Hawaii | $185 |
| Idaho | $153 |
| Illinois | $167 |
| Indiana | $174 |
| Iowa | $144 |
| Kansas | $172 |
| Kentucky | $168 |
| Louisiana | $235 |
| Maine | $149 |
| Maryland | $161 |
| Massachusetts | $194 |
| Michigan | $182 |
| Minnesota | $140 |
| Mississippi | $258 |
| Missouri | $173 |
| Montana | $146 |
| Nebraska | $143 |
| Nevada | $178 |
| New Hampshire | $149 |
| New Jersey | $165 |
| New Mexico | $187 |
| New York | $194 |
| North Carolina | $157 |
| North Dakota | $120 |
| Ohio | $175 |
| Oklahoma | $236 |
| Oregon | $163 |
| Pennsylvania | $158 |
| Rhode Island | $182 |
| South Carolina | $188 |
| South Dakota | $123 |
| Tennessee | $199 |
| Texas | $232 |
| Utah | $151 |
| Vermont | $155 |
| Virginia | $152 |
| Washington | $163 |
| West Virginia | $188 |
| Wisconsin | $134 |
| Wyoming | $147 |
đź’ˇNote: Click the state to view more details.
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What companies offer renters insurance?
Most insurance companies like Liberty Mutual, Farmers, GEICO who sell auto insurance also offer renters insurance. In addition, there are companies such as Lemonade, Assurant who primarily provide Renters insurance. Below is a comparison between those two options.
| Standalone | Bundle with auto insurance |
|---|---|
| Lemonade, Assurant, etc., | Liberty Mutual, Allstate, GEICO, etc., |
|
• More brands and price options • The company may have a partnership with your landlords |
• Save money for your auto insurance • Manage multi-policies at the same place |
You can also shop around to see what is the best option for you. Click here to start a free quote to compare multiple companies for your renters insurance.
What are not covered by renters insurance?
Renters insurance does not cover all the risks. If you live in an area where there are higher risks for such perils as flood or earthquake, you may need to purchase specific insurance for those perils separately.
If you have a pet and would like to buy health insurance for your loved pets, you may consider buying pet insurance.
Does renters insurance cover roof leaking?
Renters insurance focused on providing coverage for the renter, which does not cover any property damage, including roof leaking. Instead, the owner/landlord is responsible for their own insurance to cover those costs. However, renters insurance policies can give you protection for the following things: medical expenses for any injuries sustained in the emergency, personal property damage by the roof leaking, living expenses such as finding a new place to live after current residence is damaged, personal liability, etc.
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