Renters insurance can help protect you and your personal belongings when renting a property. It’s not the same as homeowners insurance, but it’s similar.
And while your landlord may have their own insurance to protect their property, you typically still need your own coverage for liability reasons and to protect your personal possessions.
Learn more: Should you rent or buy a home? How to decide.
What is renters insurance?
Renters insurance is a type of insurance policy designed for people who rent property from others. It typically provides coverage for personal property, liability, and additional living expenses.
While similar, it’s not the same as landlord insurance. A landlord insurance plan protects the landlord’s property, while renters insurance protects you and your belongings from financial risk.
What does renters insurance cover?
Personal belongings
Personal property coverage protects your personal belongings from covered perils, such as fire, theft, vandalism, and more.
These are examples of items that may be protected with personal property coverage:
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Clothing
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Furniture
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Electronics
Liability protection
Liability protection can help pay for legal costs, medical bills, and other expenses if someone is injured at the property you’re renting and sues you.
Additional living expenses (ALE)
You can use ALE to pay for food and a temporary place to live, such as a hotel, if your rented property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss.
Common covered events include:
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Fire
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Theft
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Smoke damage
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Water damage (non-flood)
What doesn’t renters insurance cover?
Renters insurance doesn’t cover everything. It depends on your policy, but commonly excluded items include the following:
Flood damage
Flood coverage isn’t typically included in renters insurance, though you may be able to add it as an optional upgrade or separate policy.
Learn more: How much does flood insurance cost in every state?
Earthquakes
Similar to flood coverage, you likely won’t find earthquake insurance included in a standard renters insurance policy. You may be able to add coverage or purchase a separate policy if this is a concern.
High-value items (limits apply)
It makes sense to check your policy’s personal property coverage limit, as certain high-value items, such as gold and jewelry, may not be fully covered. If your renters insurance doesn’t provide enough personal property coverage, you may be able to add an endorsement or more coverage to your policy.
Examples of high-value items include:
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Gold
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Jewelry
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Cameras
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Guns
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Art
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Musical instruments
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Collectibles
Roommate belongings (usually not covered)
In general, your renters insurance covers your belongings, not those of any roommates. They would need to buy their own coverage to protect their belongings.
Who needs renters insurance?
You likely need it if:
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You rent an apartment, house, or condo: Having sufficient renters insurance in place can protect you from financial hardship in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as a fire or theft.
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You can’t afford to replace your belongings out of pocket: Compared to paying for expensive items out of pocket, a renters insurance policy can be more than affordable.
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Your landlord requires it: It’s common for a landlord to require renters insurance. If it’s a requirement, you don’t have many other options (besides finding another place).
You might need it if:
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You’re a college student: The average college student doesn’t tend to have unlimited funds, so protecting personal property (like a laptop) from theft or damage is a smart move.
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You have roommates: In general, each roommate needs their own renters insurance policy, or you have to share a policy. Having your own may be easier in the long run if you know the roommate situation will occasionally change.
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You have no backup housing option: Do you have a plan for living somewhere else if you’re forced out of your living arrangement because of a fire or another unforeseen circumstance? If not, consider how renters insurance can help cover your temporary lodging expenses, such as a short-term rental or a hotel.
How much does renters insurance cost?
Average cost
The latest data on the Insurance Information Institute’s website shows that the average annual premium for renters insurance is $171, which breaks down to $14.25 per month.
However, renters insurance premiums can vary widely based on factors such as where you live and your coverage limits.
What affects the cost of renters insurance:
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Location: Where you live affects how much renters insurance costs. For example, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama have rates on the high side, while North Dakota and South Dakota tend to have lower rates, illustrating differences across states. In-state prices can also vary, as living in a major city rather than a rural community may affect your premiums.
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Coverage limits: In general, the more coverage you select, the higher your premiums.
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Deductible: Adversely, the lower your deductible, the higher your premiums.
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Claims history: A higher number of recent claims may increase your rates.
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Pets: Cats, dogs, and other pets increase your liability risk.
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Added coverage: If you choose to add optional coverage, such as flood insurance, your rates will likely go up.
Sample pricing table
Plugging in some basic information with Allstate gave us three renters insurance plans to choose from, priced from $8 to $20 per month. This is an example of what you might see when comparing renters insurance across providers.
Keep in mind that the cost may vary by location and provider. For these quotes, we selected an apartment in a midsize college town in Utah.
How to get renters insurance in 5 steps
1. Estimate the value of belongings
One of the primary components of renters insurance is personal property protection, so it’s essential to know how much your belongings, such as electronics and furniture, are worth. This will give you an idea of how much coverage you’ll need.
2. Compare quotes
Comparing quotes is as easy as plugging in your personal information on a provider’s website and seeing which policies are available. You can do this with as many providers as you want until you find the best deal for your situation.
3. Choose coverage limits
As you compare quotes, keep an eye on each plan’s coverage limits. Some providers will offer you multiple policy options at different prices. In general, plans with more coverage will cost more. If you’ve already estimated the value of your personal belongings, you should have a sense of how much coverage you need.
4. Select deductible
The deductible is the amount you pay before insurance covers the cost of a covered loss. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible, you would need to pay that before insurance pays any reimbursement. Rates are typically higher for plans with lower deductibles.
5. Add endorsements if needed
An endorsement, sometimes called a rider, is an adjustment to your insurance policy. In many cases, purchasing optional add-ons or upgrades would be the same as adding an endorsement.
You might want to consider adding an endorsement to your renters insurance policy if you want additional coverage, such as for high-value items, or if your plan doesn’t already cover certain scenarios, such as earthquakes and floods.
Why get renters insurance?
The key benefits of renters insurance include:
In general, renters insurance is not legally required, but landlords can include it in lease agreements. If it’s included in a rental agreement, you would be required to purchase sufficient insurance.
Even if it’s not required, renters insurance is still worth considering. In terms of financial security, renters insurance can help protect you from situations where you may need to replace damaged or stolen belongings, find a temporary place to live, or help pay for legal expenses.
Do you really need renters insurance?
You probably need it if:
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Your landlord requires it: Unless you want to live somewhere else where it’s not a requirement, you’ll have to get a policy if it’s stated in your rental agreement.
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You have more than $5,000 in belongings: If you have costly belongings and don’t think you could easily pay to replace them out of your own funds, it’s worth comparing renters insurance plans for their personal property coverage.
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You want liability protection: You could be liable if someone is injured on your rental property, which could result in substantial legal and other fees. Renters insurance policies typically include liability coverage.
You might skip it if:
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You can fully self-insure: If you can take on enough financial risk through your personal finances, you likely don’t need renters insurance.
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You have minimal possessions: If personal property coverage isn’t important to you because of the low cost of belongings, you may not need renters insurance.
Renters insurance FAQs
What is the main purpose of renters insurance?
The primary purpose of renters insurance is to protect you against covered losses as a renter. This could include having personal belongings stolen or damaged, being liable for expenses if someone is injured on your property, and having to find temporary lodging if your property becomes uninhabitable.
How much is renters insurance?
It varies by location and other factors, but it’s common for renters insurance policies to cost between $5 and $25 per month, or $60 to $300 per year.
Is renters insurance required?
The government does not require it, but some landlords may require it in their rental agreements. If you sign a rental or lease agreement that requires renters insurance, you have to purchase a policy.
Does renters insurance cover theft outside the home?
It depends on the policy, but many providers offer renters insurance that covers your personal belongings both inside and outside your home.
Can landlords require renters insurance?
Yes, landlords can require renters insurance in their rental agreements. This is typically because a landlord’s insurance may cover the building but not a tenant’s belongings, or liability if a tenant’s guest or family member is injured on the property.
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