Everything you need to know about insurance basics, like coverage types, limits, cost and more.
Renters Insurance: Am I Covered?
Whether you’re a student renting your first apartment, an empty nester downsizing or finally renting that seasonal home you’ve always wanted, renters insurance can help protect your new home and make sure your hard work towards pursuing your dreams pays off.
Did you know renters insurance covers more than just your stuff? Renters insurance can help out in a variety of scenarios. We’re here to help make sure you’re getting the most out of your renters insurance policy so that you and your possessions are protected from the unexpected.
Renters Insurance Coverage Explained
Renters insurance covers your personal property or possessions if you rent a home, apartment or condo. With the value of your personal possessions protected, this insurance can provide security and peace of mind. The best part? This coverage extends beyond your home — providing protection for your personal belongings and liability while traveling.*
But why is it so important to have renters insurance? It helps protect your possessions where you live. Your landlord carries insurance for the building, but not for your possessions. That’s why renters insurance is so important — it protects your personal possessions and provides coverage to replace or repair items in the event of a fire, robbery or other covered loss, in addition to coverage for liability and medical expenses.
Renters insurance coverage from American Family Insurance offers three main types of protection:
Renters personal property protection
This coverage protects your belongings inside your home and when you’re on the go. For example, if your TV is stolen while you’re away, it may be covered with this protection. Use our Renters Calculator to help estimate how much it’d cost to replace your property and how much it’d cost to cover it all with renters insurance. You may be surprised to discover the value of your stuff is worth more than you think!
Renters personal liability and medical expense protection
This coverage provides some protection for medical bills and first aid costs if a guest is injured in your home, or if you injure someone accidentally while out and about depending on your coverage limits. It can also help cover legal costs and the cost to repair or replace another person’s property for damage you caused. For example, this coverage helps if you’re sued by your landlord or someone else for damages you caused to their property.
Loss of use coverage
This coverage helps with additional living expenses if your apartment is uninhabitable due to a covered loss. This includes help when paying reasonable expenses for a hotel room and food if your home is damaged, for example, by fire or smoke Living in an apartment complex and meeting others can be fun but you can’t control what happens to the building or what your neighbor does. This extra coverage can help provide peace of mind at night while you sleep.
For more information on optional coverages or any other questions you may have about renters insurance, reach out to an American Family Insurance agent.
Understanding Your Renters Policy
We want you to understand your policy and be confident you have the coverage you need to protect what matters most. Here’s the information you’ll find on your renters insurance policy and what it means.
1. Coverage for your things
Personal property coverage
This section highlights your personal property coverage and limits, which helps replace or repair items such as clothing, jewelry, appliances, furniture and electronics.
2. Coverage for living expenses
Loss of use coverage
This section highlights your loss of use coverage and limits, which helps pay for expenses such as hotel stays and food should your home become unlivable.
3. Coverage when accidents happen
Personal liability
This section highlights your personal liability coverage and limits, which provides financial protection for property damage and injury to others.
4. Coverage for medical expenses
Medical expense coverage
This section highlights your medical expense coverage and limits, which helps pay medical expenses to others.
5. Your customized protection
This section of your policy shows what additional coverages you have selected, such as electrical appliance or identity theft coverage.
6. Helping you save
This section of your policy shows what discounts you are receiving, how much you are saving and your annual premium amount.
7. Coverages to consider
This section of your policy highlights optional coverage you currently don’t have but may be interested in, as well as how much that coverage will cost.
8. Deductibles
A deductible is the amount you’re responsible for paying following a claim. This section highlights your deductibles that may include your diminishing deductible amount.
For complete details, please refer to your policy or contact your agent.
What Does My Renters Insurance Cover?
By now you know that renters insurance protects your home and property, but what else does it cover? Learn what events are and are not covered in your base renters insurance policy.-
Most types of theft are covered by renters insurance, including burglaries, car theft and travel theft up to your covered limits. Learn more about renters insurance theft coverage.
-
No, but you can save money by bundling your renters and car coverages. On average, you could save 29 percent on your auto coverage and 15 percent on your renters coverage. ** Talk to your agent to start saving with bundled insurance today.
-
Renters insurance does not cover bed bugs.
-
Renters insurance may be able to help you cover the costs of replacing your belongings from water damage such as leaks and burst pipes.*** Learn more about how water damage is covered by renters insurance.
-
Renters insurance won’t cover your personal property in the event of a flood. If you live in a floodplain or somewhere prone to flooding, consider purchasing a separate flood policy.
-
Renters insurance may cover your personal possessions if damaged by fire.***
-
Your renters policy may help cover liabilities caused by your dog. Be sure to confirm that your breed of dog is approved by your insurance company and can be covered by your policy. Learn more about renters insurance for dog owners.
-
Renters insurance personal property coverage can cover items in storage units.*** Learn more about storage unit coverage.
-
Personal property coverage is one of the key types of protection provided by renters insurance. Our personal property coverage may help you with the costs of replacing your things should they be damaged by fire, theft, water damage and other covered losses.***
-
Renters insurance typically covers you for expenses related to temporary living expenses. Learn more about temporary living expenses coverage.
-
Typical renters insurance policies do not cover earthquakes. Consider adding earthquake coverage to your existing renters policy to help with unexpected expenses.
-
Most renters insurance policies provide basic coverage for jewelry up to your coverage limits for covered losses. But consider broadening your coverage to cover more situations. For additional protection, learn how to insure your jewelry.
-
Yes, but it depends on the type of coverage you’ve selected and your coverage limits. You can add an engagement ring, or eventually a wedding ring, to your renters insurance with itemized personal property coverage. For additional protection, learn more ways to insure engagement or wedding rings.
-
Electronics can be covered by renters insurance if damaged by a covered loss such as fire or theft. Additional protection can be added with Equipment Breakdown Coverage for your electrical appliances and other electronics in your home.
-
After your deductible applies, renters insurance covers food loss caused by a broken refrigerator.
-
It depends. Typically, a roommate and their belongings aren’t covered by your renters insurance policy. Learn more about renters insurance with roommates.
-
Personal liability coverage is one of the key types of protection provided by renters insurance. Our liability coverage could help you pay for property damage, first aid, medical and court costs up to your covered limits.
-
Renters insurance covers your stuff if it is damaged by a windstorm or hail.
-
Renters insurances covers damage caused by the weight of snow, ice or sleet, but only for property that is inside a fully enclosed building.
-
Renters insurance covers vandalism to your personal property.
Final Renters Coverage Considerations
Renters insurance can be complicated, but we hope this resource helps make some of the finer points about your coverage easier to understand. Here are some key takeaways:
- If you rent a home, apartment, condo or other type of property, you’re eligible for renters insurance
- Renters insurance provides coverage for three key areas: personal property, personal liability/medical expense coverage and loss of use
- Renters insurance offers optional coverages for a wide variety of events, like identity theft and electrical appliance coverage
- Your renters insurance policy shows your different coverages in addition to discounts, deductibles and coverages to consider
- Remember to review your policy from time to time to make sure you have appropriate coverage limits
- Renters insurance covers a wide variety of events such as theft, vandalism and costs resulting from liability claims
- Typical renters insurance policies do not cover events like floods, earthquakes or septic backup and sump overflow, but you may be eligible to purchase additional protection for these events
Learn more about American Family renters insurance and its different coverages.
Get Started With a Renters Insurance Quote
*Coverage limits are limited while travelling. Examine your policy for limits prior to travelling to determine whether or not extra coverage may be needed.
**Discount and savings amounts and eligibility will vary. Some restrictions apply. Discounts may vary by state, property policy form and company underwriting the homeowners policy. Discounts may not apply to all coverage on a property policy.
***Coverage is provided up to your covered limits and once you’ve satisfied your deductible.