Renters insurance can cover your personal belongings against things like fire damage or theft when renting a home. In exchange for that protection, you pay a premium to the insurance company.
Finding affordable renters insurance might be a priority if you’re living on a tight budget. Numerous companies offer affordable renters insurance for apartments that can provide you with the coverage you need for less money.
What Is Renters Insurance and How Does It Work?
What is renters insurance? Simply put, renters insurance is a type of coverage that’s designed for people who rent, rather than own, their homes. If you live in an apartment, the rental property owner may have separate insurance for the structure itself. Renters insurance, meanwhile, offers protection to you as a tenant.
This type of insurance is also referred to as tenant insurance. You’re typically not obligated to purchase a renters policy unless your landlord requires renters insurance as part of your lease agreement. If you live with roommates, each of you can individually decide if you want to have this coverage.
Personal insurance planning is important for protecting yourself financially. Having renters insurance is a good idea if you’re concerned about your personal possessions being damaged or stolen, or about other situations that could result in financial losses.
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What’s Included in Renters Insurance Coverage?
If you’re paying for renters insurance, it’s important to know what’s covered and what’s not. What renters insurance covers varies depending on the insurer and your level of coverage. Generally, renters insurance is designed to offer three layers of protection:
• Personal property
• Liability
• Additional expenses
The personal property coverage in a renters insurance policy is designed to protect your belongings against certain dangers. That can include things like wind damage, smoke or fire damage, vandalism, theft, explosions, and water damage relating to septic backups. You may need to purchase separate coverage for flood and earthquake damage.
Personal liability coverage protects you against lawsuits related to any injuries sustained on your property. So if you host a party at your apartment, for example, and someone trips and injures their ankle, your liability protection could pay for their medical bills.
Additional living expenses coverage can pay your costs if your apartment is damaged and becomes unlivable. Your policy can reimburse you for hotel expenses, meals, or temporary rentals until you can move back in.
Renters insurance can cover you at home and away. If you take personal belongings on a trip, for example, and they’re damaged by a covered danger, you can get reimbursed for them through your policy.
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How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost?
If you’re searching for affordable renters insurance for apartments, it’s important to understand the costs involved. But just how much is renters insurance?
There are two costs to consider: premiums and deductibles. Your renters insurance premium is the amount you pay to the insurance company, typically monthly, just for having coverage. Your premiums are based on the amount of coverage you have.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average renter pays $174 per year for renters insurance premiums. That works out to $14.50 per month. Costs can vary widely by state, with renters paying the most for coverage in Mississippi, averaging $252 per year, and the least in North Dakota, where premiums average $115 annually.
If you need to file a claim for damages, you’ll also pay a renters insurance deductible. That’s the amount you pay before the insurance company will pay anything toward your covered damages. In that sense, renters insurance is no different from auto insurance, health insurance, or homeowners insurance. There are different types of deductibles, in terms of how much they cost. Opting for a higher deductible typically results in a lower monthly premium.
For example, you might find a renters insurance policy that charges a $500 deductible while another has a $1,000 deductible. The deductible you choose should be easily affordable on your budget if you need to file a claim.
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Most Affordable Renters Insurance Policies
Some renters insurance policies are more budget-friendly than others. When evaluating affordability, it’s important to consider the premiums and deductibles, as well as the coverage you’re getting in return.
To help you in your search, we requested quotes from eight major insurers to find the most affordable renters policy. Companies were selected based on brand reputation, policy options, and ease of application.
Quotes are based on a single-family home located in central Virginia with fire alarms, no pets or children, and no bicycles or valuable jewelry. All quotes assume a $500 deductible and the minimum coverage amounts recommended by the insurer. Quotes are accurate as of August 24, 2022.
| Monthly Premium | Coverage Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $12 | $15,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $1,000 in medical payments coverage |
| Assurant | $21.92 | $20,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $1,000 in medical payments coverage |
| Geico | $15.84 | $15,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $3,000 for loss of use and medical payments to others |
| Lemonade | $11.17 | $40,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $13,000 for loss of use and medical payments to others |
| Nationwide | $15.44 | $15,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $1,000 in medical payments coverage |
| Progressive | $27.40 upfront, then 10 payments of $15.70 |
$20,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $1,000 in medical payments coverage |
| Travelers | $10.42 | $30,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $10,000 in loss of use and medical payments coverage |
| State Farm | $8.33 | $20,000 in personal property coverage; $100,000 in personal liability coverage; $1,000 in medical payments coverage |
As you can see, none of these policies cost more than $30 per month. There is some variation in the coverage amounts for personal property, medical payments, and loss of use, but $100,000 is usually the baseline for personal liability coverage.
Remember that these are baseline quotes generated using a hypothetical scenario. Your actual quotes will depend on where you live, who lives with you, if you have pets, the type of home you live in, and the individual coverage amounts you choose. Your insurance company may also consider your credit score when calculating your premiums. Adding optional coverage can raise your premium costs.
How Do You Find Affordable Renters Insurance?
Finding affordable renters insurance for apartments means doing some comparison shopping. You generally have two options for purchasing renters insurance: traditional insurers and online insurance companies.
Purchasing renters insurance through a traditional insurance company can work in your favor if you’re able to bundle it with other insurance. For example, you might be able to bundle it with your auto insurance policy in order to get a discount. If you’re insured through a company locally, you might appreciate being able to stop by their office with questions or to make a policy change.
Getting renters insurance coverage through an online insurance company can also yield some benefits. It may be easier to apply for renters insurance and purchase a policy online. And the amount you pay for coverage might be less than with a traditional insurer.
When comparing your options for affordable renters insurance, ask yourself these questions:
• How much coverage do I need?
• What kind of premiums and deductibles will fit my budget?
• How easy would it be to file a claim if necessary?
• What kind of customer support is available?
• Are there any discounts or other incentives that could save me money?
• What is the insurer’s overall reputation?
Reading online reviews of renters insurance companies can give you a better idea of what people do and don’t like about them. You can also get free quotes online to estimate your total costs before purchasing a policy.
The Takeaway
If you’re renting an apartment and something unexpected happens, having the right renters insurance coverage in place can give you peace of mind. Policies typically have three parts: property coverage in case of damage or theft, liability coverage in case someone is injured on your property, and loss of use in case you need to find housing elsewhere while repairs are made to your rental. The national average premium for renters insurance is $174 annually.
If you’re ready to purchase renters insurance, SoFi can help. We’re collaborating with Gabi to offer renters insurance policies with competitively low premiums, making it easy to get covered even if you’re on the tightest of budgets. It takes just minutes to sign up for renters insurance online and protect your most important belongings.
Photo credit: iStock/fizkes
Insurance not available in all states.
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