Best rates for insurance

Imagine coming home to find all of your possessions destroyed in a fire or other catastrophe. Your landlord’s insurance policy won’t protect you; it covers only the building repairs, not your personal belongings. That’s when it pays to have the best renters insurance in place for your needs.

In this article

Renters insurance reimburses you to replace personal items lost due to disaster, theft, vandalism or other unexpected events. Think how much it would cost to buy new furniture, appliances, clothing, jewelry and everything else. In comparison, renters insurance is relatively cheap: The average policy costs $188 per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

What your policy will cover

Renters insurance does more than pay to replace your things. A standard renters policy also includes liability coverage, which pays for damage and injuries you might cause to others. For example, if someone is injured in your apartment because of your negligence and sues you, your policy would cover you for that person’s medical bills.

Renters insurance also covers you for additional living expenses, such as the cost of a hotel room, if your home is destroyed in a disaster covered by your policy.

Choose the best renters insurance for you

When looking for the best policy, it’s smart to start with the five insurance companies that ranked highest in a 2015 J.D. Power survey of renters insurance customer satisfaction:

• Erie Insurance
• American Family
• Nationwide

The J.D. Power survey included 14 major insurance companies, but smaller and regional insurers can also provide good service and competitive rates. Although renters insurance is affordable, it’s best to shop around to find the best policy for your needs. Prices vary from company to company and state to state. Be a smart shopper by getting several quotes.

The relatively small amount of money it costs to buy a renters insurance policy can be well worth it if catastrophe strikes.