California Renters Insurance

Protect yourself and your family, for pennies a day.

Renting has definite upsides such as not needing to fix what’s broken or deal with big expenses like a new roof. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an insurance policy of your own. Your landlord’s insurance policy will only cover the structure, leaving you responsible for your personal belongings and your own personal liability.

That’s where a Californian renter’s insurance policy comes in. Renter’s insurance isn’t as expensive as you might fear, with many policies costing around $200 a year. For what you get in return, it’s an absolute bargain.

Personal Belongings

Though most people believe they have too little to insure, we always have more than we realize. Do you have $1,000 to replace your iPad or to buy a new couch? It doesn’t matter how little you paid when you bought it, a good California renter’s insurance policy will pay to replace it. The small things add up too.

• Getting a new passport because yours burned in a fire
• Buying new textbooks so you can keep up with classes
• Needing pots and pans, a couch, a computer, even a new phone because it’s been stolen or damaged beyond repair

In California, renter’s insurance covers your personal belongings in multiple ways

• All of the contents of your apartment, condo, rental house, and even your college dorm can be replaced if you have enough coverage.
• Fire, storm damage, theft, and vandalism are the most common covered events.
• If your car is stolen or broken into, any of the things you left in your car are covered.

Loss of use coverage is available for most policies. It pays for you to have a place to stay and even incidentals like eating out, if you’re in a hotel with no kitchen, while your rental is repaired or rebuilt.

Personal Liability

You can’t escape that reality just because you rent. People can and will sue, and if you’re at fault, you’ll have to pay. With renter’s insurance, you’re covered up to the policy limit you choose. Most landlords require at least $100,000, but you can always increase that amount for added protection.

What kinds of accidents might trigger your personal liability coverage?

• Lit candles or cooking accidents that cause a fire
• Trips and falls because of a throw rug or other personal belongings that pose a tripping hazard
• A leak you caused that flooded your downstairs neighbor’s home, causing damage

It doesn’t always take much, and you don’t always have to be careless to be found liable for a damage or injury. With a renter’s insurance policy, you don’t have to worry that you’ll lose everything because of an accident.

Whether you’re just starting out in your first apartment or you’re a life-long renter who prefers the lifestyle, you have plenty worth protecting. Even if your landlord doesn’t require renter’s insurance, it’s an affordable and responsible way to protect yourself from whatever life throws at you.