Renters Insurance

What renters insurance costs

In NAIC’s 2022 data, reproduced by Triple-I, the average renters (HO-4) premium was $171 a year nationally, and NAIC reports renters premiums rose just 0.6% from 2021 to 2022. State averages ranged from $129 in South Dakota to $219 in Alabama among the states we cover.

Source: Triple-I, reproducing NAIC 2022 data. Averages aren’t quotes.

What renters insurance covers

• Personal property. Theft or damage from covered perils, at home or often away from home.
• Liability. Injuries or damage you cause to others.
• Loss of use. Extra living costs after a covered loss.
• Medical payments to others. Small injury claims regardless of fault.

Like homeowners policies, renters policies exclude flood and usually earthquake.

Choosing your limits

Renters insurance (HO-4) covers your belongings, personal liability, and extra living expenses if you can’t live in your home after a covered loss. Your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings. To choose a personal property limit, regulators in North Carolina and Wisconsin recommend making an inventory of what you own and its value. Money, jewelry, and some collectibles have limited coverage unless you schedule them, and replacement cost coverage costs more than actual cash value.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value

Replacement cost pays to repair or rebuild with materials of similar kind and quality. Actual cash value is replacement cost minus depreciation, so it often doesn’t pay enough to fully replace what you lost. Many policies pay replacement cost on the house and actual cash value on belongings unless you add replacement cost contents coverage. NAIC’s guide notes that if your dwelling limit falls below 80% of replacement cost, the insurer may reduce claim payments.

Can a landlord require it?

Can a landlord require renters insurance? In Virginia, the law expressly allows it as a condition of tenancy (Va. Code 55.1-1206). Other states’ rules vary, so check your lease and local law.

Make an inventory

NAIC recommends going room by room and recording everything, including electronics, jewelry, collectibles, and guns, with photos or video, and storing the inventory off-site or online. Record the description, value, purchase date, receipts, and serial numbers, and update it each year and after big purchases. NAIC offers a free Home Inventory app.

Flood isn’t covered

Homeowners and renters policies don’t cover flood. Flood insurance comes from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers. Most NFIP policies take effect 30 days after purchase, with exceptions such as buying with a new mortgage. NFIP limits are $250,000 for a home’s structure and $100,000 for contents. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums reflect each property’s flood risk and rebuilding cost, and most annual increases are capped at 18%.

How to compare renters quotes

1. Inventory your belongings and set a personal property limit.
2. Choose replacement cost if you can; actual cash value subtracts depreciation.
3. Pick a liability limit that protects your savings.
4. Check sub-limits for jewelry, electronics, and collectibles.
5. Compare deductibles and the same coverage across quotes.
6. Confirm the insurer with your state insurance department.

Deductibles explained

Your deductible is what you pay before insurance pays on a claim. Most homeowners policies have an all-perils deductible, often a flat dollar amount, and many also have a separate wind, hail, or hurricane deductible stated as a percentage of the dwelling limit. A 2% wind deductible on a home insured for $300,000 means you pay the first $6,000 of a wind claim. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay after a loss, so pick one you could cover from savings.

Endorsements to consider

• Water or sewer backup. Standard policies limit or exclude it; Maryland requires insurers to offer it.
• Scheduled personal property. Covers jewelry, art, and collectibles above standard sub-limits.
• Replacement cost contents. Pays to replace belongings without subtracting depreciation.
• Ordinance or law. Helps pay for code upgrades required when you rebuild.
• Extended or guaranteed replacement cost. Pays above your dwelling limit if rebuilding costs more than expected.
• Earthquake. Available as an endorsement or separate policy in many areas.

Liability and umbrella coverage

Personal liability coverage pays if you’re legally responsible for someone’s injury or property damage, including legal defense. Homeowners policies often come with $100,000 or $300,000 of liability, and many people choose more. An umbrella policy adds liability coverage above your home and auto policies; Triple-I says insurers generally want about $250,000 of auto liability and $300,000 of homeowners liability underneath.

If insurers won’t cover you

If regular insurers won’t cover your home, most states have a fallback. NAIC says 33 states have a FAIR plan or similar residual mechanism, and some coastal states run separate beach or windstorm plans. These plans usually offer more limited coverage, often without liability or loss of use, and can cost more, so they’re a last resort; an independent agent can also check surplus lines insurers.

How to file a claim

1. Protect people and property first. Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage and keep receipts.
2. Report the claim promptly to your insurer or agent; policies require prompt notice, and some states set deadlines (Florida, for example, now gives one year to report a new claim).
3. Document everything with photos, video, and your home inventory.
4. Keep receipts for extra living expenses if you can’t stay home.
5. Get the adjuster’s estimate in writing and ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
6. If you disagree, ask about the policy’s appraisal process and contact your state insurance department.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Which company issues the policy, and how is it rated?
• Is the dwelling covered for replacement cost, and is there extended replacement cost?
• Are belongings covered for replacement cost or actual cash value?
• What deductibles apply, including wind, hail, or hurricane?
• What discounts are available for bundling, alarms, or roof upgrades?
• How are claims reported, and what are the deadlines?

Checking a plan and insurer

• Insurer license. Confirm the insurer is licensed in your state.
• Financial strength. Check AM Best or Demotech, depending on the insurer.
• Complaints. NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search shows complaint data.
• Exclusions. Read what isn’t covered, especially flood and water damage.
• Deductibles. Know every deductible that applies.

What an independent agency does

An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.

How we work

Blake Insurance Group serves clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed. The insurers and plans we can offer depend on our appointments and your location; a company named on this page may not be available through us.

How to verify an insurer or agency

Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:

1. Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
2. Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
3. Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
4. Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.

A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.

Sources

We checked the facts on this page against the sources below in October 2026. Plans, prices, and rules change, so confirm current terms before you buy.

• North Carolina DOI: Consumer guide to renters insurance
• Wisconsin OCI: Renters insurance fact sheet
• Virginia Code 55.1-1206
• NAIC: Home inventory
• Maryland Insurance Administration: Homeowners insurance guide
• Triple-I: What is an umbrella liability policy?
• NAIC: FAIR plans
• Triple-I: Average premiums for homeowners and renters insurance by state, 2022 (NAIC data)
• NAIC: Homeowners insurance report (2022 data) release
• NAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Home Insurance (2022)
• Alabama DOI: Homeowners insurance forms
• New Jersey DOBI: Insuring your home
• Triple-I: Inflation, replacement costs, and homeowners insurance (Dec 2025)
• Triple-I: Homeowners market shows early signs of stabilization (Dec 2025)
• AM Best: Ratings search
• NAIC: Consumer Insurance Search

What to have ready for a quote

These details help an agent quote accurately.

1. Address and move-in date. Where you live and when coverage should start.
2. Belongings estimate. A rough value of what you own.
3. Valuables. Jewelry, electronics, or collectibles to schedule.
4. Pets. Dog breed and bite history, if any.
5. Lease requirements. Liability limits your landlord requires.

Renters Insurance FAQs

Related guides

• Home insurance
• Renters insurance
• Flood insurance
• Condo insurance
• Landlord insurance

Your next step

Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us.