Does Renters Insurance Cover Pets? Does It Cost More?
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When renting out a place, you’ll need to purchase renters insurance that will cover the costs of possible accidents and issues at the property.
Nowadays, many renters come with pets, and for those people, it’s essential to know if the renters’ insurance will cover their pets or not. As they are typically playful and could potentially cause damage to you and others, it’s always helpful to know possible damages will have a certain amount of coverage.
The great thing is that renters insurance can cover pets to a certain extent, and we’ll provide you with all the details throughout the article. Keep reading to see if your renters’ insurance covers your pet and what you can expect from the policy.
How Does Renters Insurance Cover Pets?
How Does Renters Insurance Cover Pets?Renters’ insurance includes various coverages, and two of the main ones are personal liability and personal property. These policies cover your pets to a certain point as they cover third-party injuries, which will cover problems your pet can cause to your guests, visitors, and their personal belongings.
- Personal liability coverage: This type of coverage protects you if your pet bites or hurts your neighbors, visitors, or guests. The personal liability coverage also extends outside of your home, so when walking your dog in a park and a similar incident happens, the insurance covers the costs. However, the insurance company will probably cover liability expenses up to a certain amount which typically extends to around $100,000. If you exceed the limit, you would need to cover the rest of the costs. When deciding on a limit for liability coverage, you should consider all possible damages that could happen.
- Personal property coverage: This type of coverage protects you if your pet destroys someone else’s property and personal belongings. However, it typically won’t cover any costs your pet makes on your own property and to your belongings. Let’s say your pet accidentally destroys your and your neighbor’s outdoor furniture while outside. This policy would only cover the costs for the items of your neighbor but not yours.
Does Renters Insurance Cover All Pets?
Typically, renters insurance covers cats and dogs, although there are specific breeds that are commonly not included in renter policies. This type of insurance doesn’t cover exotic animals, but this can vary from company to company.
According to data the insurance policies use to determine their coverage, they can exclude dogs that people consider violent or aggressive. That’s because they think such breeds increase the chances of claims. Insurance companies can also deny coverage for your dog if it has a history of biting.
- Akita
- Cane Corso
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shepherd
- Mastiff
- Malamute
- Chow Chow
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Siberian Husky
- Rottweiler
Although not all insurance companies discriminate against these breeds, a significant number of companies won’t cover them. If you cannot find a dog-friendly option for your canine, you can do a couple of other things to gain coverage if something happens.
The first solution would be to get separate liability coverage for your dog. It would cover your canine and its liability, even if your renters’ insurance doesn’t provide such coverage.
Another excellent solution is to purchase an umbrella policy, as it would fill in the gaps that renter’s insurance doesn’t cover for you and your pet. It would also cover all the liability costs that apply to you and your canine.
How Can I Add a Pet to My Renters Insurance Policy?
When applying for renters’ insurance, the company will typically ask you to provide information about the animals you keep at home. If you get a pet later on while already under the renters’ insurance, you can reach out to the company to additionally include your new furry family member.
What Is the Difference Between Renters Insurance and Pet Insurance?
Both of these policies provide different coverage that will benefit you and your pet. However, while renter’s insurance is mandatory by most landlords, you can choose if you want to have pet insurance, although it’s a good investment as it will help in many scenarios. Check out everything about these two policies below.
Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is designed to cover your personal property and liability when renting out a property. While the landlord’s insurance should cover the actual structure of the place you’re renting, your insurance will cover your liability exposure and your personal belongings.
Pets typically increase your liability exposure, and renters’ insurance will cover the majority of costs if your pet bites, scratches, or injures someone. That way, you won’t have to pay for the expensive medical bills from your pocket.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is essential as it covers health costs and treatments for your pet. These coverages can vary, so depending on your needs and wishes, you can include several policies to cover all the expenses you and your pet might face.
However, this insurance is non-mandatory but we suggest all pet parents get it as accidents can always happen, and medical bills for your pet can be expensive. That’s why it’s helpful to look into different options of pet insurance to figure out if a certain policy would work for you and your pet. Here are the few of the top-rated options to start your comparison with:
Top Rated Pet Insurance Companies:
What is Not Included in Renters Insurance?
While renters insurance covers damages and liabilities your pet might cause to others, it doesn’t cover any damage your pet makes to your personal items. Renters’ insurance also won’t cover any health costs related to your pet which is why you’ll need a separate pet insurance policy.
Will My Renters Insurance Go Up if My Pet Injures Someone?
Your renters’ insurance will likely go up if you file a claim for injuries your pet causes to someone. Insurance companies look at claims as an indicator that your pet might do a similar thing in the future, so they charge you more to compensate for potential risk increases.
Also, if the injuries your pet caused are severe, the insurance company can decide to cancel your policy. In case that happens, you might have issues finding a company that will extend the coverage to your pet, or you might need to pay higher premiums because of the past liability.
Final Thoughts
Renters’ insurance covers your pet to a certain point, but it’s always useful to verify whether your pet is included in the policy as some breeds and species are ineligible. Still, renters’ insurance only covers liability and property damage costs, so if you need health and wellness coverage for your pet, you will need separate pet insurance.
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