Fun Fact: Renters Insurance Doubles As Stolen Laptop Insurance
Did you know that if your apartment burns down/gets ransacked/blows up, your landlord’s insurance only covers his building, and not any of your stuff?! So that’s why you need renters insurance. That and, in case someone dies at your house. Renters insurance covers that, too!
It happened to me: A few years ago, someone shattered my car window and stole my laptop out from under the pile of jackets that was hiding it so well. When I called my car insurance company to make a claim, I learned the very important fact that car insurance only covers your car, not anything in your car (duh?). However: homeowners or renters insurance would have covered anything in my car, even if the car wasn’t in front of my house, which it wasn’t. I didn’t have homeowners or renters insurance at the time, because no one had told me I needed it (doh). But I got it, and I have it, and of course no one has bothered to steal anything of mine since, thanks.
How to buy: I have a car, so I just added it onto my car insurance policy for something silly like $8 a month, but if you don’t have a car you can totally just call up a company and say: “Yo. This is my address. How much is renters insurance?” It’ll be between $10 and $30 a month, depending on your apartment and your city and how much nice stuff you have and other factors. They’ll ask you some questions. You may or may not know the answers to them. In my experience, you can figure this stuff out on the fly, and it’s all relatively painless, and in a short amount of time, you have insurance.
These are some companies that offer renters insurance: I found them via Google — maybe you can find a few more, if you’re inclined. And don’t leave your laptop in your car. Amateur move.
Allstate
Geico
esurance
Progressive
Travelers
Support The Billfold
The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.
Comments