How to Get Pet Liability Coverage with Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is usually the easiest way to get pet liability coverage if you are already renting a home or apartment.
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If your pet is excluded from liability coverage because of its species or breed, you may need to get a personal umbrella policy or separate pet liability insurance. Pet liability insurance helps pay for expenses if your pet injures someone or damages property, so it's important for renters to make sure they're properly covered.
Does renters insurance cover pet liability?
Most renters insurance policies provide some form of pet liability coverage.
Renters insurance is an easy way for you as a pet parent to protect yourself from being sued if your pet damages your home, hurts someone or destroys their belongings.
The liability coverage provided by your renters insurance policy doesn't just cover your pet. It also protects you if someone is hurt in your home or you're responsible for causing damage. For that reason, we always recommend that tenants have a renters insurance policy.
How does renters liability insurance cover your pet?
Renters insurance generally has three types of coverage.
- Personal property coverage helps pay for new belongings if your stuff is damaged due to a covered loss, like a fire or vandalism.
- Personal liability insurance protects you, your family members and your pets from lawsuits if you hurt someone or damage their belongings by accident.
- Additional living expenses helps cover your costs if your home or apartment is unlivable and you have to move temporarily.
If your pet hurts someone or damages their property, you are typically protected by your personal liability coverage, up to your policy's limits. It protects you whether the accident happens inside your home or somewhere else, like while you're out for a walk or visiting a friend.
Examples of pet liability insurance for renters
Injury liability: Your dog bites your neighbor while you're out on a walk, and they go to the hospital for stitches. The neighbor files a claim through your insurance company to pay for the hospital bill.
If the insurance company determines it was your fault, your company will try to reach a settlement with your neighbor. If your neighbor isn't happy with the settlement, they can file a lawsuit and take you to court.
Whether the case is settled or taken to court, the costs are covered by your liability insurance, up to your limit.
Property damage liability: Your cat tears up the carpet in your apartment while you're living there. When you move out, your landlord files a claim through your insurance company to pay for a new carpet. Your company covers the cost of the new carpet if you're found to be responsible for the damage.
Renters pet insurance liability coverage limits
Your renters insurance company only covers liability claims up to a certain limit. You can usually choose the liability coverage limit, but a standard renters insurance policy typically includes $100,000 of liability coverage. You are responsible for paying any liability costs above the limit you select.
When choosing your renters liability coverage limit, you should consider the likelihood that your pet will cause damage and how much you can afford to pay if an accident happens.
For example, if you have a pet rabbit, it's much less likely to hurt someone than a large dog with a history of aggressive behavior.
Coverage of up to $100,000 may sound like a lot — it would easily cover a torn up carpet — but it may not be enough to cover a serious accident.
One of the most common liability insurance claims is for dog bites. The average cost of a dog bite claim in the U.S. is about $50,000. But in a severe incident, medical and legal fees could be much higher than $100,000.
Remember, even seemingly harmless animals can still cause accidents. For instance, if an elderly guest breaks a hip tripping over your cat, you could be responsible for their medical bills.
When doesn't renters liability insurance cover your pet?
Your renters insurance policy only protects your pet against damage and injuries to others.
If your pet ruins your own personal belongings, your insurance will not pay to replace them.
Pet liability insurance is not the same as pet insurance. Pet insurance typically refers to plans that help pay for your pet's vet visits and medication.
Pet liability exclusions
Renters should check whether their pet's species or breed is protected by their liability coverage. The easiest way to do this is by talking to an insurance agent. You can also find a list of exclusions in your renters insurance policy documents.
Common exclusions include:
- Specific breeds of dogs: Many insurance companies have a list of restricted dog breeds that they won't cover, like pit bulls, Rottweilers and mastiffs.
- Dogs with a history of biting: If your dog has already bitten someone in the past, your insurance company may not cover future bite incidents.
- Exotic pets: Animals like reptiles, monkeys and wolves aren't usually protected by traditional renters insurance liability coverage.
A few companies are becoming more welcoming and progressive with their policies towards pets. For example, State Farm says it doesn't care about your pet's breed and won't deny you coverage based on your dog's genetics.
Pet-specific coverage limits
You should also check whether your insurance policy has sublimits for certain pets.
Your renters liability policy could have an overall limit of $100,000. But if your dog has ever bitten someone, your insurance company could limit the amount it pays for claims that relate to your dog.
Example
Your insurance company limits your dog's coverage to $5,000 due to its bite history. If your dog bites someone and causes $8,000 of medical bills, your company would pay $5,000 and you'd have to pay the other $3,000.
However, your insurance company may give you the option to add extra coverage for an additional fee. This is called a rider or endorsement, and it can increase your protection for specific events, like a dog bite.
What if renters liability insurance doesn't cover your pet?
If your renters insurance policy doesn't offer liability coverage for your pet, you can get a personal umbrella policy or separate pet liability insurance.
Umbrella liability insurance for pets
An umbrella policy fills the gaps between your renters insurance liability protection and the coverage you need. Umbrella insurance coverage kicks in after your renters insurance liability limit has been reached.
If your renters insurance limits your pit bull's liability coverage to $5,000, you may be able to get an umbrella policy to increase coverage for your pet.
For example, if your pit bull bites someone and causes $50,000 of medical bills, your renters insurance would cover $5,000 of expenses and your umbrella policy would pay the remaining $45,000.
Liability coverage for umbrella insurance usually starts at $1 million. You should make sure your policy covers the risks that were excluded by your renters insurance before you buy a policy.
In most cases, an insurance company will require you to have renters or auto insurance with them before buying umbrella insurance.
The cost of an umbrella policy varies depending on the amount and type of coverage you need, your age, location and insurance history. But you can usually get discounts for bundling your renters and umbrella policies.
Pet liability insurance
Pet liability insurance is a policy that offers liability coverage for only your pet. This type of policy isn't typically offered by major national insurance companies. You'll have to look for coverage with a company that specializes in pet liability insurance, like InsureMyK9, Dog Bite Insurance and XInsurance.
Frequently asked questions
Does renters insurance cover pet damage?
Yes, the liability coverage included in your renters insurance policy covers damage that your pet is responsible for. For example, if your dog tore up the carpet in your apartment, your insurance company would help pay to replace it.
Does renters insurance cover pit bulls?
Many renters insurance companies don't cover pit bulls. However, there are a few companies that don't discriminate by breed, including State Farm and
Why are some pets excluded from renters insurance?
Some pets are excluded from coverage because the insurance company believes they're more likely to cause an accident. This may be based on the type of pet, a specific breed or your pet's history.
No matter the reason, renters can usually get liability coverage for their pet by purchasing an umbrella policy or a separate pet liability insurance policy.
Can a landlord require pet insurance?
Yes, your landlord can require you to have renters insurance, which usually provides liability coverage for your pets, too.