Does Renters Insurance Cover Theft?

Renters insurance provides theft coverage whether you're home, away at college, on a trip to the grocery store, or on vacation.

High-value items like jewelry, furs, silverware, firearms, cash, and credit cards are covered up to a special limit stated in your policy. If you want to increase your coverage for those items, you can purchase an endorsement.

Your policy won’t cover theft in a few situations:

• You keep the property at another location than the one listed on your policy. The items should be covered under that location’s insurance policy.

• Your property is stolen by someone who’s covered under your policy.

• You sublet your apartment, and their property is stolen.

• A trailer, semitrailer, camper, or watercraft is stolen while away from your home. Your policy will cover them as long as they’re parked at your home, but as soon as you take them out on the road, they fall under your auto coverage.

• Your identity is stolen. You can usually purchase an endorsement to protect yourself against identity theft.

Filing a claim for theft

You’ll have to follow a few steps:

• Notify your insurance company about the loss as soon as possible.

• Notify the police about the theft. In the case of theft of a credit card, you’ll also need to notify your card issuer.

• Protect your property from further loss.

• Collaborate with your insurance company as they adjust your claim.

• Prepare an inventory of the stolen property, including quantity, description, and value. Gather receipts and other supporting documents that can help the insurance company value your property.

• Submit a proof of loss form to your insurance company.