Hawaii Renters Insurance

Homeownership is very expensive in Hawaii. That may be part of the reason why nearly half of this state’s residents live in rental properties. If you are among them, you can benefit from purchasing a good renters insurance policy.

Renters insurance can protect your property and your finances in many ways. Unfortunately, too many renters in Hawaii do not realize the importance of having this coverage until it is too late.

Independent insurance agents can help you find a great policy. These agents work for you, not for a particular insurance company, so they are free to shop around to find the renters coverage you want at a price you can afford. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to learn more.

Hawaii Rental Statistics

How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost in Hawaii?

In a state where renters spend a large portion of their income on rent and utilities, it is little wonder that the thought of spending even more to have renters insurance is unsettling. However, these policies are more affordable than you might think.

The average renters insurance policy in Hawaii costs around $185 a year. That is less than $16 a month to have peace of mind knowing your property is covered. Here are some considerations that can make your actual cost higher or lower than this average rate.

• The amount of personal property coverage you need
• The crime rate and weather risks in your ZIP code
• The size of your deductible
• Whether you are bundling your renters policy with other coverage like car insurance or ATV insurance

You can make sure that you are getting your policy at the best available price by contacting a few insurance companies and requesting customized quotes. Independent agents can save you time by doing this for you.

What Does Hawaii Renters Insurance Cover?

Renters insurance is designed to protect you in a few different ways. A typical policy will give you the following.

• Contents insurance: This can cover repair or replacement costs if your personal belongings are lost or damaged by covered hazards like property crimes, fires, severe storms, and even volcanoes.
• Renters liability insurance: This can cover your financial responsibilities if you unintentionally cause injuries, property damage, or financial harm to others.
• Loss of use insurance:  This can cover your temporary living expenses if a covered event like a fire leaves your rental home uninhabitable and you must seek alternate accommodations while your landlord makes repairs.

When deciding how much property coverage you need, you should consider how much it would cost for you to replace all of your belongings, including things like furniture, clothing, electronics, jewelry, and kitchenware.

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What Risks Are Not Covered by Renters Insurance?

Renters insurance covers a lot, but it does not cover against every natural hazard that Hawaiians may face. Specifically, you should not expect your renters policy cover damage caused by these risks.

• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis

When you work with a local insurance agent, you’ll be talking with someone who is well aware of the unique risks faced by residents of the Aloha State and who can recommend suitable coverage to protect you against them.

Floods

Flooding poses a significant risk in Hawaii. While landlords need to handle repairing damage to the structures of their rental properties, they do not need to reimburse their tenants for loss or damage to their personal property.

Fortunately, renters can purchase an affordable contents-only flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is administrated by FEMA.

Earthquakes

Small quakes are common on the Hawaiian Islands and generally don’t cause any damage. However, every once in a while, this state is hit by a magnitude 6.0 or greater seismic event.

The worst on earthquake on record occurred in 1868. Estimated to have been a M 7.9 quake, it knocked down every building in Kaʻū. Fortunately, renters in this state can cover their property with a contents-only earthquake insurance policy.

Tsunamis

In Hawaii, tsunamis are more deadly than earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, brushfires, and floods combined. These natural disasters can force an extremely large wave of water onto land causing widespread flooding and damage.

Tsunamis affecting the Hawaiian Islands are typically caused by earthquakes (both local and along the Pacific rim) and by volcanic eruptions under the sea. Though usually caused by earthquakes, tsunamis are not covered by earthquake insurance. Rather, you will need to have flood insurance.

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent Help?

When you are in the market for a good renters insurance policy, local independent agents can help. These agents can answer all of your insurance-related questions and can shop around to find you a suitable policy at a great price.

Best of all, it doesn’t cost anything to get information from an independent insurance agent. With more than 30 independent insurance agencies in Hawaii, it should be easy find an insurance agent near you.