Nevada Renters Insurance
Experts break down renters insurance costs, coverages, companies, and more.
Whether you are a student renting an apartment near the University of Nevada campus in Reno, a young professional renting a condo in Las Vegas, or a newlywed renting a house in Henderson, if you are among the many tenants in Nevada, you can benefit from the protections of a good renters insurance policy.
Local independent insurance agents can help you find a suitable policy at a competitive price. These agents are free to work with some of the best renters insurance companies in Nevada, so they can present you with a variety of customized quotes. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to learn more.
Is Renters Insurance Required in Nevada?
Renters insurance is not required by law in Nevada. It is nearly always optional, except for the few instances where it is required by landlords.
Just because it's optional doesn't mean it isn't important. A good renters insurance policy can provide you with a great deal of protection against a number of potential financial losses.
Despite its many benefits, the Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that only 37% of tenants in the US carry renters insurance. Part of this may have to do with a misconception that these policies are too expensive.
In Nevada, where the average rent is $1,107 a month, and 48.2% of tenants spend more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, it is understandable why people do not want to add to their housing costs. However, renters insurance policies are surprisingly affordable.
How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost in Nevada?
The average renters insurance policy in Nevada costs just $178 a year, which is less than $15 a month. That’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind a good policy can give you.
Some of the factors that may influence your renters insurance rates include:
- The estimated value of your personal property
- The crime rate and weather risks where your home is located
- The amount of liability coverage you are purchasing
- The size of your deductible
- Whether you are bundling your renters insurance with another policy like car insurance
By taking the time to compare quotes from a few different insurance companies, you can be sure that you are getting your coverage at a competitive price. Independent agents make comparison shopping easy.
What Does Renters Insurance Cover in Nevada?
Renters insurance is designed to protect against most of the risks you are likely to face as a tenant in Nevada. You can expect your policy to provide three types of coverage:
- Property coverage: This is called contents coverage. It can cover repair or replacement costs if your personal property is lost or damaged because of a covered event. Covered events include:
- Liability coverage: This is called renters liability insurance. It can cover your legal bills and financial obligations if you unintentionally cause someone else to experience injuries, property damage, financial loss, or other harm.
- Displacement coverage: This is called loss of use insurance. It can cover your various living expenses if a covered event like a tornado leaves your rental home uninhabitable and you must stay in a hotel or temporary rental home while your landlord brings the property back up to code.
You will want to be sure that your contents coverage limits are high enough to enable you to fully replace all of your personal belongings if you experience a total loss in a disaster like a fire.
What Isn't Covered by Nevada Renters Insurance?
Renters insurance covers against a lot of risks, but it doesn’t protect you against everything. You should expect your policy to exclude coverage for:
- Flood damage: Most properties in Nevada are safe from the risk of flood damage. However, if you rent a ground floor apartment or a house in a flood-prone area, you may want to supplement your renters insurance with a contents-only flood insurance policy.
- Earthquake damage: Nevada is the third-most seismically active state in the US, but earthquake damage is not covered by renters insurance. You do have the option to purchase earthquake insurance. However, these policies are rather expensive and have high deductibles so, in most cases, they are not cost-effective for renters.
- Pest infestations: If your rental property is infested with pests like rodents or bedbugs, your renters insurance will not cover remediation or resultant property losses. If the infestation can be attributed to negligence of upkeep on your landlord’s part, you can file a lawsuit to try to get compensation.
- Damage to your vehicle: Renters insurance covers your personal property, but this does not include your vehicle. Damage to your car can only be covered by your car insurance, but you will need to have a policy that includes full coverage.
When you are purchasing your policy, your agent can go over everything that it does and doesn't cover so that you don't face any unanticipated surprises later.
How Can an Independent Agent in Nevada Help Find the Best Renters Insurance Policy?
When you are looking for a good renters insurance policy, a local independent agent can help. These agents can explain your various options, help you decide on sufficient coverage limits, and find you a suitable policy at a great price. Best of all, there is no charge for getting information from an independent agent.
Arrange an obligation-free consultation with an insurance agent near you to start comparing customized quotes from some of the best renters insurance companies in Nevada.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NV/PST045219
https://www.iii.org/press-release/number-of-renters-is-on-the-rise-but-few-of-them-have-insurance-092214
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-renters-insurance
https://floodfactor.com/state/nevada/32_fsid