Personal property coverage on a standard HO-3 policy covers cash, but reimbursement is capped at a sublimit of $200 to $500. Under Coverage C, the sublimit applies to cash, banknotes, coins used as currency, and gold and silver bullion.
Does Home Insurance Cover Cash and Currency?
Updated: May 10, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Standard homeowners insurance covers cash under personal property coverage, but every policy we reviewed caps reimbursement at a sublimit of $200 to $500 regardless of how much was actually lost — meaning a $2,000 cash theft nets you at most $500 before your deductible even applies.
Unlike jewelry, fine art or other valuables, the cash sublimit is a fixed policy limit that can't be increased through an endorsement or rider, so there's no way to close that gap within a standard homeowners policy.
Filing a theft claim for cash alone rarely makes financial sense: the sublimit is almost always below the standard deductible of $500 to $2,000, which means you'd pay more out of pocket to meet your deductible than you'd ever recover from the claim.
When Does Home Insurance Cover Cash and Currency?
Personal property coverage on a standard HO-3 policy reimburses cash losses from covered perils, but only up to the policy's sublimit of $200 to $500.
Cash stolen during a home burglary (up to the sublimit)
Standard homeowners insurance covers theft of cash from your home, but only up to the policy's cash sublimit of $200 to $500.
Currency destroyed in a house fire or explosion
Cash destroyed in a covered fire or explosion is reimbursable under personal property coverage, up to the sublimit amount.
Money damaged by a covered windstorm or tornado
Cash damaged by a covered windstorm or tornado is reimbursed under personal property coverage, subject to the sublimit.
Money orders and cashier's checks destroyed in a covered loss
Money orders and cashier's checks may be covered under a separate sublimit depending on your insurer and policy form.
Gift cards lost in a covered peril
Gift cards are generally treated as cash equivalents and covered under the same sublimit, though treatment may vary by insurer.
When Doesn't Home Insurance Cover Cash and Currency?
Standard homeowners insurance won't cover cash above the sublimit, cash that's lost or misplaced, cryptocurrency, cash stored for business purposes or money kept in a vacant property.
Cash amounts exceeding the sublimit
The cash sublimit can't be raised with an endorsement, unlike scheduled personal property coverage for jewelry or fine art. Any cash above the $200 to $500 limit won't be reimbursed.
Cash that's lost, misplaced or simply unaccounted for
Homeowners insurance covers only losses from named perils like theft or fire, not cash that's simply missing or unaccounted for.
Cryptocurrency or digital currency
Digital currency isn't classified as physical personal property, so standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover cryptocurrency losses.
Cash stored for business purposes
Cash used for business operations requires a commercial policy or home business endorsement, not a standard homeowners policy.
Cash in a vacant or unoccupied property
Most policies exclude coverage for cash and other belongings in properties left unoccupied for extended periods, 30 to 60 days depending on the carrier.
How to File a Claim for Stolen or Destroyed Cash
If cash was stolen alongside other belongings in a burglary, filing a homeowners insurance claim covers all losses in a single process.
- 1Call the Police and File a Report
File a police report immediately after discovering the loss. Your insurer will ask for the report number first, so don't wait.
- 2Document All Stolen and Damaged Property
Include the cash amount and back it up with bank withdrawal records, ATM receipts or any other documentation showing how much you had on hand.
- 3Contact Your Insurer Within 24 to 48 Hours
Most policies require prompt notification. State Farm, Allstate and other insurers take claims by hotline or mobile app.
- 4Meet With the Adjuster
The adjuster will review your documentation and may inspect your home for break-in damage or fire loss to verify the claim.
- 5Review Your Settlement
Cash is reimbursed up to the sublimit. Other stolen items are paid at actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV), depending on your policy.
- 6Appeal if Necessary
Ask for a written explanation and file an appeal with your insurer's claims department.
Should You File a Claim for Stolen Cash?
Filing a homeowners insurance claim for stolen cash makes sense when cash was taken alongside other personal property and the combined loss clearly exceeds your deductible. The cash sublimit of $200 to $500 applies only to the cash portion — electronics, jewelry and furniture stolen in the same incident are reimbursed under standard personal property limits. When we looked at how these claims play out, the math works in your favor only when total losses across all stolen items exceed your deductible of $500 to $2,000 by a meaningful margin.
Filing for cash as the only stolen item almost never pays off. The $200 to $500 sublimit sits at or below the standard deductible in most policies we reviewed, which means a cash-only claim typically produces a zero payout while still going on your claims record. A single theft claim can raise your premium by 9% to 20% for three to five years, so the long-term cost of filing often exceeds whatever you'd recover. If your current policy's sublimits and deductible leave you exposed, compare options through cheap homeowners insurance providers to find a policy that fits your budget.
Cash and Currency Coverage: Bottom Line
A standard HO-3 policy covers cash under personal property coverage, but the sublimit tops out at $200 to $500 and can't be raised with an endorsement, unlike jewelry or collectibles.
Pull your declarations page to find your exact cap. If you keep more than that amount at home, deposit the excess in an FDIC-insured account. The best homeowners insurance companies spell out sublimit details in their policy documents, so check your coverage once a year.
Cash & Currency Coverage in Home Insurance: FAQ
How much cash does homeowners insurance cover?
Most HO-3 policies cover $200 to $500 in cash per occurrence, but that ceiling varies by insurer and policy form. You can't increase it with an endorsement or rider the way you can with jewelry or collectibles, so homeowners who keep large amounts of cash at home have no way to raise that limit. Review what homeowners insurance covers to see every sublimit in your policy.
Does the deductible apply to cash theft claims?
The standard deductible of $500 to $2,000 applies to all claims, including cash theft. Because the cash sublimit is at or below most deductibles, a cash-only claim results in zero payout.
Does homeowners insurance cover cryptocurrency?
Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover cryptocurrency because digital currency isn't classified as physical personal property. Some specialty insurers and riders now offer crypto coverage, but it's not part of a standard HO-3 policy.
Will filing a claim for stolen cash raise my premium?
Filing any theft claim can increase premiums, for three to five years, which is why filing for a cash-only loss below the deductible doesn't make financial sense.
Do all homeowners insurance policies have the same cash limit?
Cash sublimits vary by insurer and policy form. The sublimit is a fixed amount set by the insurer, and no standard endorsement exists to raise it. State Farm, Allstate and USAA (available only to military members, veterans and their families) each set their own cash sublimits, so compare declarations pages before choosing a policy.
Home Insurance Coverage for Cash and Currency: Related Articles
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.
His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others.
Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!