Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pet Damage?
Updated: October 3, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Pet damage is covered by standard homeowners insurance policies under personal liability insurance. In the event you’re held responsible after your pet causes an accident, personal liability coverage protects you against costs for medical bills or property repairs. Thus, purchasing homeowners insurance can help pet owners save money.
You don’t need to worry about getting extra coverage for pet damage since most homeowners insurance policies already cover it.
In this article:
If your pet damages a third party’s personal items, your homeowners insurance will cover you under its personal liability coverage. The list below cites instances when pet damages may be covered by your home insurance policy:
There are limits to homeowners insurance. Keep in mind that pet insurance, not homeowners insurance, will cover expenses for your pet’s medical care. Read through your homeowners insurance policy to know when you’re covered (or not).
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damages that your pet causes to your furniture, home or personal property. This is because it’s more challenging to prove that the damage caused to your property was unintentional.
Homeowners insurance provides financial security to its policyholders. However, preventing pet damage can save you time and money while mitigating unwanted stress. For example, you can train your pet and learn how to manage your furry friend’s emotions.
Avoid overwhelming your pet
It’s difficult to gauge how your pet will react to new visitors. Thus, it’s best not to overwhelm them with many guests at once.
Train your pet
You can reward your pet for listening to your commands and keeping up good behavior around visitors.
Consult an animal care professional
Consulting an expert can give you a deeper insight into your furry friend’s behavior and how to manage their excitement or anxiety.
There are a range of cat and dog-friendly homeowners insurance companies, such as State Farm or Chubb. To get the best policy for you, shop around and compare premiums from different insurance providers.
MoneyGeek’s nationwide data shows that homeowners pay around $175 per month for homeowners insurance. However, the value of your home and the items you own influences your actual rate.
You can use MoneyGeek’s personal property calculator below to get an estimate.
When figuring out how much renters insurance you need, experts recommend the standard $100,000 in liability insurance and enough personal property protection to cover your possessions. Use MoneyGeek's calculator to estimate the value of your possessions so you know how much personal property coverage to buy.
Clothes, shoes, bags, belts, hats, gloves, etc.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
