Updated: May 20, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Renters insurance won’t cover injuries to you or anyone who lives with you—only guests or third parties are covered under liability protection.
If someone sues you after getting hurt in your rental, your renters insurance can help pay legal fees and any court-ordered damages.
Coverage limits vary by policy, so it’s important to check how much liability and medical payments protection your plan actually includes.
If someone is injured in your rented home and you are held liable, your renters policy’s personal liability coverage will cover their medical expenses as well as legal fees for you and the third party. You can also add medical payments coverage to your policy can be additionally purchased for extended coverage, regardless of fault.
Here are a few instances in which you can be confident that your renters insurance policy will cover injuries that occur in your rented home:
If a guest is bitten by your dog, has a slip-and-fall accident or is injured in the pool, their medical expenses will be covered.
Injuries to workers on your property and injuries caused by falling trees are also covered.
If your renters insurance policy includes medical payments coverage, you can rest assured that your guests' injuries will be covered, regardless of who is at fault.
Note that your guest’s health insurance policy may cover their injuries. However, if they decide to sue you for the injuries, you will not be compensated for damages without renters insurance. Even if you are not at fault, you can use your personal liability coverage to pay for their injuries and legal fees, as well as your own, if they file an injury lawsuit against you. If you think that your liability limits are too low, you can always buy an umbrella policy.
Renters insurance has limitations regarding injury coverage. Understanding these exclusions can help prevent surprises when filing claims and assure you have the appropriate coverage through other insurance policies.
The financial security provided by renters insurance is valuable protection. Still, avoiding physical injury can spare you and others around you from unnecessary suffering. Even if your renters insurance covers injuries to others, if you frequently have people over to your rented home, it is in your best interest to take the necessary precautions to keep it safe.
Check for frayed wires, broken or cracked tiles, downed trees, slippery floors and other potential sources of injury. Having these repaired in a timely manner will protect you and your guests from getting injured.
If you own a dog or cat, you should train them to be less aggressive and more sociable with your guests. Allow them to interact with other animals and humans so they will know how to behave around visitors.
If you have guests with little kids, it’s ideal to have the pool gated. You can ask your landlord to get this addressed, especially if you also have kids at home. When a fence isn't possible, keep an eye on the kids when they are playing near the pool or other locations susceptible to accidents and mishaps.
Many insurance providers offer renters insurance, with State Farm and Travelers being the two major companies. It's also available from smaller firms like Toggle and Lemonade. The average monthly cost of renters insurance is $13, however it may vary greatly depending on factors like location, coverage limits and your claims history.
Given that insurance providers' prices vary, comparing renters insurance quotes is the best method to guarantee you're receiving the best deal available. The value of the insured personal property is also an important consideration. MoneyGeek's personal property calculator will assist you in determining the amount of coverage you need based on the value of your possessions.
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.
Renters insurance covers injuries to guests if you’re legally responsible. It can also pay legal fees if you’re sued. Some policies include medical payments coverage, which helps with minor injuries no matter who’s at fault. If you get hurt, use your health insurance—your renters policy won’t cover it.
Renters insurance can help with injury-related costs, but coverage depends on the situation. Here are quick answers to common questions.
Yes, renters insurance covers guest injuries if you’re legally responsible for the accident.
No, renters insurance does not cover injuries to you or anyone who lives with you. Use health insurance for those situations.
This is optional coverage that pays for minor injuries to guests, no matter who’s at fault.
Yes, your policy can help pay for legal defense costs and settlements if a guest sues you over an injury.
It depends on the insurer and the pet. Some companies exclude certain dog breeds or exotic animals.
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We obtained information from Quadrant Information Services and examined rates of customer and claim satisfaction from the top industry assessments, J.D. Power, The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), AM Best.. In order to provide the best renters insurance solutions for different renter profiles and demands, as well as at the national and state levels, MoneyGeek developed a ranking methodology to compare the data.
Renters Insurance Profile
In this study, MoneyGeek focused on a particular profile of renters, characterized by:
Moreover, the research also encompassed scenarios involving renters with varying credit histories and different records of insurance claims.
Renters Insurance Coverage Details
Calculations for the average home insurance rates were based on the following policy specifics:
Additionally, MoneyGeek's investigation included an exploration of policies offering broader coverage ranges, extending from $20,000 to $100,000 for personal property, liability coverage ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, and deductibles varying between $500 and $2,000.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
