Protect What You Own with Renter's Insurance in Montana

Purchasing a renter’s insurance policy is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to protect yourself and your belongings while renting your home. A typical policy costs only $10 to $20 per month and can save you much more should unexpected damage or liability occur. 

But despite its affordability and practicality, only about half (55%) of U.S. renters currently have renter’s insurance, most of whom must have a policy per their landlord’s requirements. 

We’ve prepared this article to help you understand why you need renters insurance and how to obtain a policy in this state—from cost and coverage to additional policies you may need.  

What is Renter’s Insurance? 

Renter’s insurance is insurance that covers specific types of losses suffered by renters during their occupation of a rental property. A typical renter’s insurance policy covers personal property, liability protection, and additional living expenses. Renter’s insurance often kicks in after damage from natural disasters, accidents, or other incidents.  

An important note: Renter’s insurance does not cover the actual building itself. The physical building you live in should be covered by your landlord’s insurance. Renters insurance helps protect you and the belongings you own within the property that may be damaged or stolen. 

Why Do I Need Renter’s Insurance? 

Everyone who rents their home—whether that be a single-family home, studio apartment, mobile home, townhome, condo, or other type of property— should have a renter’s insurance policy. This is because even though you don’t own the physical building you are renting, the items you keep within it (or even in your car, or elsewhere) could still be damaged or stolen. 

For example, imagine that a fire occurred in your apartment complex. Your landlord’s insurance would cover the damage to the actual building, appliances, and building systems. However, your landlord is not responsible for replacing all your lost clothes, furniture, electronics, and other belongings. That’s what renter’s insurance is for.  

Renters insurance policies can also cover medical or legal expenses if you are sued. For example, your renter’s insurance would apply if someone gets injured in your home and you are responsible for their medical bills. 

An average renter’s insurance policy includes $20,000 – $30,000 of personal property coverage and doesn’t cost you more than a $20 bill each month. It’s a small price to pay for the great financial security renters insurance offers. 

What Does Renters Insurance Cover? 

Renter’s insurance has three main categories of coverage. 

• Personal Property: Personal property refers to any belongings like clothes, furniture, electronics, etc. Your personal property is subject to limits and requires a deductible. However, your insurance will reimburse you should your personal property get damaged by disasters such as the following:  
• • Fire and smoke 
  • Storms, lightening, wind, hail 
  • Theft 
  • Vandalism 
  • Explosions 
  • Winter weather damage 
  • Damage from infrastructure tearing, cracking, burning, etc. 
  • Sudden, accidental damage from electric currents 

•  
• Liability: Liability coverage pays for your medical or legal bills should you be responsible for an injury on the property or damage to the property itself. 
• Loss of Use/Living Expenses: Loss of use insurance kicks in if the property you rent becomes uninhabitable due to damage or repairs. It pays for your hotel bills and even certain food expenses while you wait for repairs to be completed. 

There are a few disasters renter’s insurance doesn’t cover, like flooding. It’s important to read your renter’s insurance policy to understand what is and isn’t included. If you need coverage that isn’t included, you can purchase add-on policies, such as water backup coverage, theft extension coverage, scheduled valuables coverage, or earthquake and volcano coverage. 

Montana Renters Insurance 

Renters insurance in Montana protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. Montana’s sizeable and varied geography leads to a range of possible weather events. Winter storms, high winds, heavy rains, hail, and other severe weather are all possible in Montana and could lead to damage to your home and belongings. Renters’ insurance will reimburse you for losses due to extreme weather, up to your coverage limits and minus your deductible. You can also make a renters insurance claim to cover legal or medical expenses if you are liable for an injury that occurred in your home. 

What Does Renters Insurance Montana Cost? 

Many renters are understandably concerned about what renters insurance costs. Fortunately, renters insurance rates in Montana are very affordable. According to NerdWallet, the average Montana renters insurance premium in 2024 is $160, or about $13 a month. Montana’s rates are only a dollar higher than the national average monthly cost of $12 a month.  

Keep in mind that the cheapest renters insurance policies will likely have higher deductibles, while more expensive policies will have lower deductibles. Many insurance companies also offer renters insurance discounts for bundling with an existing policy, like an auto insurance policy. However, regardless of the specifics of your policy, renter’s insurance is well worth the small investment it requires to be able to protect yourself and your property. 

What Are the Most Common Claims in Montana? 

Common renter’s insurance claims in Montana include damage from windstorms and hail. However, other claims are always a possibility—for instance, Montana saw more than 50 tornadoes between 2010 and 2020, totaling about $33,056,500 in damage. 

What Additional Policies Do I Need in Montana? 

Montana renters may also choose to purchase flood insurance. Flooding can occur after hurricanes, heavy rains, or rising water levels near large bodies of water. 

FEMA data from the past several decades shows that flooding is relatively uncommon across Montana. One exception is Valley County, which saw 65 flood events between 1996 and 2019. However, flooding is always possible, especially near lakes and rivers. 

If your home is within a floodplain or has previously flooded, investing in flood coverage is a smart decision. Flood coverage is typically excluded from most renter’s insurance policies, so a separate policy is necessary. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) helps renters find a flood insurance policy customized to their individual needs and coverage preferences. 

How to Get Renters Insurance in Montana 

Most major insurance providers offer renter’s insurance, often bundled with auto insurance for a lower price. To determine your policy and coverage details, your insurer will typically ask you a few questions about the rental unit (such as the type of building, year it was built, and address) and the dollar value or replacement cost of high-value personal belongings you own. You’ll be able to tailor your policy and coverage details to your needs and get multiple renters insurance quotes before making a final decision. 

Get Renter’s Insurance with Innago 

Innago offers renter’s insurance through our partnership with Viaffinity. If you’re a renter, regardless of whether your landlord uses Innago, you can purchase a policy and get protection for you and your personal belongings. You can get quick quotes for affordable renters insurance, customize your coverage, and add an additional person onto your policy at no extra cost.