Protect What You Own with New Mexico Renter's Insurance

New Mexico Renter’s Insurance 

Purchasing a renter’s insurance policy is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to protect yourself and your belongings while renting your home in New Mexico. 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 in New Mexico 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.

Is Renters Insurance Required?

No, renters insurance coverage is not required by federal or state laws. However, some landlords may require their tenants to purchase insurance as a stipulation of the lease agreement. Regardless of whether your landlord requires it, purchasing renter’s insurance is a good idea. It’s the only way to gain financial security for your belongings as well as liability protection. 

What Does Renters Insurance Cover? 

Renter’s insurance has three main categories of coverage.

1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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.

New Mexico Renters Insurance :

Renters insurance in New Mexico protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. New Mexico experiences severe thunderstorms, high winds, lightning, and heavy rains that could damage your home and the personal property within. Losses due to property crime like burglary and theft are also possible. 

Any of these events can damage your personal property, making it important to ensure your belongings are covered. Your renter’s insurance policy can also cover legal or medical expenses if you are liable for an injury that occurred in your home, up to your coverage limits and minus your deductible. 

How Much Does Renters Insurance in New Mexico Cost? 

What does renters insurance cost in New Mexico? Fortunately, the cost of renters insurance in New Mexico is very affordable. According to NerdWallet, the average New Mexico renters insurance premium in 2024 is $154, or about $13 a month. New Mexico’s average monthly renters insurance rates are only a dollar more than the national average of $12 a month. 

Remember that the specifics of your policy will influence its costs—The cheapest renters insurance companies and policies, for instance, will typically have higher deductibles. The best renters insurance companies even offer renters insurance discounts for bundling with your car insurance. Regardless of your policy specifics, the renters insurance New Mexico offers is inexpensive and well worth the small investment it requires each month. 

What Are the Most Common Claims in New Mexico?

One of the most common renter’s insurance claims in New Mexico is lost personal property due to vehicle theft. New Mexico has the fifth highest vehicle theft rate in the country, with almost 542 vehicle thefts for every 100,000 people, according to Statista. Although your renter’s insurance policy won’t cover your actual car if it is stolen (that would be covered by your auto insurance), it does cover the personal belongings that may have been inside, like laptops, phones, or other items. 

What Additional Policies Do I Need in New Mexico? 

New Mexico 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 flood events have occurred in all New Mexico counties between 1996 and 2019. The counties that have flooded most frequently over that period include Lea, Eddy, Dona Ana, Grant, Lincoln, Sandoval, and Bernalillo Counties. 

If your home is in a floodplain or has previously flooded, flood coverage may be needed. 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 Renter’s Insurance in New Mexico 

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. 

Get Renter’s Insurance with Innago 

Innago offers renter’s insurance through our partnership with Assurant. 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 and affordable renters insurance quotes, customize your coverage, and add an additional person onto your policy at no extra cost.