Protect What You Own with Renter's Insurance in Washington

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. 

Washington Renters Insurance 

Renters insurance in Washington protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. Weather-related damages from heavy rains, storms, and wildfires are all common in Washington state. A Washington renters insurance policy can protect you financially from weather-related damage in addition to covering property crimes like burglary, theft, and vandalism. Renter’s insurance can also pay for legal fees or medical expenses if you are liable for an injury that occurred in your home. 

What Does Renters Insurance Washington Cost? 

What does renters insurance cost in Washington? Fortunately, the cost of renters insurance in Washington is very affordable. According to NerdWallet, the average Washington renters insurance premium in 2024 is $127, or about $11 a month. Washington’s renters insurance rates are almost the same (a dollar cheaper) than the national average monthly cost of renter’s insurance. 

Keep in mind that individual preferences and coverage limits will influence the total cost of your renter’s insurance. The cheapest renters insurance companies and policies tend to have higher deductibles, while more expensive premiums will have lower deductibles. Some renters insurance companies also offer renters insurance discounts for bundling with an existing policiy, like your car insurance. Regardless of your policy, however, renter’s insurance is generally very inexpensive for everyone and well worth the small investment. 

What Are the Most Common Claims in Washington? 

Common renter’s insurance claims in Washington include damage due to heavy rains and wildfires. Wildfires are becoming more and more common across the state – Newsweek reports that an increase in fire activity is predicted for several areas of Washington in future years, including the North Cascades region, Olympic Mountains, and Puget lowlands. Weather-related damage is also common in the rainy Seattle metropolitan area. Renter’s insurance can protect your belongings from damage caused by these disasters and others in the state. 

What Additional Policies Do I Need in Washington? 

Washington renters may also need flood insurance. Flooding in Washington often occurs near large bodies of water after heavy rains and storms.  

FEMA data shows that Okanogan County had the highest number of flood events (52) in the past several decades. 

If your home is in a floodplain or has a high likelihood of flooding, 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 Renters Insurance in Washington 

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 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 and affordable quotes, customize your coverage, and add an additional person onto your policy at no extra cost.