Order Renters Insurance in California

Why Should I Get Renters Insurance in California?

Did you know you can protect your belongings for less than a dollar a day with renters insurance? Simply enter your zip code to see what policies are available in California. You can relax and know that no matter what happens, your belongings will be protected.

What Does Renters Insurance Protect You Against in California

Many policies cover direct physical loss to your personal property if damaged by the following:

• Fire or lightning
• Windstorm or hail
• Explosion
• Riot or civil commotion
• Smoke
• Vandalism or malicious mischief
• Theft
• Falling objects
• Weight of ice, snow or sleet
• Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
• Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging of certain appliances or water heating systems
• Freezing of certain systems or appliances
• Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electric current

As you can see, renters insurance policies can cover a wide variety of issues — policies can even protect your belongings against volcanic eruption! However, since policies may vary across the nation, you should read through your renters insurance policy thoroughly to see what is offered in California.

Some particular disasters that may affect residents in California:

Theft

One of the biggest threats to homes in California is burglary. The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that rented households were burglarized at rates 79 percent higher than owned households. In 2001, the bureau reported that rented households experienced 210 property crimes per 1,000 households nationwide, while owned households experienced only 146 property crimes per 1,000 households. Unfortunately, your apartment community's insurance policy does not cover your personal belongings lost due to theft. Do not allow fences or gates at your community to mislead you to think it is safer. On most low-crime properties the main purpose of gates or fences at apartment complexes is to provide the sense of privacy and exclusivity.

Fire

Fire is a risk in all states, including California. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $9.8 billion in 2004. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, apartment fires accounted for 23 percent of residential fires between 1992 and 2001 as well as accounted for 20 percent of the dollar loss from residential fires during these years. With these kinds of statistics, it is better to be prepared and protect your property from this risk.

Wildfires

Wildfires are a threat in California, as well as a risk to all of the United States. Wildfires consume thousands of acres of land, threatening the apartments, homes, and lives of many in the vicinity. An average of five million acres burn every year in the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage. According to the National Fire Protection Center, wildfires that occurred in Southern California in October and November of 1993 resulted in an estimated $809 million in property damage.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes are nature's most violent storm and residents of California should be aware that they are at particular risk. Although tornadoes affect all states in the nation, they highly impact Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida and Nebraska. Surrounding areas of Norman, Oklahoma had over 473 apartments destroyed and damaged 568 apartments. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration reports about 1,000 tornadoes across the United States in an average year. The ‘Tornado Alley’ extends roughly from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians and from Iowa and Nebraska to the Gulf of Mexico.

Earthquakes

Impossible to predict, earthquakes can cause significant damage to your property in California. Earthquakes occur frequently in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Oregon. In 1994, the Northridge earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley region of Southern California. Although it was considered a moderately strong earthquake, the $20 billion in property damage ranked it the costliest seismic disaster in U.S. history.