Is Personal Property Covered By Homeowners Insurance In These 5 Places?
Your homeowners insurance protects your home and property from theft, damage, natural disasters, accidents, and more. But does that protection extend to items that aren't actually on the property? It does. Here are some of the most common examples of how your stuff is covered in surprising places.
1. Away at College
As students start heading back to college, both parents and students should understand how their belongings are covered. If the student lives at home, their things are still under the umbrella of homeowners insurance even though they're temporarily living at college. However, if they move out full-time, this changes.
2. In a Car or Boat
One of the most common places that your valuables may be damaged or stolen is in your car. Homeowners insurance works hand-in-hand with auto or marine insurance to cover everything involved in an incident.
In most cases, the vehicle and its permanent accessories are likely covered by auto insurance while your personal belongings (such as mobile devices, aftermarket additions, clothing, or jewelry) are covered by your home insurance policy.
3. When Being Worn
If you suffer a theft while using a piece of personal property outside the home, its current location doesn't generally affect its coverage. So if your ring is stolen while using a public restroom, it may be covered by your homeowner's coverage. The same may be true of things like tools and equipment, mobile devices, or firearms. However, coverage may not extend to things that simply disappear without evidence of theft or destruction.
4. In a Storage Unit
Are you moving houses? Need to store some of your things in a rented space due to a lack of storage area at home? While you should check with your particular insurer, your things are likely still covered even if temporarily housed off-site. So they should be safe during both transport and temporary storage stays.
5. When on Vacation
Taking a trip? While you may want to leave some valuables at home for various reasons — such as to avoid drawing unwanted attention from thieves — they are still covered. Insurance extends to items in transit, given to airlines, kept in hotels, and placed in rental cars.
This coverage usually extends to international destinations, but check with your carrier to be certain.
Where to Learn More
Do some of your belongings fit into these categories? Learn more about protection specific to your personal circumstances by meeting with an insurance agent in your state.
They can also help you assess whether you should take specific actions like increasing coverage limits, adding riders for high-value items, or buying special policies for events. Make an appointment today to get started. For more information on homeowners insurance, contact a professional near you.