How to Get a Renters Insurance Quote: What You’ll Need

Download our free renters insurance quote checklist

Coming home and seeing your belongings destroyed or stolen is a scenario that no renter ever wants to be in. That is why renters insurance can be an important tool to help protect you and your belongings in case anything ever happens. Getting renters insurance isn’t difficult; all it takes is a couple of steps before you are covered.

To start off, you’ll need to get a renters insurance quote. This is quite easy with the right preparation. Understanding how to get a renters insurance quote and being prepared ensures a smooth process.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare your information first. A renters insurance quote is easiest to get when you have your personal details, apartment address, coverage start date, and desired coverage amounts ready ahead of time.
• Compare quotes from multiple providers. Renters insurance policies aren't one-size-fits-all, so consumers may want to compare before choosing one.
• Apartments.com helps simplify the process. If you rent through Apartments.com, you can access an option to request a renters insurance quote offered through Assurant within your rent payment setup.
• Renters insurance costs vary, but is widely considered affordable. Renters insurance typically costs around $12 a month, or about $148 a year, and rarely exceeds $30 a month, with rates influenced by location, security features, pets, and sometimes credit history.

What Is a Renters Insurance Quote?

A renters insurance quote is an estimate of how much you would pay for a renters insurance policy and is the first step to getting renters insurance. Insurance companies offer quotes to help you see the cost of renters insurance based on your situation, information, and needs.

What You Need to Get a Renters Insurance Quote: Renters Insurance Quote Checklist

Generally, you’ll find the information that insurance companies request is similar no matter where you go. While there may be some differences, it is better to prepare all the information you may need just in case. This makes inputting information simple as it is all within arm’s reach.

Make sure you check with your landlord or apartment community to see if they have any specific renters insurance requirements. Often, there is a minimum amount of liability coverage that is required and the landlord may want themselves or a specific party to be listed as an additional interest/interested party on the policy.

Use the list below or download our renters insurance quote checklist to make sure you have all the information you need:

• Personal information (date of birth, full name, marital status, social security number)
• Apartment address
• Coverage start date
• Number of people living in the apartment
• Any pets in the apartment
• Policy information
  • Value of your belongings (an estimate may be requested)
  • Personal property coverage limit
  • Deductible
  • Liability coverage
  • Any additional coverages or information you may want to ask a licensed insurance agent about
• Details about your apartment
  • Security features
  • Proximity to police/fire station
  • Etc.
• Apartment community specific information
  • Additional interests/interested party
  • Minimum liability coverage amounts

How to Get a Renters Insurance Quote

Step 1: Research a few providers

The first step in getting renters insurance is finding a provider. Sometimes apartment communities provide access to renters insurance offered through an insurance provider they do business with. Or you can search online for renters insurance.

If you want a specialist who knows the ins-and-outs of their company’s policies, you can often speak directly to an agent by phone or in person. Make a list of all the insurance companies you want a quote from so you can keep track of the quotes you request.

Step 2: Gather and submit your information

Having all your information ready makes getting a quote quick. Use our renters insurance quote checklist to ensure you’ve gathered everything you need.

Step 3: Customize your policy

Renter insurance policies are not one-size-fits-all. Before requesting a quote, it can be helpful to estimate the value of your belongings to determine how much coverage you want. Of course, you can always ask a licensed insurance agent to explain available limits and how much coverage you should get. Coverage, limits, deductibles and available options vary by policy and by insurance company.

Liability coverage limits and landlord requirements vary. Some landlords require $100,000 as the minimum liability coverage amount while others require more. After determining what may be required or how much liability coverage you want, you can pick any additional policies/coverage you want. Knowing which features are important to  you beforehand can make getting a renters insurance quote smoother.

Step 4: Compare your quotes

Now that you have a couple of different quotes, compare them to better understand the available coverage options, limits, deductibles, and pricing, and to see which one you feel fits best. Often quotes include the following:

• Amount in coverage (both liability and personal property)
• Annual or Monthly cost
• Deductible (the amount you pay before insurance pays for a covered loss)
• Other offerings

How to Get a Renters Insurance Quote on Apartments.com

Getting a renters insurance quote through Assurant on Apartments.com is quick and simple. Here's how it works:

1. Set up your rent payments. Once this is done, you'll see an option to start your renters insurance quote, offered through Assurant.
2. Review your estimate. You'll see an average cost estimate on the starting screen. This will become more accurate as you enter your details.
3. Check what's covered. Scroll down to review the coverage provided in the Assurant policy.
4. Click "Get my quote" to begin the process.
5. Answer a few questions. These questions help finalize your quote and may vary by state.
6. Review your personalized quote. This reflects what you'll actually pay.
7. Click "Accept my quote" if you’d like to proceed to move forward.

Finalize your renters insurance purchase

Once you've accepted your quote, just a few more steps stand between you and completing your purchase.

8. Review your personal details. Some information may already be populated for your convenience, and you can update anything that has changed.
9. Set up payment. You'll see your coverage details again at the top of this screen as a reminder. Then choose to pay annually or monthly and enter your payment method.
10. Review your purchase summary. This shows everything one last time.
11. Click "Purchase" to finalize your renters insurance.

Once complete, your landlord will be notified that you have coverage. If you ever need to make changes or file a claim, you can do so on Assurant’s website, MyAssurantPolicy.com.

Factors Affecting Renters Insurance Rates

Where you live

Where you live can affect your insurance rates. The safest states for natural disasters usually have lower rates because they don’t face as many severe weather events.

Security features

Apartment security features reduce the likelihood of an issue, meaning that insurance companies will sometimes provide you with a lower rate. This is the same reason why an insurance company may consider your proximity to a police/fire station.

Pets

Living with pets in an apartment can help you feel less lonely, but they also bring unique considerations when it comes to renters insurance. Pet liability insurance can often be included in renters insurance or purchased as an add-on. It may provide coverage if your pet injures someone or causes damage.

It can often cost as little as $10 per month and cover anywhere from $10,000–$30,000 of damage caused by your pet. Certain breeds and animals may be excluded by insurance companies, so always ask your provider what they cover. They may offer a specialized policy, or you may have to find a different company.

Credit history

Your credit may be taken into consideration when it comes to determining your monthly rate. Good credit scores typically have to pay less, so improving your credit score could help you save money.

Claims history

If there are a lot of claims in your insurance history, it can raise the price and even make it more challenging to get coverage. Some insurance companies may use your claims history to assess risk, so fewer claims can equal less risk. What that could mean for you is lower monthly rates.

Type of policy and coverage

Depending on the policy and coverage you pick, you can get lower costs. Selecting lower coverage limits may reduce the premium, but it may also reduce the amount available for a covered loss.

Having higher amounts of personal property coverage and liability can mean you have more protection, but you will often pay more for the policy. When reviewing available options, you may wish to weigh the pros and cons to determine whether to get enough to cover all your belongings or only some of them.

Factors That May Affect Renters Insurance Costs

Choosing a higher insurance deductible. Insurance companies often lower your monthly rate if you have a higher deductible because you’re sharing more of the risk. A licensed insurance representative can explain available deductible options.

Bundling a renters insurance policy with your other insurance policies. Many providers offer discounts and savings as incentives when you bundle insurance policies; so, if you get your auto and renters insurance from the same company, you could save. You may want to consider bundling discounts when researching different companies and getting quotes.

Reviewing your coverage to help ensure you’ve selected what you need. You may want to review your policy periodically with a licensed insurance agent to determine if it fits your needs.

Paying the entire year instead of making monthly payments. Some insurance providers may offer different pricing or fees depending on whether premiums are paid annually or in installment payments.

Certain apartment security features. Companies often reduce rates when they see that you are reducing the risk through apartment security features. This can include sprinkler systems, deadbolt locks, fire/burglar alarms, and more.

Why Get Renters Insurance?

Renters insurance is not always required, but a policy may provide personal property, liability, and additional living expense coverage for certain covered losses.

To learn more about why renters insurance is worth it, check out the Renterverse blog.   You’ll learn everything you need to know about renters insurance, from commonly asked questions to whether you should share a policy with your roommate.

This article was originally published on August 6, 2025.