What is pet liability insurance for renters?

Key points

• Pet liability for renters, included in renters insurance, pays for injuries and property damage your pet causes to others.
• Renters insurance liability coverage also pays for your legal fees if you’re sued over an incident with your pet. 
• Some renters insurance companies may exclude coverage for certain dog breeds or for dogs with a history of aggressive behavior. 
• A standalone pet liability insurance policy is a solution for excluded breeds, or if your renter’s policy doesn’t include pet liability coverage.

Renters insurance includes liability coverage, which pays for another person’s medical expenses or property damage bills if you or someone in your household are responsible for the injury or damage. It also covers your legal fees if you’re sued over the incident.  

However, if you own a dog, it may be excluded from your renters insurance policy depending on the insurance company, your dog’s breed or its behavioral history. In that case, you may want to purchase a standalone pet liability insurance policy. 

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About pet liability insurance

Pet liability insurance is a standalone policy that provides coverage for injury or property damage your pet causes to others. It can pay for the injured party’s medical expenses, the cost to repair or replace damaged property and your legal fees if they file a lawsuit.

Here are just a few examples of things for which you could be held liable:

• Your dog bites someone at the neighborhood park. 
• Your cat scratches a neighbor when they come into your apartment.
• Your hyper dog greets your neighbor’s child a little too enthusiastically while they’re riding their bike, causing injury to the child and damage to the bike.
• Your dog chews through your neighbor’s fence or their furniture.

Dogs are the most common pet to cause injury, especially from biting. Dog-related liability injury claims topped $1,136 million in 2022, according to the most recent claims data from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm. The average cost of a dog bite liability claim in the U.S. was almost $65,000 per claim in 2022.

In order are the top 10 states for dog injury claims in 2022:

• California
• Florida
• Texas
• New York
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Illinois
• Ohio
• New Jersey
• Georgia

Even if you don’t live in one of the top 10 states, owning a pet could end up costing you if it harms someone. Triple-I notes that medical costs, settlements, judgments and jury awards are on the rise, meaning the average cost per claim will continue to increase, making pet liability coverage even more important.

Learn more: Best pet insurance companies.

Will my renters insurance cover pet liability?

Renters insurance liability coverage typically includes damage and injuries caused by pets, but some insurance companies exclude specific dog breeds, even if they don’t have a history of biting. And depending on the insurer, you may only be able to get pet liability coverage as an endorsement or rider you add to the policy for an additional fee.

Insurance companies may also have coverage limits for pet liability claims, according to Debbie Turner, president of Dean Insurance Agency. That means if you have $100,000 in personal liability coverage, you may only have $25,000 in canine or pet liability. 

It’s important to read your policy carefully and ask questions about pet liability specifically before buying a renters insurance policy. “You must inform the insurance company that you have a pet,” said Jesse Cunningham, licensed insurance agent and owner of Bauple.com. 

Turner also advises checking if your policy covers your pet off premises, or away from your home. 

What if my renters insurance doesn’t cover pet liability?

If your renters insurance doesn’t cover pet liability, there are other options to consider. 

Pet liability insurance

A standalone pet liability insurance policy provides the coverage missing from your renters insurance policy.

The average canine liability claim was $64,555 in 2022, so it may be well worth the extra cost of an animal liability policy if your renters insurance doesn’t include pet liability. Without pet liablity insurance, you could be on the hook to pay that amount out of pocket.

Switch to another insurance company

You could also switch to another insurer that provides pet liability coverage. “An independent insurance agent can help you find an insurance company with coverage options for your pet,” said Cunningham.

Another benefit to working with an independent agent is they can get multiple quotes at the same time. It could save you time and money, plus ensure you have the coverage you need to protect your assets.

Buy umbrella insurance

Another option is buying an umbrella insurance policy. This policy kicks in if you max out your personal liability on either your auto insurance, renters insurance or home insurance. Just make sure the policy will cover your pet, especially if your renters insurance doesn’t.

Why you should consider pet liability coverage

Pet liability coverage is one of the best ways to protect yourself financially if your pet causes damage or injury to someone else. Without insurance, you can be held responsible for others’ medical and repair bills, and your legal costs. 

Dog owners are especially vulnerable to liability exposure. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), dogs occupy around 65% of U.S. households. More than 4.5 million people are dog bite victims each year, and around half are children, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). More than 800,000 people seek medical attention for their dog bite injuries.

If your dog bites someone, the victim could seek damages for past and future medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, said Weston. The costs could add up fast, and that doesn’t include the legal fees to represent you. Pet liability insurance could help pay for these costs so you aren’t left footing all of the bills yourself. 

Dog breeds that may require more coverage

Although the dog breeds that insurance companies won’t cover vary, we found the top 12 banned dog breeds include:

• Akita.
• Alaskan malamute.
• Chow Chow.
• Doberman pinscher.
• German shepherd.
• Husky.
• Mastiff.
• Pit bull.
• Rottweiler.
• Presa Canario (canary dogs).
• Wolf dogs and hybrids.

These dog breeds can cause more damage to a person when they bite and may fall into the dangerous category, depending on the insurance company. Some insurers have a blanket ban while others consider dogs on a case-by-case basis, according to Triple-I.

If your dog bites someone, it increases the insurance company’s risk. The company may exclude the dog from further coverage, raise your rates or not renew your policy.

Why are some pets excluded from renters insurance?

Insurance companies exclude dog breeds and certain species, like exotic pets, because they pose a higher risk of personal harm or property damage.

Companies use frequency and cost of medical bills and property damage data by breed to exclude those animals that are more likely to cost them money, said Cunningham. He says State Farm and USAA are two companies that will consider each dog’s behavior individually to determine if they’ll cover them.

Pet liability insurance FAQs