While you don't need receipts to file a renter's insurance claim, they can make filing a lot easier! Here's how to file a renters insurance claim with or without receipts.
Renters insurance is a great protection to have if you rent your home and are worried about your possessions being stolen
, damaged, or destroyed. Hopefully, you'll never have to file a renters insurance claim—but if you do, it can help to have receipts for the property that's been damaged. Here's how receipts can help ease the process of filing, but why they're not entirely necessary. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What does renters insurance cover?
If you have renters insurance but have never filed a claim, it can be helpful to know what you can file for. Renters insurance covers the following three areas:
Personal property. This is the replacement or repair of items you own and store in your home if they’re damaged in a disaster or by a vandal, or stolen by a thief. This includes times when the items are outside your home.
Personal liability. This covers any injuries sustained by you or someone else while in your home.
Additional living expenses. If your home is temporarily unlivable for any reason, your renters insurance will help pay for a living situation while your home is repaired.
MORE: Does renters insurance cover mold?
What is the claims process like if you have receipts?
If you have receipts, filing a renters insurance claim is very simple. When you’re filling out a claim, just include all the receipts you have for the items that were damaged, ruined, or stolen. Your insurance company will review your claim, as well as the receipts, to determine a payout.
Including the receipts also ensures that you get the best payout. For example, if your fancy silverware is stolen and you can prove how much it cost, the claims process will be easier, and your insurer will be able to determine exactly what the full payout should be.
What is the claims process like if you don’t have receipts?
It’s OK if you don’t have receipts when filing a claim; just be honest. When filling out the claim, list everything that was damaged, ruined, or stolen, with as much additional information you have, including when they were purchased and any details about the products.
You’ll then work with a claims adjuster
, who will attempt to approximate the value of your items that are being covered under the policy. In the fancy silverware example above, although you won't have receipts, your adjuster will still do their best to determine the value of your property so that you can be reimbursed. Although you might not get the full payout, you will still be covered. How to make the claims process easier if you don’t have receipts
The best way to make the renters insurance claims process easier is to document everything that you own. When you begin a renters insurance policy, you should list all of your valuable items, including as much detail as you can, and make an appointment to share the list with your insurance agent.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures of items as you acquire them, especially if you can include a timestamp. This will provide proof of ownership to your adjuster, which may allow you to file a claim more easily and quickly.
Most people don’t hang onto their receipts, and that’s OK! Keeping your receipts makes filing a renters insurance claim easier, but it’s not necessary—and you still have several other options to make sure you get reimbursed properly.
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