Special Personal Property Coverage Explained

Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about special personal property coverage and what it helps protect if it's on your policy.
Written by Brady Klopfer
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
When you sign up for
homeowners insurance
, it’s critical that you actually know what's protected under your policy.
One type of coverage that often confuses people on their homeowners insurance is special personal property coverage. It may be a bit of a mouthful, but special personal property coverage is a very important element of many homeowners insurance policies. So, if you’re purchasing homeowners insurance, read on to learn about special personal property coverage.
And keep in mind that you can always save on your homeowner's insurance by bundling it with auto insurance. To find the best deal, try
car insurance
comparison and broker app
Jerry
.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

What is special personal property coverage?

Special personal property coverage protects the personal items from your home in every event except those which are specifically listed on your policy. Basically, instead of having a short list of occasions where your items are protected, you have a short list of occasions where your items aren’t protected, such as in the event of a flood or an earthquake (two common exclusions on a special personal property coverage policy).
Because of that, special personal property coverage ends up protecting your personal items in almost every foreseeable scenario.

What is the difference between special personal property coverage and regular personal property coverage?

Most homeowners insurance plans include standard personal property coverage, which, as the name suggests, covers your personal property. This can be anything from your TV and laptop to your wedding ring to the art on your walls.
With a standard personal property coverage policy, your personal items are covered only under specific circumstances. For instance, regular personal property coverage usually provides insurance for your items if they are stolen, or if there’s a fire that damages your home.
Special personal property coverage provides more comprehensive coverage of your personal items, by instead covering them for all but a small handful of excluded events (and even those exclusions can sometimes be negotiated or personalized).
While special personal property coverage is much more comprehensive than standard personal property coverage, it’s worth mentioning that standard personal property coverage does provide insurance for many of the most common reasons that your personal property might be damaged or lost.
Key Takeaway: Regular coverage will only cover your personal items from specific events, while special coverage covers them from all but a few exceptions. However, regular coverage still does protect your stuff from most common threats.

What is an example of special personal property coverage?

The most common example of what special personal property coverage protects comes in the form of damage caused by you. Let’s say you spill a cup of coffee on your laptop. That would not be covered under a standard personal property coverage plan, because it’s your fault rather than something outside of your control. But under most special personal property coverage plans, even an issue you’re at fault for is covered, and you would have your laptop replaced.
You can see why a lot of people are more comfortable having special personal property coverage. It can provide a lot of peace and mind knowing that your valuable items are protected under almost any cause of damage.

FAQs

How much does special personal property coverage cost?

There's no one set answer. Really, it depends on your homeowners package and exactly how much you want protected. Before you look into deals, it's important that you honestly evaluate all of the goods you want protected before talking to your insurer about costs.

Where can I get cheap insurance?

For cheap insurance, try out
Jerry
. If you want to save money on car insurance, the Jerry app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding the cheapest quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.
RECOMMENDED
Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
avatar
Judith switched to Progressive
icon savingsSaved $725 annually
avatar
Alexander switched to Travelers
icon savingsSaved $834 annually
avatar
Annie switched to Nationwide
icon savingsSaved $668 annually
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings