Renters insurance from Blake Sims, your local GEICO agent.

Your landlord's policy covers the building. It covers nothing you own. Renters insurance closes that gap for a few dollars a month.

Small policy. Big catch net:

Renters insurance is usually the cheapest policy a person owns, and one of the most used. Here's what's inside.

• Personal PropertyCore coverage
  Furniture, electronics, clothes, kitchen gear. Covered against fire, theft, vandalism, and water damage from burst pipes, even away from home.
• LiabilityCore coverage
  A guest gets hurt in your apartment, or you accidentally damage the unit. Liability pays legal and medical costs if you're responsible.
• Additional Living ExpensesCore coverage
  If a covered event makes your place unlivable, this pays for a hotel and meals while repairs happen.
• Medical PaymentsIncluded
  Small medical bills for guests injured at your place, paid without a lawsuit or a fault fight.
• Scheduled ItemsOptional
  An engagement ring, a guitar, camera gear. High-value items can be scheduled separately so their full value is protected.
• The Auto BundleDiscount
  Pairing renters with your auto policy is one of the easiest discounts in insurance. Often the renters policy nearly pays for itself.

Renters insurance, by the numbers:

The cheapest policy most people will ever carry, and the one they most often skip.

• $0 · What your landlord's policy pays you. A landlord's insurance covers the building itself. Your furniture, electronics, and belongings are not part of it. Industry standard.
• ~$20 · Typical monthly cost. Renters insurance typically runs around $15–$20 a month nationally, less than most streaming bundles. Source: Insurance Information Institute.
• Required? · Many leases say yes. No state law in Tennessee, Mississippi, or Arkansas requires renters insurance, but a growing share of leases do. Check yours before you sign. Industry practice.
• Everywhere · Coverage follows you. Personal property coverage typically applies away from home too: a laptop stolen from your car, luggage lost on a trip. Industry standard.