Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Detached Garages?

When you get house insurance, it is critical to ensure that your detached garage, dwelling, and all other structures on your property are protected. Ensure that you understand every component of the homeowners' policy you intend to purchase to obtain the maximum coverage possible for your home, its contents, and other properties. If you do not comprehend the terminology and are unsure of the coverage, you will have no means of knowing what will be protected in the event of a risk. This puts you in significant danger of something happening and cannot acquire assistance with repairs or replacements.

One particular component of your property that you should examine is your detached garage. You need to be certain that it will be protected in the same way you would safeguard your home. If you do not have the necessary coverage, you risk losing a lot of money if your property is damaged by vandals or destroyed in a terrible storm.

Policies for Homeowners and Detached Garages

Typically, homeowners' policies include coverage for unattached structures such as detached garages, sheds, and other outbuildings. Certain insurance providers refer to these as Coverage B, while others simply refer to them as 'other structures.' This coverage is typically included in your homeowners' insurance policy and should automatically cover these structures on your property; however, you may need to mention them with your home insurance carrier.

Coverage B will insure the garage construction as well as reasonable contents. It is typically set at 10% of the coverage amount selected for your home. It is possible to acquire more than that if desired, although a minimum of 10% is recommended. If you intend to store anything valuable within the garage, you may wish to increase your coverage to cover the cost; otherwise, you may not recoup your loss.

If you intend to use your detached garage for purposes other than personal, such as business, you will almost certainly need business insurance. Homeowners insurance protects structures that are utilized solely for personal purposes. They will not cover a structure used as a place of business.

Is Attached Garage Insurance Different From Detached Garage Insurance?

Indeed, insurers treat garages differently depending on whether they are attached or detached. This is a critical aspect for them to consider when evaluating coverage for the garage. If you have a detached garage, it falls under the category of external structures and so requires additional insurance. The usual homeowner's insurance provides coverage for detached structures up to 10% of the policy's value. And many homeowners opt for more than that because they believe the 10% is too low.

Another interesting fact is that the attached garage is considered to be a part of the dwelling, which means that if someone breaks into your home via the attached garage, they will face a much harsher sentence than if they break into the detached garage, which is not considered to be a part of the dwelling.

Whether your detached garage is a new addition or you upgrade it during the year, or if you make any other changes to your house, you should schedule a meeting with your agent each year to update your policy to reflect the increased worth of your assets. You may have added treasures to your home's contents, made no changes at all, or made minor adjustments that you simply forgot about during the year. Revisiting the policy is a fantastic approach to ensure that you remain current with the plan and maintain coverage for the most valuable items in your life.