If you came home from work and found yourself unable to get inside your house, you would call a locksmith. They would come out and either get the lock open or replace it so that you could go about your day.
But before you take your phone out and start searching for a locksmith in your area, you should take a moment and think about what may or may not be covered under your homeowner’s insurance.
The insurance policy you took out when you bought your home may help you cover the cost of multiple things that may go wrong. Could the cost of gaining access to your home be covered, or would you at least be able to get reimbursed?
Let’s look at what most insurance policies cover when it comes to locksmith services.
What Is Covered?
There are a few reasons you may need to call a locksmith that could be covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies. And there may be requirements for your particular policy you may need to be aware of. You should always go over your policy when you get it so that you are not in the situation of needing services and being unsure if you are covered.
- If your home is vandalized by an intruder or a burglar, you can claim any damage done to belongings that open with a key. That includes safes, lockboxes, cabinets, and more. A locksmith can try to repair it. But, you will be reimbursed if you have to replace it.
- Your housekeys are considered personal property. If they are lost or stolen, most insurance policies will pay for them to replace them.
- If an emergency causes your window or door to be damaged, the cost to repair it will be covered. An emergency is usually described as a fire or strong winds from a storm.
What Is Not Covered?
Unfortunately, your insurance policy probably will not cover every reason you could need locksmith services.
- If you lock yourself out of your house, your insurance agency most likely will not cover if you call a locksmith to come and let you in. It is a good idea to have a backup plan so that you can get back in the house in situations like that. Having a neighbor keep a set of your keys is a good idea.
- If you damage cabinets or lockboxes due to normal wear and tear you usually cannot claim it as an insurance expense.
Insurance Add-Ons
There are eight different kinds of homeowner’s insurance policies, from comprehensive coverage to renter’s. All of them cover different things for various reasons. It is important to thoroughly read and become familiar with your policy before it is time to file a claim.
Some insurance agencies offer lockout coverage as an add-on feature. For an additional fee, you can get reimbursed up to a pre-set amount for a certain number of times per year. So if you are truly afraid you will leave your keys inside your house and lock yourself out, or if you think you will come home and realize you left them at work, you can be covered by paying a little extra every month.
If you have any questions about what may or may not be covered in your insurance policy, contact your agent. They can walk you through it and let you know if add-ons like this are available to you. Or, if you’re looking for locksmith services, you can contact us and let us show you what we can do to help you and try to make your life a little easier.
