The personal property coverage in a homeowners or renters insurance policy may help cover theft from your car.

Personal property coverage helps protect the items you typically keep in your home —such as furniture, clothing, electronics, or other personal items —against certain causes of loss, known as perils. Theft is usually one of these covered perils.

What you may not know is that personal property coverage usually protects these personal items even if the theft happens away from your home. So, if your personal property —a golf bag full of clubs, for instance —is stolen from your car, and the personal property coverage in your homeowners or renters policy protects against theft, your insurer may help pay for its replacement. Keep in mind that items kept away from your home may have a lower coverage limit. Read your policy to learn now much off-premises coverage it provides for personal property.

A couple of things to know about personal property coverage: This type of coverage is typically subject to certain limits, or the maximum amount your insurer will pay to repair or replace the items after a covered loss. It also usually has a deductible, meaning that you have to pay a certain amount of money toward the covered item's repair or replacement before your insurer will begin helping to pay, up to the limits.