Does car insurance cover storm damage?

Does car insurance cover storm damage? Many weather-related accidents can happen to your vehicle, from wind damage to colliding with another car to hail damage.

However, you may not always be able to make weather-related car insurance claims. Unless you have the right type of car insurance coverage covering storm damage to a car, you won’t be able to file a car insurance claim.

Continue reading to learn if your auto insurance policy covers storm damage and what type of insurance covers car damage from weather conditions and natural disasters.

Car Insurance and Storm Damage Coverage

Does car insurance cover weather-related accidents? If you have the right auto insurance coverage, it will cover most storm damage to your vehicle.

However, even if you get storm damage insurance coverage, it’s important to ensure there aren’t excluded damages. For example, some companies may exclude flood damage or fire damage if you live in a high-risk area, in which case you’d need to purchase extra coverage separately for full protection.

Will my car insurance policy cover storm damage? To see if the auto insurance coverages you carry will cover storm damage, we’ve reviewed the basic auto insurance coverages most drivers carry below.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance pays for your repairs if you collide with another vehicle or object, such as a fence post. While this coverage may initially seem like it doesn’t involve weather-related damages, the lines can blur a bit if you crash because of the weather.

For example, say you slip on icy roads during a storm and crash into a telephone pole. In this case, you have coverage. 

Unfortunately, if a falling icicle dents the hood of your car, your collision coverage won’t pay for damages. So while collision insurance is great, don’t expect it to cover weather damages unless the weather causes you to crash. 

Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive auto insurance is auto insurance coverage that covers drivers for any weather-related damages, not just weather-related crashes like collision insurance.

If you have comprehensive insurance, you have coverage for storm damages like hail damage or falling trees from heavy winds. Comprehensive insurance also covers other incidents, such as theft, vandalism, falling objects, and animal collisions.

However, reading the fine print is important, as your car insurance company may not cover all weather damages. These are called excluded events.

For example, if your insurance company doesn’t cover flood damage, you can’t file a comprehensive insurance claim if your car gets damaged by flood water from heavy rains. So check what your car insurance company’s comprehensive insurance coverage excludes. However, comprehensive insurance covers most storm damages.

Liability Insurance

All drivers must carry liability auto insurance, which pays for other parties’ accident costs if they cause an accident. However, liability auto insurance doesn’t cover any weather damages, so if you live in an area with frequent bad weather, you’ll need comprehensive car insurance if you want coverage for weather-related damages. 

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurances are also common coverages required by some states. If you get hit by another driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay your bills, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance helps cover your bills. However, these coverages won’t cover any weather-related damages.

How to File a Weather-Related Car Insurance Claim

If your car sustains weather damages, you can file a claim if you have comprehensive coverage. To file a weather-related claim, you must follow the steps below.

• Collect information. Write down all the details, like when the tree fell on your car or when hail damage occurred.
• Take photos of the damage. Take as many photos as possible of the damages so you can submit them to your auto insurance company.
• File a claim. You can file online or over the phone at most insurance companies.

Of course, after any weather-related damages, ensure your vehicle is safe to drive before using it, even if the damages appear minor. You should also exit your vehicle after any weather-related crash that causes severe damage and stand a safe distance away until help arrives.

The Final Word on Car Insurance and Storm Damage

Storms can cause great damage to your vehicle, but without comprehensive insurance, your auto insurance company won’t cover any weather-related damages. If you’ve skipped out on comprehensive auto insurance because your insurance company doesn’t offer affordable rates, you can always shop around for quotes to try and find savings.

Use our free quote comparison tool to find the best comprehensive auto insurance rates in your area and start saving on insurance for storm damage today.