Does Car Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?

Does Car Insurance Cover Natural Disasters?

There’s no way to protect your car from a natural disaster such as a flood or an earthquake, but your auto insurance may be able to offer some protection for you. If a flood or windstorm damages your vehicle, you want to know you are working with the best car insurance companies to cover the damage. If you are asking if car insurance covers natural disasters, that answer depends on a number of factors. Take a closer look at what you can expect to happen if you need to file a claim after a storm occurs.

Auto Insurance Companies and Storms

Auto insurance companies offer a variety of types of insurance policies to meet most types of risks. You gain coverage for your vehicle for various risks based specifically on the type of policies you purchase. When it comes to storm damage for cars, most auto insurance companies provide comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive auto insurance coves unexpected and accidental losses including storms, fire, and vandalism.
 

States do not require people to have comprehensive auto insurance. If you have a car loan or you are leasing your car, your contract likely requires you to maintain full coverage on your car. This includes comprehensive insurance. This helps to protect your lender or leasing agent from loss of the vehicle if a natural disaster were to occur.
 

To find out if you have this type of insurance, call your car insurance company or your agent. They can tell you what types of perils fall under your policy as well.

Car Insurance and Flooding

One type of natural disaster that falls under comprehensive auto insurance is flooding, in most cases. If you have a flood come through your area due to a storm, your insurance may help cover the damage to the vehicle. This includes the cleanup of the flooding and water damage within the car. If the car cannot be repaired, the insurance policy may replace the vehicle or provide you with the funds for the value of the car at the time before the flood occurred.
 

Most of the time, car insurance for flooding will have limits. The flooding needs to be a result of a natural disaster. If your garage floods, this may not fit the requirement.

Auto Insurance and Tornadoes

There are some areas wither other natural disasters are common. This includes storms and tornadoes. Windstorms fit into this area as well. In these situations, there is no way for you to be able to predict the damage that these storms can cause. Here are a few examples.
 

A severe thunderstorm causes damage to your car from hail. This pits the car’s surface and damages the paint. The roof may have significant damage as well. A thunderstorm can cause a lightning strike to the car. This can cause a fire in the car. You may have a windstorm damage the car by flipping it over, which is also what can happen when a tornado occurs. In all of these situations, your insurer will estimate the amount of damage that occurs and then determine the right amount to provide to you to make the repairs.

Car Insurance Companies and Risk

When you purchase a car insurance policy, the company will determine the amount of risk present in your area. If you live in an area where the risk of severe storms occur, they may charge more for your coverage. In areas where earthquakes are common, your insurer may list this as a covered peril.
 

However, it is always important to verify what type of insurance coverage you have for natural disasters. To reduce some costs, companies may elect to provide you with a policy without coverage for specific risks such as hurricane damage, flooding, or earthquakes. Your policy will note any exclusions on it or types of claims it does not cover. You should know what this is before you purchase the policy.

Best Car Insurance in Your Area

You should seek out the best car insurance in your area. Examine the risks to you within your community. Natural disasters, whether they are from flooding, hurricanes, or earthquakes, are events you should pay close attention to. If these risks exist where you live, be sure your auto insurance reflects this.
 

That way, you know you have financial protections available to you should the worst happen. Natural disasters can be defined as any large-scale natural event, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flash flooding. If these are concerns where you live, make sure you have proper auto insurance to cover those risks. Don’t settle for a basic liability only policy. It cannot offer you the level of protection you need.
 

If you are unsure what your car insurance covers, including natural disasters, give your agent a call. You can also look for exclusions on your policy to gain more insight into what is not covered by it.
 

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