Is Storm Damage Covered by Auto Insurance? What Drivers Should Know

In many situations, auto insurance will pay for storm damage to your vehicle if your policy includes comprehensive coverage. Other parts of a policy can also help during severe weather, such as collision coverage if you strike a tree and liability coverage if you injure someone else or damage another vehicle in a crash.

Pro tip

Comprehensive auto insurance usually protects against hail, wind, flooding, lightning, and falling objects, although your deductible and policy limits still apply.

Even though comprehensive coverage is broader than what many homeowners policies provide for weather-related losses, it still has limits. Damage to items inside your car, as well as water damage caused by neglect or poor maintenance, is generally excluded. You also typically cannot make a claim for minor damage if repairs cost less than your deductible.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive car insurance generally covers storm-related damage caused by hail, wind, flooding, lightning, and falling objects.
• Collision insurance may cover damage to your car if you hydroplane on wet roads and hit a tree, another vehicle, or another object.
• Minimum coverage car insurance may cover other people’s injuries and property damage if you cause a crash during a storm, but it generally won’t cover storm damage to your own vehicle.
• A weather-related car insurance claim could affect your rates, depending on your insurer and other factors. If repair costs are only slightly higher than your deductible, consider whether filing a claim makes financial sense.

What kinds of storm damage can car insurance cover?

Depending on the coverages in your policy, car insurance may protect against a broad range of storm-related losses, from direct damage to your vehicle to crashes that happen on slick roads. For the most complete storm protection, you generally need a full coverage policy that combines physical damage coverage with the insurance your state requires.

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Comprehensive coverage pays for most storm damage

In most cases, full coverage car insurance handles storm damage through the comprehensive portion of the policy. Comprehensive insurance can help pay to repair or replace your car if it is damaged by something other than a collision. Covered perils usually include animal strikes, vandalism, theft, earthquakes, fire, lightning, and nearly all direct storm damage.

Does liability car insurance cover storm damage?

Liability insurance does not protect your own vehicle, so if you have a liability-only policy, storm damage to your car will not be covered. Still, liability coverage remains important, and most states require it, because it can help pay for another person’s vehicle repairs or medical bills if you crash into them after losing visibility in heavy rain.

Does car insurance cover hail damage?

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage from hailstorms. Roughly 300,000 hail claims are filed on personal auto policies in the United States each year, and major hail repairs can cost anywhere from about $750 to as much as $10,000. Because of that, comprehensive coverage can be especially valuable if you live in an area where hail is common.

Does car insurance cover flood damage?

A standard comprehensive policy includes coverage for flood damage to your vehicle. That is different from homeowners insurance, which typically excludes flood losses and often requires separate flood insurance in higher-risk areas. Without comprehensive coverage, severe flood repairs could cost more than the car is worth.

Are hurricane and tornado damage covered by car insurance?

If you have comprehensive coverage, your auto insurance policy should cover damage from windstorms, including hurricanes and tornadoes. Wind itself may not cause much direct harm, but it can lead to covered losses such as flying debris, power lines falling onto your car, or structural damage in a garage or other building where the vehicle is parked.

Does car insurance cover a tree falling on your car?

Damage caused when a tree or branch falls on your car during a storm is covered by comprehensive insurance. In some situations, though, another type of coverage may apply. For instance, if you hit a tree that had already fallen in the roadway, collision insurance would likely handle the damage instead.

What storm damage is not covered by car insurance?

Although comprehensive coverage usually protects broadly against storm damage, exclusions can still apply. For example, car insurance generally does not cover losses tied to negligence or poor maintenance, so you may not be protected if you leave your windows open or fail to close your sunroof before a rainstorm.

Pro tip

Car insurance also does not cover storm damage to belongings inside your vehicle, although homeowners insurance may cover them depending on how the loss happened.

How much will insurance pay for storm damage?

If your storm damage is covered, your insurer should pay the cost to repair your vehicle or, if repairs would cost more than the car is worth, the vehicle’s actual cash value. Keep in mind that comprehensive claims usually require you to pay a deductible, so minor repairs may not be covered if the cost is below that amount.

Should you file a car insurance claim for storm damage?

Whether to file a claim depends on the repair estimate and the possible drawbacks of using insurance. A claim can raise your premiums, so short-term savings may disappear over time unless the repair bill is significantly higher than your deductible.

How to file a storm damage car insurance claim

If your car needs repairs after a storm, you can file a claim under your comprehensive policy by following these steps:

1. Document the damage with photos or videos.
2. Send your insurer the images and any other useful paperwork or evidence as part of the initial claim.
3. Speak with your insurance agent to arrange an inspection by an adjuster.
4. Review your policy details, including what is covered and how high your deductible is, so you understand your potential payout.
5. Contact local repair shops or mechanics for estimates.
6. Once you reach a settlement with your insurer, use the payment to repair your vehicle.

Car insurance and storm damage at a glance

• Overview: If a storm damages your car, insurance may help with repairs depending on your coverage and the source of the damage.
• Comprehensive coverage: Most storm losses are covered by comprehensive insurance, including flooding, wind, hail, lightning, and even earthquakes.
• Other coverage options: Car insurance can include other protections tied to storms. Liability coverage pays for other people’s losses after an at-fault crash, while collision coverage helps repair your car if you hit another vehicle or a fixed object in bad weather.
• Tree damage: Comprehensive coverage applies if a tree falls on your car during a storm, but if you crash into a tree that has already fallen, you may need to rely on collision coverage instead.
• Exclusions: Insurers generally will not pay for damage caused by negligence, such as ruined seats because you left the windows down during a storm. Car insurance also does not cover storm-damaged items inside your vehicle, though homeowners or renters insurance may.
• Cost considerations: You usually cannot file a storm damage claim unless repairs cost more than your deductible. Because your premium may rise after a claim, paying out of pocket can be the better option if the damage only barely exceeds your deductible.

How to protect your car before a severe storm

Before a major storm arrives, take these steps to reduce the chance of serious damage to your vehicle:

1. Fill up your gas tank in case the storm causes power outages or fuel shortages.
2. Put together an emergency kit with supplies such as tools, jumper cables, a spare tire, and flashlights.
3. Park inside a garage or under a carport if possible.
4. If the car must stay outside, use a cover to shield it as much as you can.
5. Make sure you have comprehensive insurance if you want protection against storm damage.
6. Move the vehicle to higher ground if flooding is a risk.

Frequently asked questions

Will insurance cover storm damage if you only have minimum coverage?

No. Minimum coverage car insurance does not pay for direct storm damage to your vehicle. That type of loss is usually covered by comprehensive insurance, which is not required by law in any state.

Do you have to pay a deductible for storm damage?

Yes, you will generally need to pay a deductible when you file a comprehensive claim for storm damage. However, if you have full glass coverage, the deductible may be waived for window-related claims, such as when a falling branch cracks your windshield during a storm.

Can you add comprehensive coverage before a storm?

Some insurers may not allow you to add comprehensive coverage shortly before a forecasted storm.

Does car insurance cover wind damage?

Yes, wind damage should be covered if your policy includes comprehensive coverage.

Will car insurance cover personal belongings damaged in a storm?

No, car insurance does not cover personal belongings damaged in a storm. However, items in your vehicle may be covered under the personal property portion of a homeowners insurance policy.