Will auto insurance cover accidental damage?

Was your vehicle vandalized during a riot? Did strong winds blow debris onto your window and damage it? Accidental damage like this can occur unexpectedly.

But does car insurance cover accidental damage? Don’t worry — we’re here to help.

Read our guide to learn how auto insurance covers accidental damage and how to compare insurance quotes.

Are you ready to locate affordable auto insurance that covers accidental damage? Enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool above to compare multiple insurance companies in your area.

Does car insurance cover accidental damage?

The short answer is yes. Accidental damage is covered by comprehensive auto insurance.

However, liability and collision auto insurance don’t provide coverage for accidental damage.

Let’s examine a list of things that qualify as accidental damage.

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Fire
• Natural disasters (such as a storm, mudslide, or wildfire)
• Falling objects
• Damage done by animals
• Damage from a civil disturbance (such as a riot)

To ensure you have the kind of coverage you need, shop around and compare policies from multiple insurance companies before you buy auto insurance.

What does auto insurance cover?

Different types of auto insurance coverage protect you from different types of damage. To get coverage for accidental damage, you’ll need comprehensive insurance.

Your auto insurance company won’t cover personal items in your vehicle, and it won’t pay for medical bills if your injuries were caused by a car accident. Car accidents are covered by collision insurance.

Will liability or collision auto insurance cover accidental damage?

If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, your accidental damage won’t be covered. But even if you have a comprehensive policy in place, it still won’t cover specific situations.

Let’s review a few scenarios where comprehensive insurance won’t provide coverage.

• Damage to your car from a collision
• Damage to another person’s car from a collision
• Legal fees to sue the responsible driver
• Medical expenses or personal expenses due to an injury

Other coverage options handle these specific situations. To have coverage for all of these situations, you’ll need full coverage auto insurance.

Is comprehensive insurance full coverage?

The answer is no. So what is considered full coverage auto insurance?

Full coverage auto insurance is a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance.

What are minimum auto insurance requirements?

Most states have a minimum auto insurance requirement, and this is usually liability insurance. Your liability car insurance is made up of bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

Some states have requirements for uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) auto insurance coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), and/or medical payments (MedPay) as well.

If you’re still making payments on your vehicle, you will likely be required to get full coverage.

How much are comprehensive auto insurance rates?

Comprehensive car insurance can be affordable. However, several factors determine whether affordable comprehensive auto insurance is available to you.

Here’s a list of factors that affect the price of comprehensive insurance.

• Vehicle model and model year
• Crime statistics in your city
• Frequency of car insurance claims

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), comprehensive coverage costs $13 per month on average.

But what do comprehensive insurance rates look like for each state? Let’s review.

Comprehensive auto insurance quotes vary. Shop around and compare multiple auto insurance companies to get the best rates.

How can deductibles lower comprehensive auto insurance rates?

Car insurance deductibles are payments you must make to your car insurance company before any claims are paid to you.

Higher deductibles come with cheaper auto insurance rates.

Deductibles usually range from $500 to $1,500. However, deductibles vary for each company.

Why should you assess the damage before filing a comprehensive car insurance claim?

Deductibles are usually assessed at the same time as estimating damage cost.

If the damage is less than the deductible, it’s best not to file a comprehensive claim.

Assessing the damage also involves determining how the accident occurred. This will prevent your auto insurance company from denying or misclassifying your comprehensive auto insurance claim.

For example, if an accident happened while driving, your auto insurance company wouldn’t cover it under comprehensive auto insurance coverage. Instead, you’ll need to file a collision insurance claim.

Auto Insurance Covers Accidental Damage: The Bottom Line

Your auto insurance company covers accidental damage under comprehensive coverage. Liability and collision auto insurance won’t cover accidental damage.

Be as transparent as possible with the insurance company when you file a claim. Give them every detail they ask for, and file a claim as soon as the incident occurs.

Now that you know how auto insurance covers accidental damage, use our free comparison tool below to compare rates from multiple companies near you.

Frequently Asked Questions: Does auto insurance cover accidental damage?

Do you want to know more about accidental damage? Read these answers to frequently asked questions to find out more.

#1 – Is comprehensive auto insurance worth it?

Yes, it is. Comprehensive auto insurance covers gaps in coverage that liability and collision coverage won’t pay for.

#2 – Does comprehensive auto insurance cover flooding if I leave my window down?

No, it won’t. Auto insurance companies won’t cover incidents where you were found negligent.

#3 – Can someone else’s comprehensive auto insurance cover accidental damage?

Not exactly. The responsible party’s liability coverage pays for damages after an accident or other incident. But if you can’t find the person responsible for the damage, you should file a comprehensive insurance claim with your own auto insurance company.