Does Car Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States is going through an above average hurricane season. Tropical storms are unpredictable, so if you live in a place that’s prone to hurricanes or tropical storms, it’s important to take steps in advance to protect yourself and your assets. This includes ensuring that you have the right type of insurance coverage for your vehicle.

The following recommendations will help you make sure you have an insurance policy that will cover your losses and are well prepared in the event of an emergency.

Car Insurance and Hurricane Damage: What to Know

The right car insurance company will prioritize your safety and well-being first and foremost. If you’re navigating the aftermath of a hurricane, you’ll likely be under a lot of stress—the last thing you need is to be stuck with the wrong policy. Give yourself some peace of mind and make sure you’re covered before a disaster takes place.

“It’s important that you talk to your insurance company or your independent agent,” explains Matt Christopher, Vice President of Claims and Shared Services at Clearcover, in an interview with Fox Weather. “You want to ensure that you have the right coverage to cover these events."

The good news is that most insurance companies want you to be properly covered. However, because you can’t retroactively get coverage, you need to make sure you have the right policy in place ahead of time, before a hurricane or natural disaster strikes.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is one of the two types of insurance coverages you’ll need to be adequately covered from hurricane damage. Comprehensive coverage protects you and your vehicle from events such as weather-related cracked windshields, wildlife run-ins, and damage from vandalism. While liability coverage—an insurance coverage that covers bodily injury and property damage—is mandatory in almost every state, comprehensive coverage is optional. However, according to the Insurance Information Institute, four out of five drivers elect to add comprehensive coverage to their policies for additional protection.

In the event of a hurricane, comprehensive coverage will typically cover the following:

Wind knocking down branches and causing vehicle damage
Damage from flooding, hail, and heavy rains
Total losses of vehicles from severe weather

"The things that come with hurricanes, such as wind," Christopher adds, "[are] going to knock down branches and damage your vehicle. That’s when your comprehensive coverage would come into play."

You can learn more about comprehensive coverage here.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage is the second type of coverage that comes into effect following a hurricane. This type of insurance coverage is what protects you if you get into a crash with another vehicle or stationary object. If you don’t have collision coverage, even if you have liability insurance and comprehensive coverage, you would be responsible for paying for the damages to your own vehicle following a collision.

While the coverage specifics can vary amongst policies, collision insurance typically covers repair or replacement costs for your vehicle related to the following:

A collision with another vehicle or vehicles
A collision with a stationary object, such as a guardrail, tree, or pothole
A single-car accident, such as a rollover crash
A collision that occurs while your car is parked, such as a hit-and-run

Further elaborating on collision coverage’s role in hurricane damage, Christopher says, "Think about hurricanes, there’s a lot of rain, and [they] could cause slick roads, and you could lose control. You could strike another vehicle or a tree or a rock. And that’s when collision [coverage] can come into play."

You can learn more about collision insurance here.

Getting the Right Type and Level of Coverage

To ensure that you’ll be covered in the event of a hurricane, it’s a good idea to reach out to your insurance provider or insurance agent directly. The simplest approach is to be honest about your situation and request a clear and comprehensive explanation of your policy details.

Be sure to share that you live in a region prone to hurricanes and that you want to take extra precautions to protect yourself before a potential natural disaster strikes. You can ask specifically about comprehensive and collision coverages, in addition to your specific coverage amounts. It’s important to gain clarity around costs and premiums as well.

Use this opportunity to ask all your policy questions—the right insurer will be on your side and dedicated to providing you with the assistance you need.

Steps to Take During a Natural Disaster

Natural disasters can be very stressful and overwhelming. If you find yourself dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster, it’s normal to feel disoriented. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency preparedness plan in place ahead of time, before a hurricane occurs.

First and Foremost, Make Sure You’re Safe

Before you contact your insurance company, make sure you have taken all the steps you need to ensure your personal safety and that you are no longer in danger. Your vehicle can wait.

Take Pictures and Videos If You Are Able

If you have your smartphone with you, it’s a good idea to take pictures and videos of the damage to your vehicle and surrounding areas. This footage will help you and your insurance company get on the same page more quickly. With documentation, you’ll have an easier time answering questions and providing details during the claims process.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Keep in mind that during a natural disaster, cellular and landline networks may be down and once lines are back up, systems may be overloaded. It’s okay to wait as long as reasonably necessary.

Every claim is different, so make sure you follow the steps your insurance company provides. After you file your claim, a representative will evaluate your incident to determine if the incident is covered by your policy, as well as how much money (if any) will be paid out by the insurance company.

Following an evaluation and decision, the insurance company will issue a payment to you directly or to the person whose name is on the policy.

Try to be patient throughout the process. If there is significant hurricane damage in your area, there are likely a lot of drivers in the same situation and a lot of claims to process.

You can learn more about the claims process here.

Get the Policy You Need Today with Clearcover

Choosing an insurance company you can trust is crucial since there are so many challenges on the road that are outside of your control.

Especially in the event of a natural disaster, it’s important to have an insurance company that can respond with urgency, transparency, and compassion. Enter Clearcover.

If you're looking for car insurance coverage you can count on, Clearcover’s got your back. We offer competitive rates and customizable policies that are perfect for any driver. See how much you can save with a custom quote today.