Does Auto Insurance Cover Damages From Natural Disasters?

Many people find themselves purchasing the minimum amounts of car insurance required by law, then finding themselves in a position where damage happens to their vehicle due to natural disasters. Depending on the state that you live in, you could be at a higher risk for certain types of natural disaster damage, and the minimum insurance required won’t help. With many areas of the world that have had major disasters, from Hurricane Katrina to earthquakes in California and Japan and other disasters around the world, damage to vehicles undoubtedly happened in all of them. 

Many insurance providers offer additional coverage besides liability coverage. Liability insurance coverage is the type of car coverage required by most states. Some states require additional coverage, but collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and lease gap coverage are all optional coverages.

Natural disasters can destroy a person’s car. Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other perils provide billions of dollars of damage each year. While most citizens of the United States do not live near earthquake or tsunami zones, there are other risks that are available. Floods, fires, and hurricanes are the most common natural threats to vehicles in the country. Find out what is covered by your car insurance policy if you purchase a comprehensive insurance plan. 

A comprehensive insurance coverage plan will not cover you in terms of collisions, but you can also get peace of mind with a comprehensive plan as well. This coverage type protects you in many cases of natural disasters. You’ll want to read through your entire policy to make sure what you want to have covered is.

Floods

Thousands of cars are destroyed every year due to floods. Rhode Island was hit by a major flood last year, Florida, Louisiana, and many other states also find flooding within their borders. It is not only major flooding that is covered on the news that can deal immense amount of damage to vehicles. Smaller flooding can happen in most states. Once the waters from a flood rise over your wheels, your car is at risk for major damage. Drivers in the United States should be equipped with flood coverage, which is sometimes covered under a comprehensive insurance plan. In some areas, however, you may need to buy an additional rider outside of your comprehensive plan.

Hurricanes

If you are living in an area that has a hurricane risk, you may want to look into buying individual disaster protection. Comprehensive coverage can protect you from multiple types of disasters, but make sure to look into your auto insurance plan and verify that the coverages you want are included. If not, an individual protection plan may need to be purchased for that peril specifically.

Fires

In states like California, as well as other states in the American Southwest and other places, there is risk from forest fires, as well as other fires. If you think you are at risk for fires, getting comprehensive insurance coverage can be a smart plan. People can buy individual coverages for specific perils as well. Fires can cause charring to paint jobs, internal vehicle damage, altered windshields, and more. In many cases, if there is a major fire and the car is caught up in it, the car will be determined to be totaled. Having to replace a vehicle out-of-pocket can be immensely expensive, which is why comprehensive insurance coverage can be a good plan.

How To Get Protected From These Natural Disasters

One of the best ways to protect yourself from natural perils is to get comprehensive car insurance. This type of policy covers people for damages sustained due to floods, hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters. It also provides protection to people if their car is stolen or vandalized. Make sure to read over your entire policy before purchasing it to make sure it includes all of the coverages you would like to have.

In some cases, you may need to purchase an additional supplement to cover specific risks. Comprehensive insurance coverage also often covers damage due to animals. If you are living in an area where there is a risk for any of these things, comprehensive insurance coverage could be for you. 

DriversInsurance provides top deals on car insurance available in your area. Use the free quote tools on this website to not only find a policy that works for you, but you also find the best rates available for car insurance of other types. Keep in mind that if you are storing your vehicle and not driving it, you can get a comprehensive coverage only policy as well from many companies. Protecting your vehicle from natural disasters, theft, vandalism, and animals, can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. 

More importantly, however, you get peace of mind in case any of these situations occur. Life can be very unpredictable, but auto insurance providers use statistics to determine the amount of risk a person has in their area. Due to this, some areas will see higher prices for comprehensive insurance coverage than others. Get the best deals available here and compare rates for car insurance policies now.