Natural disasters can wreak havoc on our lives and property. Cars are particularly susceptible to damage as they are typically kept outdoors. A broken windshield from hail or a flooded car in a heavy storm can leave you stranded and cost a significant amount of money to replace. Luckily, car insurance can help in these scenarios, but only if you have the right coverage.
There are many different types of car insurance policies out there. You’re likely most familiar with liability insurance, as it’s usually required for all drivers. There are two types of liability insurance:
- Bodily Injury: this covers medical expenses, lost wages, and legal fees for the other people in a collision if you are at fault.
- Property Damage: this covers the damage done to someone else’s property when you’re at fault in a collision.
While it’s vital to have liability coverage, it’s not going to help you much in the case of a natural disaster.
Here are a few more types of car insurance available on the market and what they’re used for:
- Personal Injury Protection: this covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault in the collision. Some states require this coverage (e.g., Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey , New York, North Dakota, Oregon, and Utah).
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: this coverage will protect you in the case of a collision where the other driver does not have insurance, or their coverage isn’t enough to take care of the damage. This is required in some states (e.g., Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin).
- Gap Insurance: this is often required when you’re leasing a vehicle. It covers the difference (or "gap") between the amount of money you still owe on your loan or lease and the car’s actual value if it’s stolen or totaled.
Again, none of these policies are catered toward natural disasters. That’s where comprehensive insurance comes in.
Why Comprehensive Insurance is Important
When it comes to natural disasters, comprehensive insurance is the way to go. This isn’t usually required, but is a great add-on for those who may experience natural events beyond their control, such as:
- Floods
- Hail
- Tornadoes
- Wildfires
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
- Falling objects (e.g., a tree)
If you live in an area that experiences these types of natural events, you should consider looking into adding comprehensive coverage to your car insurance plan. It’s most affordable when you add it before a disaster happens. If you try to add it the day of a hurricane, the insurance company will likely raise some eyebrows and deny the coverage.
With the cost of car insurance on the rise, it might not sound appealing to add an additional form of coverage, but you could be very thankful you have it later, especially if you live in an area prone to natural disasters. Talk to your insurance company about your options and to see if comprehensive insurance is right for you.
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Natural disasters can wreak havoc on our lives and property. Cars are particularly susceptible to damage as they are typically kept outdoors. A broken windshield from hail or a flooded car in a heavy storm can leave you stranded and cost a significant amount of money to replace. Luckily, car insurance can help in these scenarios, but only if you have the right coverage.