Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a lightning strike?
Wondering whether car insurance covers damage caused by a lightning strike? You can claim damage from a lightning strike if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy. However, you may need to gather evidence to show that lightning was in the area. You may need a mechanic to certify the lightning strike damage for car insurance coverage.
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Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about life insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as a life insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed life insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 27, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You can claim if lightning damages your car if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy
- You may need to pay a deductible first
- You may need to provide evidence to the insurance company to back up your claim
When severe weather hits your area, and a cloud-to-ground lightning strike may damage your car, you may count yourself unlucky. But first, you may want to know how to pay for the damages and wonder if you can turn to car insurance coverage for help.
So, does car insurance cover damage caused by a lightning strike? We understand you are uncertain and worried following such an event, and we have answered these questions below.
Comprehensive Car Insurance May Cover Lightning Strikes
You can only claim damage to your car from a lightning strike if you have comprehensive coverage. However, you may ask, “Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?” And the answer is yes; this type of protection can cover various risks, including natural disasters and weather events.
However, you may need an add-on endorsement against natural disasters to be protected fully.
You may need to gather information and reports to back up your claim when you submit it and possibly need to pay a deductible first.
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Proving That Lightning Damaged Your Vehicle for Insurance
A lightning strike may sometimes cause noticeable damage to your vehicle but not always. For example, it may leave scorch marks or peeled paint. It could also cause some of the windows to shatter or the tires to blow out, depending on the severity of the strike.
If the damage is apparent, you should gather information provided by local weather stations or even the National Weather Service to show that they were lightning storms in the vicinity at the time.
Often, a lightning strike can cause severe electrical issues, which can be very expensive to fix. So, if there is no outward damage but you suspect electrical failure, take the vehicle to a mechanic for advice. They can provide a report with their opinion, which you can submit to the insurance company with your claim.
Deductible Payments After a Lightning Strike
Comprehensive car insurance claims often have a deductible payment that you have to pay against the costs of the repairs. Therefore, you must assess the repair bill’s size against the deductible amount as you decide whether to claim.
High-Risk Areas Require the Right Insurance Against Lightning Strikes
Some parts of the country, like Florida, are especially vulnerable to severe storms but can occur anywhere, with the potential for lightning strikes.
It’s a good idea to talk with some of the best comprehensive car coverage insurance companies to consider this type of protection and find out if it’s an add-on or included protection in your comprehensive car insurance policy.
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Liability Coverage Doesn’t Cover Lightning Strikes
The liability coverage you carry and that your state may mandate will not cover damage to your vehicle in this situation. However, it will protect third parties should you be in an accident and you were at fault.
If you’re unsure about the various levels of insurance coverage, you might want to invest in full coverage car insurance.
Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by Lightning Strikes
Case Study 1: John’s Lightning Strike Claim
John experienced a severe lightning strike that damaged his car. Luckily, he had comprehensive coverage on his car insurance policy, which allowed him to file a claim for the lightning strike damage. To support his claim, John gathered evidence from local weather stations and the National Weather Service, showing that there were lightning storms in the area at the time.
He also took his car to a mechanic who provided a detailed report on the electrical issues caused by the lightning strike. Although John had to pay a deductible, his comprehensive coverage helped him cover the costs of the repairs.
Case Study 2: Sarah’s Hidden Electrical Damage
Sarah’s car was struck by lightning, but she didn’t notice any immediate visible damage. However, she suspected that the electrical system might have been affected. To be sure, she took her car to a mechanic who confirmed the electrical failure caused by the lightning strike.
With the mechanic’s report and evidence of lightning storms in the area, Sarah filed a claim with her comprehensive car insurance. Despite not having outward damage, Sarah’s insurance company accepted her claim and covered the costs of repairing the electrical issues, after she paid the deductible.
Case Study 3: Mark’s High-Risk Area Coverage
Mark lives in a high-risk area prone to severe storms and lightning strikes. Understanding the potential risks, Mark made sure to have comprehensive coverage that specifically included protection against lightning strikes. When his car was struck by lightning, Mark was able to file a claim with confidence, knowing that his policy covered such damages.
He provided the necessary evidence, including a mechanic’s report and weather reports, and his insurance company covered the repair costs after deducting the agreed-upon deductible.
Use Comprehensive Car Insurance That Protects Against Lightning Strikes.
If you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, you can claim from your insurance company if a lightning strike causes damage to your vehicle. Remember, you will probably need to pay a deductible.
You may also need to provide some evidence of damage from a mechanic and weather reports showing lightning in the area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if lightning strikes your car while you are driving?
Your vehicle’s body is conductive, meaning the energy in a lightning strike will reach the ground. Therefore, you and the occupants should be safe, although the lightning may damage the car’s electrical components.
How often do cars get struck by lightning?
According to NOAA, there are around 100,000 thunderstorms yearly in the US. However, no statistics show how many cars get struck during these storms.
How do you prove to insurance that the damage is from lightning?
If there are any obvious signs of lightning damage, provide photographic evidence. Ask a mechanic to certify that there is damage to the electrical system and get information from your local weather service to show that a lightning storm was in the area at the time.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about life insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as a life insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed life insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.