Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a DUI or other criminal activity?
What do you need to know about car insurance for damage caused by a DUI or other criminal activity? Typically, the company will cover damage caused by a DUI if they judge the incident as accidental. However, the claims process for a DUI accident will depend on the state where the accident took place.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Feb 5, 2024
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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: Feb 5, 2024
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
- Most companies will cover damage caused by a DUI or other criminal activity
- The company will want to know that the incident was accidental, even if the driver was under the influence
- The claims process will vary based on the location and the level of insurance company held by each party
If you have damage to your vehicle related to a DUI or other criminal activity, you may wonder if your car insurance coverage will pay for it. This situation can be worrying, as much money may be at stake.
Does car insurance cover damage caused by a DUI or other criminal activity? We understand your concerns and have answered some of your questions below.
Car Insurance Coverage for Damage Caused by a DUI
Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a driver driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? In most cases, insurance companies will pay for damages where the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The outcome will depend on whether you have full coverage car insurance in place, including liability, collision, or comprehensive cover.
These companies will also cover damage if you were engaged in some other criminal activity if the incident was accidental.
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Insurance Coverage When Driving Under the Influence
If you were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you caused an accident, the insurance company would not automatically reject the case. In most situations, they will accept that you didn’t intend to get into an accident.
Your liability coverage will help pay for damages to a third party, but you will need collision coverage car insurance to pay for damages to your vehicle.
Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by an uninsured driver if I have collision coverage?
Insurance Coverage Against Other Drivers Under the Influence
How you claim will depend on whether you live in a no-fault or an at-fault state. In the former, you may need to read an expert guide on how to file a car insurance claim with your own company, while in the latter, you will turn to the impaired driver’s insurance company.
If they didn’t have any coverage, you’d need uninsured motorist coverage car insurance on your policy or would need to sue the other driver in a civil case.
Liability Insurance when Driving Under the Influence
You still need to prove that the other driver was negligent and that this negligence led to your damage. However, if the authorities successfully charge them with a DUI or involvement in another criminal case, this is typically sufficient to prove that they were negligent and liable.
If you (or a separate party) were primarily responsible for the accident, the impaired driver is not automatically liable simply because they were under the influence.
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Case Studies: Exploring Car Insurance Coverage on Damages Caused by DUI and Criminal Activity
Case Study 1: DUI Accident Coverage
John Smith, while under the influence of alcohol, caused an accident that resulted in significant damage to his own car and injuries to the other driver. John is wondering if his car insurance will cover the damages caused by his DUI.
Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage to my own car if I am at fault in an accident?
It is crucial to understand the terms and conditions of your car insurance policy. Engaging in criminal activities such as DUI can have significant legal consequences and may also impact your insurance coverage.
Case Study 2: Stolen Vehicle During Criminal Activity
Sarah Thompson’s car was stolen while it was parked outside a nightclub. It was later discovered that the thief used her car to commit a robbery. Sarah wants to know if her car insurance will cover the damages caused during the criminal activity.
While comprehensive car insurance may cover theft, it typically does not extend to damages caused during criminal activities involving the stolen vehicle. Reporting the theft promptly to the police and cooperating with them is crucial in such situations.
Read more: Does my car insurance cover a stolen car?
Case Study 3: Vandalism and Criminal Damage
Michael Johnson parked his car in a public parking lot and returned to find it vandalized with graffiti and several broken windows. He suspects that the damage was caused during a criminal activity nearby and wants to know if his car insurance will cover the repairs.
While comprehensive car insurance often covers damages caused by vandalism, it may exclude coverage if the vehicle was involved in or parked during a criminal activity. Collecting evidence and filing a police report are vital steps to ensure a smoother claims process in cases of vandalism or criminal damage.
Car Insurance If a DUI Caused Damage: The Bottom Line
Most insurance companies will consider a damage claim even though the policyholder was driving under the influence or engaged in criminal activity if the incident was accidental.
If you were to blame, your liability coverage would pay for damages to other vehicles or property, while your collision coverage would pay for damage to your vehicle. If someone else were to blame, you’d turn to your insurance company (in a no-fault state) or the other driver’s company otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does auto insurance cover intentional acts?
Some policies will have an intentional act clause. In this case, the company won’t provide cover if someone intentionally caused the damage.
Will my insurance cover me if I am drunk?
Most insurance companies will cover you if you accidentally cause some damage while you are drunk. This would include auto insurance, even if the authorities convicted you of DUI.
Does car insurance cover damage to your car?
If you want to claim on your policy, you will need collision or comprehensive car insurance coverage to cover damage to your car where you are at fault. The other party’s liability coverage will handle the claim otherwise.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
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.