Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a natural disaster if I only have liability coverage?

When a natural disaster strikes, winds, rain, or other impacts could damage your vehicle, and you may wonder where to turn. Could your car insurance coverage cover damage caused by natural disasters, even if you only have liability coverage?

We understand your concerns and have researched this topic for you, with the answers below.

Liability Car Insurance Coverage for Natural Disasters

Unfortunately, your car insurance will not cover damage caused by a natural disaster if you only have liability on your policy. Liability will pay for damage you may cause to a third-party vehicle or property if you are at fault in an accident.

You will need comprehensive insurance if you want your car insurance to pay for damages caused by a natural disaster. In some situations, you may also be able to claim against collision damage insurance.

Liability vs. Comprehensive Car Insurance for Natural Disasters

With protection from one of the best comprehensive car insurance companies, this company should pay for damages to your vehicle unrelated to an accident.

Comprehensive is a kind of “catchall” level of protection that also covers elements such as:

• Fire
• Theft
• Falling objects
• Riot or civil disruption
• Vandalism
• Accidents with wild animals (like deer or birds)

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a tornado or other windstorm?

This type of insurance should cover your vehicle if the damage relates to various natural disasters like floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hailstorms, landslides, mudslides, and hurricanes.

Read more: Does car insurance cover damage caused by landslides or mudslides?

Most comprehensive insurance policies also have a deductible, which you must pay before accessing any funds in case of a claim. It’s best to weigh the pros and cons and compare the potential claim amount with the repair bill.

Sometimes, paying the repairs out of pocket may be better than paying the deductible and worrying about a potential future increase in insurance rates. Read our expert guide to car insurance deductibles to learn more about deductibles.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a flood or hurricane?

Liability vs. Collision Car Insurance for Natural Disasters

If you are driving your vehicle during bad weather associated with a natural disaster, the conditions may cause you to lose control and hit another vehicle. In this case, your liability coverage would pay for that vehicle, but if you want the insurance to pay for repairs to your car, you’d also need collision insurance.

If you’d like to know more about different levels of insurance to see if you have adequate levels of coverage, read this expert guide to full coverage car insurance.

Case Studies: The Importance of Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage for Natural Disasters

Case Study 1: Damage from a Hurricane

John owns a car and has liability coverage on his car insurance policy. Unfortunately, his vehicle gets severely damaged when a hurricane hits his area. Since John only has liability coverage, his insurance will not cover the damage caused by the natural disaster. He realizes the importance of having comprehensive insurance in such situations to protect his vehicle.

Case Study 2: Colliding with Debris during a Tornado

Lisa is driving during a tornado when a strong gust of wind causes a tree branch to fall on her car, resulting in significant damage. She has liability coverage but doesn’t have comprehensive insurance.

As a result, her car insurance will not cover the repairs needed for the damage caused by the natural disaster. Lisa learns the importance of comprehensive coverage, which would have protected her in this scenario.

Case Study 3: Flooding Due to Heavy Rain

Sarah experiences a major flood in her area due to heavy rain. Her car gets submerged in floodwater, causing extensive damage. However, she only has liability coverage and no comprehensive insurance.

Consequently, her car insurance will not cover the repair costs for the flood damage. Sarah realizes the importance of comprehensive coverage, which would have provided the necessary protection against natural disasters like flooding. (For more information, read our “Does Car Insurance cover flooding damage?“).

Your Car Insurance Won’t Cover Damage Caused by a Natural Disaster When You Only Have Liability Coverage

Your car insurance will not cover natural disaster damage without liability coverage. You will need comprehensive (and potentially collision) coverage on your policy to claim in this situation. Natural disasters are often difficult to predict, so you never know when one will strike.

So, it’s best to get this level of insurance in place as soon as possible.

However, weather experts can now predict the path of a landfalling hurricane with some accuracy, so you shouldn’t wait for your city to be in the crosshairs before you try to get comprehensive insurance.

In addition, some companies may not accept any changes to a policy in a given area if the authorities have issued a hurricane warning.