Does car insurance cover storm damage?

Key takeaways

• Fully comprehensive car insurance policies usually cover storm damage

• Third-party or third-party, fire, and theft policies won't cover storm damage

• Making a claim for storm damage might result your insurance premium increasing

Does my car insurance cover storm damage?

If you’re at risk of severe weather conditions or have even fallen victim to this, you may be wondering: does car insurance cover storm damage? If you have a fully comprehensive policy, then you are likely to be covered for damage to your car after a storm but it’s worth checking your policy documents for any exclusions, such as driving through flood water.

However, if you have a third-party or a third-party, fire and theft policy, it’s unlikely you will be able to make a claim. These policies only pay out for damage to other peoples’ cars, or if your car was damaged due to fire or theft.

If your car has been damaged by someone else’s property, for example, a roof tile or a fallen tree from their garden, you may be able to claim the cost of repairing or replacing your car against their policy or your own fully comprehensive cover.

What is storm damage?

Storm damage is when your car is damaged as a direct result of extreme weather. Storms are typically defined as periods of bad weather with strong winds, often with heavy falls of rain, snow, or hail – though these on their own could also be classed as storms.  

During a storm, try to park your car away from trees and ideally in a garage to protect it from water or hail damage.

Will I be covered if my car is hit by an object?

A fully comprehensive policy should cover you if your car is damaged from flying or falling debris, such as a roof tile or a tree. Make sure you don’t remove the debris until you have photographic evidence of the damage, or when your insurer tells you it’s fine to do so.

If your car is damaged by a larger object, such as a fallen tree, seek professional help to get it removed properly to prevent any further damage or accidents.

What about flood damage?

Flood water is serious for cars and it can get into the engine or the electrics may fail, alongside potential rusting or damage to the upholstery. If you think your car may have sustained water damage, it’s important that you do not turn on the engine.

Some car insurance policies will not cover you if your car is flood-damaged because you drove it through a flooded or water-laden road, as insurers could see this as avoidable, and therefore you have been negligent by driving your car through water.

How do I claim for storm damage to my car?

If your car has been damaged after a storm and you wish to claim on your insurance, then contact your insurer as soon as possible after the storm has occurred.

Make sure you have your insurer’s helpline number and your own policy number to hand.

Insurance companies will usually ask you for the details of the damage and it can be helpful to show photos of the damage to your vehicle, both inside and out. If it’s valid, you may also want to ask your insurer about getting any temporary repairs to stop the damage from worsening, but make sure they are happy for you to proceed. Otherwise, you may invalidate your claim.

Will claiming for storm damage increase my car insurance costs?

If you make an insurance claim because of storm damage, you may have to pay for the excess on your policy. Your premiums may also increase slightly after making a claim, or you may lose any no-claims bonus. However, some insurers protect this in the event of storm damage.

Storm damage often falls under the ‘at-fault’ category on claims, as it is considered an act of nature. So your insurer won’t be able to claim the costs against another driver at fault, as they could if you were in an accident.

Does car insurance cover Acts of God in the UK?

Some insurance companies will cover ‘Acts of God’ which generally relate to unexpected weather events such as hurricanes, earthquakes or extremely bad weather. The actual term is less common now, and usually insurance companies will list out exactly what is and isn’t covered. You may be covered for damage related to strong winds or falling trees, for example, but claims related to heavy rainfall or hailstones could be excluded.

That’s why it’s important to check the details to see what you can claim for.

Compare quotes for storm damage cover

You can compare car insurance quotes on MoneySuperMarket in a matter of minutes. Simply pop in a few details about yourself and your vehicle; once you’ve found the right deal, you can apply directly to the provider in just a couple of clicks. If you want to ensure your car is covered for storm damage, look at fully comprehensive policies, and if you require further information, contact the provider before buying your policy.