Does car insurance cover natural disasters?

Hurricane Milton batters Florida in October, just one month after Hurricane Helene strikes. Floods inundate parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin at the end of June. Tornadoes tear across Ohio, Michigan and Illinois in late February. Disasters like these have caused an estimated $1 billion or more in damage to personal property – including vehicles – according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

If you have comprehensive car insurance, you will be protected from natural disasters like these. 

But if you only have liability insurance, you’ll be the one stuck paying to repair or to replace your vehicle if it’s damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster like a tornado or flood.

Purchasing comprehensive insurance helps you mitigate a pair of risks, says Rob Yeiser, assistant vice president of personal lines market development at Dairyland Insurance.

“First, severe weather is unpredictable and is happening more often,” he says. “Second, cars are more expensive to replace today than they ever have been in the past.”

Key highlights

• Damage from a natural disaster like a hurricane or flooding is covered by comprehensive car insurance.
• Comprehensive coverage also offers protection from damage not related to accidents, such as theft, vandalism or hitting an animal with your car.
• Buying comprehensive auto insurance can cost as little as $250 per year or as much as $500 or more.
• Comprehensive coverage can be purchased separately or in conjunction with collision insurance, which protects your vehicle in the event of an at-fault collision with another vehicle or stationary object.

What type of car insurance covers natural disasters?

There are three major components to car insurance coverage:

• Liability coverage protects you when you are responsible for damages you cause. Bodily injury liability covers you when you hurt another person in an accident, while property damage liability covers damages to another person's vehicle or property.
• Collision coverage applies to damage to your own car when you collide with another vehicle or object, or if your car flips over.
• Comprehensive coverage protects you for damages to your own car that stem from causes not included in collision coverage, such as hail, fire and flood damage.

You can purchase these coverages separately or bundled together as full coverage car insurance. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in the U.S. is $1.897.

It is important to note that while nearly every state requires drivers to carry liability car insurance, there are no such requirements for comprehensive or collision coverage. Such insurance is optional unless you’ve financed or leased a vehicle and your lender requires full coverage. Full coverage typically includes liability, collision and comprehensive coverage.

It’s also worth pointing out that minimum-insurance coverage levels are not very high. For example, many states require just $25,000 in liability coverage for per-person bodily injury and $50,000 per incident, while property damage coverage could be as low as $5,000 or $10,000. In the event of a major accident, that could leave you liable for thousands of dollars in additional medical bills or repair expenses.

What does comprehensive car insurance cover?

Comprehensive car insurance reimburses you for damage to your vehicle caused by most non-collision events. However, it is important that you read your own policy so you know what is and is not covered.

Typically, comprehensive car insurance covers:

Wind

Hurricanes, tropical storms, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes usually are associated with damage to homes. But these wind events also can damage your car.

Floods

Floods are among the most common natural disasters. In fact, 90% of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. While you need a separate flood insurance policy to protect your home, car insurance does protect your car in the event of flooding.

Fires

In recent years, wildfires repeatedly have made headlines, particularly in the West. These types of fires — as well as simple house fires — can damage your car.

Earthquakes

As with floods, earthquakes are another example of a disaster that car insurance covers even though homeowners insurance typically does not.

Hail

Hail damage can occur in most parts of the U.S., although it is more likely in some places than others. That means comprehensive coverage is particularly important in hail-prone states such as Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Missouri.

Volcanic eruptions

Most folks don’t live near volcanoes, but Hawaii is an exception. If an eruption damages or destroys your vehicle, comprehensive coverage will ride to the rescue.

Theft and vandalism

If a thief drives away with your car or a vandal damages it, comprehensive coverage will reimburse your losses. This insurance also covers theft of car parts – such as a pricey aftermarket stereo system — and damage related to civil unrest and rioting.

Falling and flying objects

Everything from a downed tree limb to falling ice and projectiles (think rockslides on a mountain road) can damage your car. This type of damage also falls under comprehensive coverage protection.

Broken windshield

Dings and cracks to a car windshield are a common occurrence. Comprehensive coverage reimburses such damages, but some insurers also sell standalone windshield or auto glass insurance

Contact with animals

If you hit a deer, moose, elk or other large animal, it can cause major damage to your vehicle. In this scenario, it’s comprehensive car insurance that will kick in.

Remember that you will have to pay your deductible before an insurer will begin reimbursing you as part of your comprehensive coverage. Typical deductible amounts are $250, $500 or $1,000.

By choosing a higher deductible, you can lower your car insurance premium costs. However, agreeing to a larger deductible also means you will have to pay more out of your own pocket should you need to file a claim.

How much does comprehensive insurance cost?

Nationwide offers the most affordable comprehensive coverage in the U.S. on average, about $250 per year, as part of a full-coverage policy. At the other end of the price spectrum, Allstate’s sample rate is nearly double that of Nationwide. Bear in mind that what you pay for comprehensive car insurance may differ.

The rates below were collected from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible. 

While liability coverage is a required part of every car insurance policy in every state, comprehensive coverage is optional coverage — although lenders often require those with car loans to purchase the coverage.

Comprehensive insurance is usually less expensive than collision coverage. A variety of factors impact how much you will pay for comprehensive insurance, including your age, gender, and the kind of vehicle you drive.

Will filing a natural disaster claim increase my car insurance premium?

Filing an auto insurance claim — whether because of damage due to a natural disaster or some other event — often results in the insurer hiking your rates.

In an analysis of claim and rate data, we found that filing one claim is likely to cause your rate to increase by about 6%. File two claims, and you can expect premiums to rise by around double that percentage.

“When you file a claim for severe weather damage, the direct impact on your rate is going to vary based on your carrier and state,” Yeiser says.

Your driving history also can play a role in whether your rate increases. In addition, you might see your rate climb if there is a higher risk of severe weather in your area, and if traffic volume is heavy and accidents are more commonplace.

“If your insurer has more claims to pay out due to severe weather events in an area, they have to account for those risks and claims costs,” Yeiser says.

How do I file a car insurance claim after a natural disaster?

If a natural disaster damages or destroys your vehicle, it is important to file a claim promptly.

“My number one advice for filing a claim after severe weather is ‘don’t wait,’” Yeiser says. “Timing and details can have a significant impact on how quickly your vehicle gets repaired or replaced.”

Here are some tips for filing a car insurance claim:

• Call your insurer as soon as possible. Contact your agent or an insurance company representative and explain what happened. Ask what you need to do to file a claim. For example, insurers typically will ask you to file a proof of claim form. “Once you contact your insurer, you’re starting the claims process,” Yeiser says.
• Document everything. Yeiser suggests recording the time and location of the damage, and taking photos. “Take a video of the surrounding weather conditions,” he says. “The more details you have, the quicker your claim may get processed.
• Consider filing a claim via the insurer’s app or website. Many insurance companies offer these options to policyholders. You might have the option to file the claim, upload photos and even schedule an appraisal.
• Follow up with your insurer after filing the claim. Ask if there are any other forms, documents or other types of information you need to submit, and what the deadlines are for doing so. Also, ask how the rest of the claims process will unfold so you know what to expect.
• Keep a record of your claim. Make copies of any forms you request, and keep a log of the calls you have made to your insurer, noting the names and phone numbers of those to whom you have spoken.
• Follow the progress of your claim. You should be able to keep up with how the claim is unfolding on the insurer’s website or app. Or, you can call your agent or a representative from time to time to check in.

How can I protect my vehicle from a natural disaster?

There is no foolproof way to protect your car from all natural disasters. However, there are things you can do that might significantly reduce the risk of damage. They include:

• Keeping your car sheltered in a garage. Off-street parking can keep your vehicle safe from the ravages of rain, high winds, hail and other disasters.
• Making sure windows and sunroofs are sealed tight. This can prevent moisture from seeping in and creating damage in a hurricane, severe thunderstorm or other event.
• Seeking higher ground. The key is to keep your vehicle out of places where it can be inundated with or even swept along by flood waters. “Moving your car to higher ground and storing it in a covered area are two great options,” Yeiser says.
• Avoiding flooded roads. Navigating flooded roads can be very dangerous, Yeiser says. “As little as 6 inches of water can cause most cars to lose control,” he says.
• Getting creative when necessary. Sometimes, a little quick thinking can protect your car. For example, if hail begins to fall, grabbing your floor mats and placing them on your windshield might spare the glass from damage.

Frequently asked questions

What is full-coverage car insurance?

Full-coverage car insurance includes both collision insurance, which covers damages to your own vehicle in the event of an accident, and comprehensive insurance, which covers damage to your auto caused by natural disasters and other events not related to an accident.

In just about every state, you must purchase at least the minimum required amount of liability coverage in order to drive legally. However, this type of car insurance only protects you from damages you may cause to another person or their property. It does not cover your own medical bills or vehicle repairs.

Furthermore, state-mandated minimum coverage levels tend to be very low – often $25,000 or less for bodily injury per person, for example – and may not be sufficient to cover the bills associated with a major accident

Although optional, purchasing full-coverage car insurance is often a smart investment, Yeiser says, even if you don’t own a brand-new vehicle.

“Drivers often underestimate the replacement value of their car,” he says. “Even an older, mid-range sedan can cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace.”

Why can't I get car insurance right before a natural disaster?

Insurance companies are in the business of making money. To protect themselves from potentially catastrophic financial losses, insurers typically place a pause on writing new policies or modifying existing ones if a disaster is on the horizon – often 24 to 48 hours prior to the forecasted event. This is called a binding moratorium or prohibition. Once the event passes, they will go back to offering new coverage — but not until then.

“Generally, securing a new car insurance policy during a looming natural disaster can be challenging,” Yeiser says.

In other words, carefully consider your insurance needs well before disaster strikes. If you live in an area prone to severe weather, earthquakes or wildfires, talk to your insurance agent about what you need to protect yourself and your vehicles from destruction.

“It’s important to consider options like comprehensive coverage before a storm, rather than after,” Yeiser says.

Does car insurance cover ‘acts of God’?

If you carry comprehensive insurance, your auto policy typically will protect you from so-called “acts of God.” This phrase is used to describe events that are outside human control and usually refer to natural disasters.

However, it is important to note that a car insurance policy that provides liability coverage only will not cover “acts of God” damages that occur to your vehicle.

Resources & methodology

Sources

• National Centers for Environmental Information. "Billion-dollar weather and climate disasters." Accessed September 2024.
• Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by collision and comprehensive auto insurance?" Accessed September 2024.
• Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + statistics: Hail." Accessed September 2024.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "Natural disasters." Accessed September 2024.
• Insurance Information Institute. “How to file an auto insurance claim.” Accessed September 2024.
• Farm Bureau Financial Services. “How to protect your car from weather damage.” Accessed September 2024.
• Lemonade. “Act of God Insurance.” Accessed September 2024.
• The Weather Channel. “Severe storm threat in the Midwest includes tornadoes, damaging winds and hail.” Accessed September 2024.
• USA Today. “No end in sight for historic Midwest flooding.” Accessed September 2024.

Methodology

Editors collected rate information from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violations on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible.

In addition, we also calculated rates for these hypothetical drivers, but with one or more of the following on their record: speeding ticket, at-fault accident, DUI/DWI, poor credit history, or a lapse in coverage.

We analyzed more than 53 million quotes, over 34,000 ZIP codes, and 170 insurance companies nationwide.

Note: 100/300/100 means up to $100,000 for the medical bills of those you injure, up to $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability for all persons injured in one accident, and $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property you damage.