Does car insurance cover tornado damage?

Does auto insurance cover tornadoes?

Auto insurance covers tornado damage to your vehicle, but only if you have comprehensive coverageComprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your car caused by events other than a collision, such as theft, fire, vandalism, or natural disasters. It is subject to a deductible., which is optional unless you have a loan or lease requiring it. Comprehensive is part of a full coverage policy; if you carry state minimum or liability-only coverage, your insurance will not cover tornado damage to your car.

“You need to carry comprehensive coverage on your auto policy to protect your vehicles from weather hazards, including tornadoes,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute. “About 80% of U.S. drivers carry this coverage. It is typically required if you have an auto loan or lease.”

Comprehensive is the only type of car insurance coverage that pays for damage caused by tornadoes. Liability and collision insurance do not. Liability covers damage to others, and collision covers damage resulting from a crash.

How does car insurance cover tornado damage?

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from a tornado, including broken windows, taillights, dented doors or hoods caused by flying debris, hail or falling trees from a tornado, after you pay your deductible. Your insurer will pay the remaining repair costs after the deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim. is met.

Comprehensive coverage must be added to your policy, and is not automatically included. Since loans and leases require comprehensive insurance, you likely have it unless you own your car outright. If you aren't sure of your coverage, check your declarations page, which can be found by logging into your insurer's website or mobile app.

“Check the declarations pageThe declarations page of your policy includes important details like the name, description, and location of the insured property, the policyholder's name and address, the coverage period, the premiums and the coverage amount. It's also called a 'dec page' or 'dec sheet.' of your insurance policy (at the front of your policy) to review your coverage and deductible levels. If you are not clear about your coverage for tornado damage, contact your insurance agent to review the details of your policy,” Friedlander says.

If you have rental reimbursement coverage on your policy, your insurer will pay for a rental car while your car is repaired. Take the time to review your policy annually so you'll know what's covered before a tornado strikes; most insurance companies offer a free annual review.

How to file a car insurance claim after a tornado

To file a car insurance claim after a tornado, contact your insurance company right away. Filing as soon as possible is important after a natural disaster because insurers receive a high volume of claims. Open your claim, and then follow these steps:

Take pictures of the damage and provide before pictures if you have them
Cooperate with the claims adjuster to get estimates from repair shops
Request a rental car if it's covered by your policy
Pay your deductible to complete the repairs

What happens if a tornado totals my car?

If a tornado totals your car, the insurance company will pay your vehicle's actual cash value (ACV) minus your deductible. A car is considered a total loss when it costs more to repair than it's worth, or when it meets your state's Total Loss Threshold (which varies but is typically 75% of the ACV). The insurer will issue a check for the ACV, minus your deductible, either to you or to your lienholder, and the insurance company will keep the car.

Adjusters calculate total loss value based on the year, make and model of your car, its condition before the loss and the mileage. These factors determine the actual cash value your insurer will pay out.

You can use the insurance proceeds to buy a new vehicle. You can sometimes keep your car after a total loss, but the insurance company will deduct the car's salvage value from your settlement.

What to do if a tornado damages your car and you don't have comprehensive coverage

If you don't have comprehensive coverage on your car, and it is damaged by a tornado, you will have to pay for repairs out of pocket unless the tornado is a presidentially declared disaster, which triggers FEMA disaster assistance funds to help repair your car. FEMA funds are only available if your car was uninsured for the damage, it was disaster-related and your vehicle is necessary for everyday life, and there are limits to coverage that may not cover replacement cost.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, but be aware that your claim will need to meet all of the requirements, including that you own or co-own the car, the damage makes the vehicle unsafe or inoperable and that the vehicle is essential to your life. Use this checklist to confirm eligibility:

You own or co-own the vehicle
It is the only functional vehicle in the household, or, if a secondary vehicle, is essential for work, medical and other transportation needs
You can prove that insurance will not pay for the damage
The damage makes the vehicle unsafe or inoperable, and is not cosmetic
You have mechanic estimates or repair reciepts