Does Car Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Car insurance covers hurricane damage only if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your auto policy.

Comprehensive Car Insurance

Comprehensive coverage covers property damage from non-collision events, including acts of god like hurricanes, hail, floods, etc. It also covers events like auto theft and vandalism.

Types of Damage from Hurricanes

Hurricanes can result in flooding, people having to drive through flooded streets, and water damage to an engine. Comprehensive coverage applies to this, but note that if your car’s engine was submerged in water, your car will likely be declared a total loss.¹

As we noted above, homeowners insurance doesn’t apply to your car’s damages. Here is what it does cover.

Dwelling Coverage

Homeowners insurance would cover hurricane damage to your home’s structure. But note that unless it was part of your policy, hurricane insurance may require a separate and large deductible before your insurer will contribute up to your policy’s limits.

Personal Property Coverage

Homeowners insurance also covers hurricane damage to your personal belongings, so it will pay to repair or replace them.

Loss of Use Coverage

If your house is unlivable due to a hurricane, homeowners insurance would pay for your hotel, meals, and living expenses above what you’d normally spend, up to a certain time limit, dollar amount, or both, depending on your policy.

What Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover After a Hurricane

While homeowners insurance may cover damage from strong winds, it doesn’t cover flood damage automatically. For that, you’d need either separate flood insurance or a flood endorsement added to your homeowners’ policy.

You should buy comprehensive coverage as part of full coverage car insurance when you purchase your policy. If you lack comprehensive coverage and a hurricane hits, your policy won’t cover your damages at all.

According to data from the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Florida is the most dangerous state for hurricanes, with 120 hitting land between 1851 and 2020 — 37 of which were Category 3 or higher.²

Perhaps the Sunshine State’s frequency of hurricanes is part of the reason why car insurance in Florida is so expensive. In 2020, the average cost of car insurance in Florida was $1,371 a year, 24 percent higher than the national average.³

If you know a hurricane’s on the way, don’t just prepare your house — prepare your car as well.

1. Park wisely. It’s best to park in a garage or carport away from trees and power lines, which may fall during a hurricane. Find higher ground, if you can, to avoid vehicle flooding.
2. Fill your tank. Hurricanes may cause gas shortages, so fill your tank before gas is scarce and gas prices rise.
3. Supply your car. In case you have to drive it, stock your car with flashlights, a shovel, traction mats, matches, a spare tire, a tire repair kit, tools, and booster cables.⁴
4. Seal everything. Get a car cover, a waterproof bag that you can drive your car into.⁵ Seal everything within the bag, including doors, windows, sunroofs, and trunks. If something is broken or cannot be closed, use a large trash bag or a plastic bag if a car cover isn’t available.

Even if you take the best precautions, your car might flood anyway. If it does, you’ll need to work with your insurance company to be made whole again.

How to File a Claim for Hurricane Damage to Your Vehicle

1. Document the damage. First, take pictures of the damage. Additionally, save any receipts for emergency services you had to use to stop the flooding. You can use these as evidence in your insurance claim.
2. Notify your car insurance company. Tell your insurance agent about the damage. They can get the claims process started from there.
3. Meet with the adjuster. An adjuster will assess the damage and have you sign a proof of loss statement. They will determine the cause of the flooding and how much your coverage will reimburse you for your damages.

Each state has a different statute of limitations for how soon after damages occur you must submit claims. If you wait too long, the insurance company isn’t required to pay for your damages and the cost of any repairs. On average, though, you have four years to file property damage claims — a pretty large window.⁶

How Insurance Payouts Work After a Hurricane

If the adjuster finds that your insurance policy applies to your damages, you’ll be responsible for paying for your comprehensive deductible if you haven’t already. Once you’ve paid the deductible, you’ll have to wait to receive a reimbursement check for your damages, either in the mail or through direct deposit.⁷

Even though it obviously wasn’t your fault, there’s a good chance that vehicle damage from a hurricane will raise your car insurance premium. However, it won’t increase as much compared to the price hikes drivers face after causing an accident.

Progressive, for example, says it won’t charge you extra for a claim under $500 unless it happens multiple times, but every company is different. Check with your insurance agent to see how much hurricane damage could raise your rates, if at all.

We, of course, don’t recommend driving in hurricanes. However, if you have no other choice, avoid flood zones, as your vehicle could get stuck or swept away. If you must drive through flood zones, make sure the water can’t reach your car’s undercarriage, and drive slowly through puddles and pools of water. Stay away from other vehicles, and keep your engine revving in order to prevent the exhaust from sucking in water.⁸

Hurricane damage can be costly if you don’t have the right insurance. Notably, hurricanes aren’t the only kind of inclement weather that comprehensive coverage applies to. Learn more about coverage for natural disasters, which include tornadoes, hail, and earthquakes. Or read on to learn more about the intersection between hurricanes and car insurance.