Does Car Insurance Cover a Natural Disaster?

Mother nature can be unforgiving and causes a great amount of damages throughout the year. Those damages can affect your property and also your vehicle. After such a calamity, which are often called “Acts of God”, you might be left one question: “Does car insurance cover a natural disaster?” Rather than waiting until something terrible happens as a result of unpredictable storms or something similar, it’s best to know now whether such damages are covered or not.

The quick answer is yes, if certain conditions are met. Not every scenario is going to be covered.

Let’s break this down a bit further.

 

Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage

There is no actual “natural disaster” insurance policy for motor vehicles. Instead, there is only comprehensive car insurance. Most states, like New Jersey, require drivers to have a minimum of auto liability coverage, which will pay for things like another driver’s injuries or damages to property in the event of an accident.

Comprehensive car insurance is optional. You must choose such coverage when you enroll into an auto insurance policy. Unless you choose a comprehensive plan, natural disasters will not be covered. Individual policies are different, though, so what one plan covers may not be paid for in another insurer’s plan.

The good news is that you can add comprehensive coverage onto your current policy, and it usually takes about 5 minutes when done online.

 

What Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover?

Most comprehensive policies offer coverage from falling debris, glass, and water damage. That means any damages caused by storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, or even hail storms and floods can be paid for. You may assume that you are safe from certain natural disasters, such as flooding, if you do not live somewhere considered a flood zone.

That said, you never know when flash flooding may occur while you are driving. Flood waters can cause damages to the internal machinery of the vehicle. However, only comprehensive coverage will help with mitigating the costs of car repair. If you live somewhere prone to flooding, pay it safe and get the appropriate amount of coverage.

You may also be covered in the event of a wildfire and earthquake.

 

Important Note

If you live in an area that is subjected to inclement weather, such as high winds, tornadoes, hail, and flooding, you should always ensure well in advance that your policy has comprehensive coverage. Otherwise, you may run into something called a “binding restriction.”

Binding restrictions occur when insurance providers place restrictions on consumers to prevent them from buying or changing plans during a major storm.

This means you cannot wait for the flooding to strike to purchase insurance that will cover your vehicle from damage.

 

What are Other “Acts of God”?

An “Act of God” refers to any damages that are the result of circumstances beyond your control as a driver. Aside from natural calamities like hail and flooding, additional Acts of God include:

  • Volcanoes
  • Mudslides and landslides
  • Sinkholes
  • Riots
  • Vandalism
  • Theft

As long as you maintain comprehensive coverage, you are safe from natural disasters and damages that may be the result of civil unrest. Think of comprehensive insurance as a safety net for anything beyond what happens on the road.

 

My Car’s Been Damaged in a Natural Disaster! What Now?

Now that you know that, yes, natural disasters are covered by comprehensive car insurance, it is time to discuss what happens if your vehicle is damaged by such a calamity. If you have comprehensive car insurance, then you shouldn’t worry about the cost, because it will most likely be covered. Once you are positive the danger has passed, you will need to file a claim with your auto insurance company.

Be sure to take pictures of the damages from every angle or take a video to show the damages. When you make your claim, you will be asked questions about how the damage occurred, so the evidence may come in handy. Do not move the car until the appraisal from the insurance company has been completed. Also, do not attempt fixing any damages before speaking to the insurer.

 

Limitations and Deductibles

Even though you have coverage and can file a claim, there are some things that could limit how much you get for the damages. You will have to pay a deductible, unless your auto insurance policy does not have one. Next, some comprehensive policies will have a limit to the maximum amount of expenses that would be covered. That limit is typically how much your car is worth.

 

Get Your Car Repaired Fast

You should now know that only comprehensive auto insurance will cover natural disasters and other Acts of God. Other forms of auto insurance, such as liability insurance, will not cover expenses from hail or flooding or anything else. If you live somewhere that regularly receives powerful storms, comprehensive auto insurance is a smart choice.

Has your vehicle been damaged in a recent storm? Once you’ve spoken to your insurance company, it’s time to bring it in for repairs. Our professional team is happy to return your car to its proper working condition. Let us know how we can help by filling out the contact form.

How to Safely Clean Your Car’s Interior During COVID-19

Now that the world is dealing with a global pandemic, it has become clear that our surroundings are not as safe or clean as we originally assumed. Even if you are working hard to wear a face covering and washing your hands every time you touch a surface, there are places that we forget about simply because we spend a lot of time there. Case in point: your car. Your car travels with you wherever you go, and so cleaning it is just as important as sanitizing your hands and phone and wearing a mask.

The good news is that cleaning your car to keep you safe during the COVID-19 era isn’t difficult. You already have most of the supplies you need.

So let’s get started.

 

Best Products For Cleaning Your Car

The interior of your car is less resilient than your kitchen counter or a shower stall when it comes to being cleaned. The fabrics, leather, and glass can be damaged if you don’t use the appropriate items. The best items you can use are the same ones you are probably already including in your daily life, such as dish soap, disposable gloves, and a warm water-alcohol solution. A microfiber cloth is also excellent for sweeping up tiny particles of dirt and dust and leaving surfaces streak-free.

For instance, disinfectant wipes containing around 70 percent isopropyl alcohol are most effective for killing COVID-19. You can also make a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar.

The CDC states that dirty surfaces and upholstery needs to be cleaned prior to sanitizing. Vacuum up dirt and dust. Shake out the floor mats. Remove any grime that is visible. Pick up any garbage, loose receipts, and anything else that could be an obstacle later. That will help your disinfecting efforts.

Keep in mind that any imitation leather in your vehicle will have a urethane coating. If you are using an alcohol-based cleaning solution, do not use it too often or scrub too vigorously. You could damage the coating. Soap and water is the best for fabrics and leather. Use only a small amount of water when cleaning the cushions. Otherwise, you could soak the fabric, and that will result in a musty scent or mold growth.

Wear disposable gloves while cleaning out your car. This will protect you from possible contaminants.

 

Cleaning Products to Avoid

What about products that could damage the interior of your car? While cleaners like hydrogen peroxide, ammonia-based solutions, and bleach are all excellent for annihilating viruses, they will also ruin plastic and upholstery. Ammonia-based liquids should never be used on touchscreens, because it will destroy the anti-fingerprint and anti-glare coating.

Be sure to read the ingredients list on the cleaning products you plan to use. Otherwise, stick with the basic water-alcohol mixture and some regular soap.

 

Focus On High Touch Areas

Once you have gathered the items required for cleaning the interior of your car, it’s time to formulate a game plan. That means targeting the places most prone to carrying viruses and bacteria, such as:

  • Door handles, outside and inside
  • Gear shifter
  • Steering wheel
  • Turn signal
  • Wiper level
  • Buttons on the radio
  • Touchscreens
  • Climate control areas
  • Armrests
  • Grab handles
  • Seat belts
  • Seat upholstery
  • Mirrors
  • Seat adjustment levers

Spend some extra time on places like touchscreens and the steering wheel. According to a study from CarRentals.com, a steering wheel could have four times more germs than public restroom toilets.

 

Keep Some Cleaning Products in Your Car

Keep your car clean on the go, too. You can keep some disinfectant wipes in the glove compartment and some hand sanitizer in the storage on the doors or in a cup holder. If you are going to be idling in a line at the drive-thru or running some errands, for instance, you should also have some extra disposable gloves and masks in the car so you can protect yourself both in and out of the vehicle.

 

Protect Yourself and Others While In The Car

Once you have finished with cleaning and disinfecting the interior of your car, don’t forget to wash your own hands before hopping in and driving off. Now that your vehicle’s interior is cleaner and sanitized, you are ready to do what you have to do. You will have more peace of mind going about your errands knowing that COVID-19 is nowhere to be found in your vehicle. Just remember to repeat this process, since the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for a long time.

Need help maintaining or repairing your car? Worried about COVID-19? We have a completely safe process to minimize risk and contact. Get in touch with us by filling out the contact form to learn more!