Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Vehicles in Driveways?
If you’ve ever wondered whether your homeowners insurance provides coverage for vehicles parked in your driveway, you’re not alone. Many people assume their home insurance will protect their car, but the truth is a bit more complicated.
While homeowners insurance primarily covers the structure of your home and personal property, it may not cover vehicles in your driveway in the way you think. With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, I can help you take a closer look at how homeowners insurance works in relation to your car and driveway.
Key Takeaways
Homeowners insurance does not cover vehicles, so you’ll need auto insurance for full protection of your car.
If your car is damaged in a tornado, fire, hurricane, or another natural disaster while parked in your driveway, you’ll need to file a claim with your car insurance, not your homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance can cover theft or damage to personal belongings inside your car, but only up to the coverage limits in your policy.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Vehicles in Driveways?
When it comes to protecting your car, homeowners insurance won’t cover any damage to your vehicle while it’s parked in your driveway. While homeowners insurance does provide coverage for your home and personal belongings, it does not extend to vehicles.
This means that if your car is damaged due to events like a fire, hailstorm, falling tree, flooding, or any other extreme weather event, you’ll need to rely on your auto insurance, specifically the comprehensive coverage portion of your policy, to cover the costs of repairs or replacement.
It’s important to note that while homeowners insurance doesn’t cover vehicles, it does cover personal items that might be inside your car. If your belongings, such as electronics or luggage, are stolen or damaged while in your vehicle, your homeowners insurance policy may provide coverage for those items, up to the limits specified in your policy.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Vehicles in Driveways?
Homeowners insurance is mainly for protecting your home and belongings, but in certain cases, it can cover your vehicle while it’s parked in your driveway. Here’s when your homeowners insurance might apply to your car:
Personal Items Stolen
If personal belongings like electronics, clothes, or bags are stolen from your car or damaged while inside, your homeowners insurance could help cover the loss. This falls under the personal property coverage, which covers items outside your home, including those in your car. Keep in mind, this is subject to your policy’s coverage limits.
Liability For Damage To Someone Else’s Property
If your car causes damage to someone else’s property while parked in your driveway, homeowners insurance might help cover the costs. For example, if your car rolls out of the driveway and hits a neighbor’s fence or vehicle, your homeowners insurance may help pay for repairs. However, any damage to your own car would need to be handled by your auto insurance.
Damage From A Covered Event Affecting Both Your Car And Home
In some cases, if a covered event damages both your home and your vehicle while it’s in the driveway, homeowners insurance may cover the damage to your house. For example, if a tree falls on both your home and your car, homeowners insurance would cover your house, but your auto insurance would cover the car.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Not Cover Vehicles In Driveways?
While homeowners insurance can provide some protection for items in or around your vehicle, there are situations where it will not cover your car in the driveway. Here’s when homeowners insurance does not apply:
Damage To Your Vehicle
Homeowners insurance does not cover damage to your vehicle itself, even if it’s parked in your driveway. If your car is damaged by events like a storm, hail, or a tree falling on it, your auto insurance, specifically comprehensive coverage, is what will cover those repairs or replacement costs, not homeowners insurance.
Vehicle Theft
If your car is stolen from your driveway, homeowners insurance will not cover the theft. You’ll need to file a claim with your auto insurance policy, which typically includes coverage for theft under comprehensive coverage.
Accidental Damage To Your Vehicle
If your vehicle is accidentally damaged while parked in the driveway, like being hit by a neighbor’s car or another driver, homeowners insurance won’t cover it. You’ll need to file a claim with your auto insurance for that type of damage.
In short, homeowners insurance does not cover your vehicle for damage, theft, or accidents while it’s parked in your driveway. For that, you’ll need to rely on your auto insurance policy.
How To File A Claim If Your Car And Home Are Damaged In The Same Event?
If both your car and home are damaged in the same event, such as a storm or fire, here’s what you should do:
Contact Your Insurance Companies: You’ll need to file two separate claims, one with your auto insurance company for the damage to your car, and one with your homeowners insurance company for the damage to your home. Each policy covers different types of damage, so it’s important to contact both companies right away.
Document the Damage: Take clear photos or videos of the damage to both your home and your car. Make a list of what was damaged or destroyed. This will help support your claims and ensure you get the correct compensation.
File the Claims: Call or go online to file claims with both your auto and homeowners insurance companies. Provide all the necessary details, such as the cause of the damage, your policy numbers, and the photos or videos of the damage. Your insurance company may send an adjuster to assess the damage.
Follow Up: Stay in touch with both insurance companies to make sure your claims are being processed. They may request additional information or documentation. Be patient, as it might take some time for both claims to be settled.
Review Your Payouts: Once your claims are approved, each insurance company will provide compensation based on your policy limits and the damage done. Make sure you understand the amounts and any deductibles that apply to each claim.
Additional Coverage Options For Vehicles In Driveway
While homeowners insurance doesn’t typically cover damage to your vehicle in the driveway, there are additional auto insurance coverage options that can offer extra protection for your car. Here are some options to consider:
Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage is part of your auto insurance that protects your vehicle against non-collision events. This includes damage caused by natural disasters, such as hail, fire, falling trees, or vandalism. If your car is damaged while parked in your driveway, this coverage can help pay for repairs or replacement.
Collision Coverage: If your car is damaged in an accident, even if it’s in your driveway, collision coverage will help cover the costs.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If your car is damaged by an uninsured or underinsured driver while it’s in the driveway, this coverage can help pay for the repairs. This is especially helpful if you live in an area where accidents involving uninsured drivers are common.
FAQs
Does homeowners insurance cover my car if it’s damaged in my driveway?
No, homeowners insurance does not cover damage to your vehicle while it’s parked in your driveway. For damage to your car, you will need to file a claim with your auto insurance, specifically under comprehensive or collision coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover theft of items from my car in the driveway?
Yes, homeowners insurance can cover theft of personal items from your car while it’s parked in your driveway. This is typically covered under off-premises coverage, which protects your belongings even when they are outside your home.
Will homeowners insurance pay for damage caused to my car by a tree falling in my driveway?
No, homeowners insurance will not cover damage to your car caused by a tree falling in your driveway. You would need to file a claim with your auto insurance under comprehensive coverage, which can cover damage caused by falling objects like trees.
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