Does Florida car insurance cover hurricane damage?
Storm damage to your car would only be covered under a comprehensive policy. It offers coverage for weather, fire, and other non-collision types of scenarios. Comprehensive insurance policies only pay out the current market value of your car, so it may be worth purchasing if you own a newer vehicle.
Most vehicle damage caused by a hurricane should be covered by comprehensive car insurance, which is part of what's known as a full coverage car insurance policy. If you don't already have this kind of auto insurance, you may not be able to purchase it immediately prior to a hurricane.
Due to Florida's no-fault laws, your insurance will pay for your auto repair after an accident you did not cause in Florida. However, if the costs of damages exceed your policy limits, you may qualify to recover additional compensation elsewhere.
Car insurance will cover damage from natural disasters if you have comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage is the type of auto insurance that typically covers damages to your vehicle caused by events that are beyond your control, such as natural disasters.
If you have a basic level of car insurance, for example just liability coverage, flood damage wouldn't be covered. For flood damage to be covered you need “Comprehensive Coverage”. According to Esurance, comprehensive coverage can “cover damage caused by hail water and floods”.
File a claim quickly
Most insurance policies include provisions addressing how soon after a loss you should file a claim. While you should always notify your insurance company promptly following a loss, it is not uncommon for the timeframe to report a claim to be extended following natural disasters.
Damage your vehicle sustains in a hurricane is covered by comprehensive coverage. This applies to policies from most insurance companies, in most states. If you have State Farm coverage and live in Louisiana, you would have the same hurricane and flood coverage as someone in Texas, insured by Progressive.
Florida is a no-fault automobile insurance state. This means that drivers must carry personal injury protection insurance (PIP) to pay for their medical expenses and other accident-related damages, regardless of who caused the collision.
Understanding Insurance Limits
If the at-fault driver has the minimum insurance policy in Florida, they may not even have bodily injury coverage. If the car accident damages exceed the insurance limits, the at-fault driver is still responsible for paying the remaining amount.
Florida is one of the few states in the United States that operates under a no-fault auto insurance system. This means that drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which covers medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who is at fault for a car accident.
What coverage pays for damages to your car if a natural disaster occurs?
Comprehensive coverage protects your car from damage caused by natural disasters and "Acts of God" such as riots, theft and vandalism, as long as you carry the coverage before the damage occurs. This coverage is designed to cover a vehicle in the case of events occurring outside the control of the driver.
A: Your home insurance policy covers many natural disasters and weather events, including wind, hail, lightning strikes and wildfires. However, it does not cover damage caused by floods or earthquakes. You would need a separate policy for each of these perils. Many homeowners may not realize this until it's too late.
If you only carry liability coverage on your auto insurance policy, then you won't be covered if a tree falls on your car. If you have comprehensive coverage, however, your insurance can cover the damage caused by a tree, branch, or limb falling on your car, minus your deductible.
Most homeowners' insurance policies exclude flood damage. Floods may result from rain, coastal storms, storm surges, overflows of dams and other water systems, such as the drainage systems. Depending on your home's location you may qualify for flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Flood damage caused by a hurricane will not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Instead, you'll need a separate flood insurance policy to cover water and storm surges from natural disasters.
In short, flood insurance and hurricane insurance are not necessarily the same thing. This means you need to read the fine print of your current policy or, better yet, call the insurance policy provider to get more info about what is and is not covered.
If you believe your home is uninhabitable as the result of hurricane-related damage, you should contact your insurance company to access your policy's ALE coverage. Your insurer will likely send an adjuster to your home to help you determine the value of what was lost in the hurricane.
Once the vehicle is declared a total loss, the owner is paid the vehicle's value at the time of the loss, minus any car insurance deductible. The vehicle is then issued a salvage title to warn potential buyers that it's been declared a total loss.
Many cars will be acquired at auction by entrepreneurs and shipped overseas, where they could be resold. Some will be purchased by dealers who will recondition them and sell them as used cars. There are those that will be purchased by private-party buyers, who are able to bid at certain auctions.
If you're evacuating before the storm hits and you plan to leave vehicles behind, try to find a higher location to park them to prevent flooding, with as much cover as possible to prevent damage. The truth, of course, is that there's no fail-safe way to ensure you can protect your car in a severe storm.
Should I use a car cover during a hurricane?
No matter where you park, it's a good idea to cover your vehicle. Even if your car is inside a garage, it's possible that it might get damaged by broken windows and objects flying through the air. A heavy-duty tarp can be a simple and inexpensive car cover.
Full Coverage Insurance. The difference between full coverage and comprehensive insurance is that a full-coverage insurance policy includes liability, comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to a car from things other than road accidents.
New Requirements for Florida Drivers
If passed, the new PIP law Florida changes will require drivers to show proof of mandatory bodily injury coverage before they may register a motor vehicle with the State.
In Florida, you cannot lose your house due to an at-fault car accident. No matter how much the other person is injured, the Florida homestead exemption protects the home of the at-fault driver from a potential money judgment.
Florida Statute § 626.9541, states that insurance companies in Florida are prohibited from increasing premiums for liability, personal injury protection, medical payments, or collision solely due to the insured party's involvement in a car accident.
