Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by an earthquake?

If you are moving to an area of the United States prone to getting earthquakes, you might understandably wonder, “Does auto insurance cover damage caused by an earthquake?” This is a good question to ask no matter where you live.

While Florida and North Dakota have the least earthquakes, small quakes can occur anywhere. Keep reading to learn the answer to your question and some additional tips that will help with .

Does auto insurance cover damage caused by an earthquake?

Yes, the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance will cover damage caused by an earthquake. Comprehensive coverage is not mandatory, so not all drivers have it, but if you do, it will cover any damage to your vehicle during a quake.

Comprehensive coverage will help pay for damage to a car that occurs during events other than a collision. These include damage from a riot or other vandalism, fire, falling tree limbs, and weather-related incidents.

Read More:

• Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by a falling object?
• Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by a lightning strike?

How do I file a comprehensive claim for earthquake damage?

Experiencing an earthquake can be very frightening, and your neighborhood may have downed power lines and other hazardous conditions. Once it is safe for you to go outside, assess your vehicle and take plenty of photos of any damage that was caused by the earthquake.

Then, contact your insurance agent, and report the damage, including when and where it occurred. To learn how to check the status of an auto insurance claim, contact your agent for help.

What if I don’t have comprehensive insurance for earthquake coverage?

Since comprehensive insurance is not required, you might not have it as part of your auto insurance policy.

However, since it can be stressful to learn that you are not covered in the event of an earthquake, you might want to be proactive and contact your agent, if you have one, to ask if you have it as part of your policy. If not, you can see about adding it to your premium.

Fortunately, comprehensive insurance is usually very affordable, so it should not add much to your auto insurance policy. If you have one, your insurance agent can also answer the question: comprehensive vs. collision coverage: which is the more affordable choice? 

Should I always file an auto insurance claim for earthquake damage?

There may be times when you can skip filing a claim for earthquake damage. For example, if your vehicle suffered minor damage, it might not be worth filing a claim with your agent.

This is especially true if your comprehensive insurance carries a high deductible, which you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurance policy kicks in.

For instance, if your deductible is $1,000 and the damage is assessed at $1,200, covering the repairs yourself might make more sense than filing a claim. This way, your rates will not go up. But on the other hand, if a tree has crushed your car and is undrivable, filing a claim makes sense.

Final Thoughts on Auto Insurance and Earthquakes

While you don’t want to ask yourself, “Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by an earthquake?” after finding that your vehicle is covered with dents and scratches after a quake, it is reassuring to know that comprehensive coverage will take care of earthquake-related incidents.

Contact your insurance company if you have questions about comprehensive coverage and earthquake damage. And if you ever wonder, “How much auto insurance coverage do I need?” your agent, if you have one, can help answer that important question as well.