Homeowner's insurance pays for damage done to the residence or any other property coverage is extended to such as an unattached structures or your personal property and provides liability coverage (if, for example, your tree hurt someone else or damaged their property). Damage done to automobiles is typically specifically excluded under a homeowner’s policy normally.

You can read through the terms of your policy and speak to your insurance agent to see what exclusions you have but a homeowner's policy is there to protect your home and events that occur there that may harm someone but not to cover incidents such as a car accident, even if it happened in your driveway.

Homeowners policies terms differ as do insurance companies' guidelines and state laws however in general the major parts to a homeowners insurance policy include:

Coverage on home - This coverage provides major property coverage that protects your house and attached structures if it is damaged by certain events. It also covers fixtures in the house such as plumbing, heating, and permanently installed air-conditioning systems, electrical wiring and supplies on or adjacent to the residence premises for use in the construction, alteration, or repair of the dwelling or other structures.

Personal Property - This coverage provides protection for the contents of your home and other personal belongings owned by you or family members who live with you. Coverage is limited on certain types of property that are especially susceptible to loss, such as cash, securities, jewelry, furs, manuscripts and stamp or coin collections.

Personal Liability - This section of the homeowners policy will provide coverage in the event you or a resident of your household are legally responsible for injury to others. It will provide a defense and will pay damages, as the insurance company deems appropriate. There are some exceptions. The liability coverage will not protect you in all situations, such as an intentional act.

Medical Expense - This coverage pays for reasonable medical expenses for persons accidentally injured on your property. For example, if a neighbor’s child is injured while playing in your home, the medical payments portion of your homeowners policy may pay for necessary medical expenses. The medical payments portion of your homeowners policy may also pay if you are involved in the injury of another person away from your home in some limited circumstances. Medical payments coverage does not apply to your injuries or injuries of those that reside in your household. It is not a substitute for health insurance.

A homeowner’s policy does not normally provide coverage for:

• bodily injury or property damage resulting from an automobile accident
• bodily injury or property damage which is expected or intended by the insured
• bodily injury or property damage arising out of business pursuits
• bodily injury or property damage arising out of rental of any part of the premises
• liability arising out of ownership, maintenance, use, loading or unloading of aircraft, motor vehicles or water craft
• liability arising out of war or insurrection.

So without the proper insurance on your vehicle, meaning at least the state minimum liability requirements which typically includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverages then this accident would not be covered. Unfortunately with your auto insurance lapsed at the time of the accident with you are not covered by your homeowner's policy for this incident and will thus need to personally be responsible and pay out for the damages to your neighbor's vehicle you hit.

Hopefully you have since had your insurance reinstated or started up a new car insurance policy so that you are no longer uninsured. In some states just having a lapse in insurance will cause the state to hand out penalties such as a suspension of your vehicle's registration and sometimes your driver's license as well. If you need to shop around for auto insurance get instant car insurance quotes here with us.