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QuestionInsurance Question  If I am carrying liability only on my paid off vehicle and a hurricane hits and damages my car, do I have any resources for having it fixed? Will it cover any damages? Thank you

AnswerAuto Insurance Answer

No, your liability only car insurance coverage will not cover your vehicle if it is damaged from a hurricane.

Liability coverages as part of your auto insurance only covers those that you may damage; this type of coverage offers no coverage to your vehicle in any way. Bodily injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD) liability coverages are the minimum types of coverages that many states require.

BI covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering. PD covers you if your car damages someone else's property. Usually it is their car, but it could be a fence, a house or any other property damaged in an accident. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against

These liability car insurance coverages are mandated by states so that they know you can take financial responsibility (by allowing claims to go through your insurance policy) for damages you cause others. States do not mandate physical damage coverage on your vehicle and thus leaving you responsible to decide if you will purchase insurance to cover your own car or you yourself will pay if your car gets damaged. If you have a lien holder than you will normally be required to carry physical damage coverages on your car.

Physical damage coverages of collision and comprehensive cover your vehicle if it is damaged. Collision pays for those incidents resulting from your car colliding with an object. Typically it covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Collision pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose.

Comprehensive damage is the type of coverage you would really need if your vehicle was damaged by a hurricane that hit your area. Winds and flooding are two main issues arising after a hurricane that can damage a vehicle. Comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle for losses resulting from incidents other than collision (OTC). For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Branches falling on your vehicle and other "acts of nature" if covered by your car insurance would usually fall under comprehensive.

With only liability insurance you do not have any coverages that actually protect your vehicle, only those that you may harm when you are driving your car. So your car insurance company would not be able to accept a claim to repair your vehicle after a hurricane caused damage to it.

If you live in an area where hurricanes are likely to make landfall and want your car protected from damage you should place comprehensive coverage on it. With this coverage your car should be fixed by your insurer, minus the deductible amount you would owe first.

Keep in mind that if a hurricane is on the way and your state is already under a storm warning then insurance companies will not offer physical damage coverages to be purchased during that time. If you want to have collision and comprehensive on your vehicle you will need to do so before the hurricane is approaching and your area is under a warning. Get a quote for your car insurance needs here with us.

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