Have you ever been driving down the road and suddenly heard a loud thud and felt a jarring impact as your car hit a pothole? It’s a common experience for many drivers, and unfortunately, hitting a pothole can cause serious damage to your car. Not fun!!!
So, the big question is: does car insurance cover pothole damage?
The answer: It depends on your specific policy and the type of coverage you have.
If you read our blogs and watch our videos often, you’re probably tired of hearing that answer!
Generally, if you have comprehensive coverage (sometimes referred to as “full coverage”), which is optional insurance that covers damage to your car from things like theft, vandalism, and weather-related events, then pothole damage may be covered. However, if you only have liability coverage, which is mandatory insurance that covers damage you cause to others in an accident, then pothole damage is not covered.
It’s important to note that even if you have comprehensive coverage, you may still have to pay a deductible before your insurance kicks in to cover the cost of repairs.
If the damage is less than the deductible, you wont want to file a claim, even though it’s technically covered. Here’s why: if the damage to your vehicle from the pothole is $600, but you have a $1,000 deductible, there is no claim to file with the insurance company, as you are responsible for the first $1,000 of the damage.
If you do hit a pothole and your car is damaged, the first thing you should do is document the damage with photos. Then take your car to a repair shop to get an estimate for the damage. That will help you decide if you should file a claim or not. If you do decide to file a claim, contact your insurance company and give them the photos and estimate of the damage. Once the claim is processed, your insurance company will either pay for the repairs or reimburse you for the cost of the repairs, minus any deductible.
In summary, whether or not car insurance covers pothole damage depends on your specific policy and the type of coverage you have. If you have comprehensive coverage, there’s a good chance that pothole damage will be covered, but you may still have to pay a deductible. If you’re not sure what your policy covers, it’s a good idea to review your policy or speak with your insurance broker to clarify.