Does comprehensive auto insurance cover damage from road debris?

Most of the time, comprehensive auto insurance covers pretty much every peril not covered by limited liability policies. That means that your property is covered whether or not you were at fault. Comprehensive policies also cover the property you keep inside your car or truck, so if someone breaks in, your belongings will be protected.

Is damage caused by road debris covered under my policy?

Damage caused by debris on the road–or even potholes or other defects with the road itself–can be more of a sticky issue. Often before your insurance company will reimburse you for damages, they’ll have to determine who is at fault. That could be the government, for failing to adequately maintain the road, or it could be another driver who failed to secure his load.

As soon as the damage occurs, contact your insurance agent and describe what happened. They’ll be able to tell you how to move on–and give you an idea of whether or not your policy covers damages from road debris.

Protecting yourself against road debris damage

When you’re buying insurance–or upping your coverage–you’ll want to pay specific attention to the types of physical damage coverage the policy offers. Most standard physical damage coverage includes damages caused by a collision with another vehicle (no matter who was at fault), a single-car accident (such as you losing control of the vehicle), and damages caused by driving over a pothole.

Comprehensive physical damage coverage usually pays for damages from non-vehicle-related causes, like hitting a deer, a falling tree limb hitting your car, road debris damage, or even random vandalism.

If you’re not sure what type of insurance you should invest in–or if you want to find out how much it would cost to invest in comprehensive coverage–take the time to compare quotes online, then talk to an independent agent about your options; they’ll be able to ask questions relating to your specific information to help you make the right choice.