-------------------------------
“Ask Jeff" is a weekly post made on the RyanAgency.com Blog.
Submit an insurance-related question to “Ask Jeff”.
-------------------------------
Get in touch
555-555-5555
mymail@mailservice.com
Is a Tree Falling on a Car Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
June 22, 2020
Is my car covered at all when damaged by a falling tree?
Homeowners insurance is not the source of coverage for damage to a car caused by a falling tree, or for a motor vehicle loss of any kind. Most homeowners policies explicitly define a “motor vehicle” as property not covered.
It might be interesting to know that the 10/00 version of the ISO Homeowners HO3 homeowners policy contains the words “motor vehicle” twenty-three (23) times. The terms are defined in the policy and further, it specifically limits, restricts or excludes from coverage for cars and other types of powered vehicles in each instance.
The primary source of coverage for damage caused by a falling tree to a car is called “Comprehensive” or “Other than Collision”. And, it’s found exclusively on an auto insurance policy.
In some unique circumstances coverage may be found on a homeowners policy that would extend to “property damage” of another person's vehicle.
One such circumstance can be found under the Damage To Property of Others coverage part included in Section II (Liability) of some homeowners policies. This extension may read something like:
Note the phrase “caused by an ‘insured’”The few times I have seen this homeowners coverage part respond to damage to another vehicle, the following factors were involved:
- A member of the household did not own the vehicle.
- The homeowner would have known of the risk the tree posed to potential damage to others before the incident.
Homeowners policies specifically address damage to automobiles by limiting, restricting, or excluding coverage to them.
An auto insurance policy is where coverage for damage to vehicles is primarily found.
New Paragraph
This article may have been originally published at Quora.com.
To see Jeff's Quora.com profile click here.
Most property insurance companies offer Actual Cash Value or Replacement Cost settlement options. Typically, insurance companies will require that you insure the property to the settlement value you choose. If you select Actual Cash Value, the amount you may be required to insure the property for will be less than the corresponding Replacement Value.
In that spirit, the Ryan Agency is sponsoring a Stearns BBQ Dinner pickup at our office on 57 Broadway Mall in Hornell on September 12th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Today, an individual’s credit history can play a more significant role than any one of those traditional factors. Good Credit Scores lead to a Positive Insurance score. A good Insurance Score greatly influences what someone will pay to insure their vehicles.
Insurance companies offer various discounts for which their policyholders may qualify.
Great Eight number Six (6) suggests taking a look at removing Comprehensive and Collision on Older Vehicles.
By reducing the number of claims in your insurance history, you can significantly affect your rates in the future.
Sometimes, this concept meets with resistance from policyholders. The thought of paying more in the event of a claim is off-putting to some. Even if that means I pay more for my insurance.
OK. Admittedly, this strategy doesn't benefit everyone, but it can be very beneficial for those it does. You may have unique home or auto insurance needs that prevent you from bundling with the same company. Alternatively… you might have a better rate without the bundle discount by splitting up your insurance between multiple carriers.
In recent years, companies have implemented discounts for paying insurance policies in full (or annually) for some types of insurance. Many companies offer this option, especially for their auto policies.
The Defensive Driving Course is the most universal and non-discriminatory way to save on auto insurance.
