If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your car insurance, your company may pay for the damage from a single accident, along with your deductible. If you dont carry collision or comprehensive coverage, youll have to pay for any damage out of pocket. An individual driver is often “at fault” in a single car accident. If you file a claim after your policy renews, your insurance company may raise your rate.
Read the editorial guidelines for Progressive Answers auto to learn why you can trust the information here about car insurance.
Getting into a fender bender is never fun, but it’s especially unpleasant when you damage your own car. We all make mistakes on the road occasionally, whether backing into a pole in a parking garage or clipping a curb while parallel parking. When you cause damage to your own vehicle, does your car insurance still pay to repair it?
The answer is typically yes—as long as you have the right coverages. Most standard auto policies will provide coverage for self-inflicted auto damage, with a few exceptions. Understanding what your car insurance does and does not cover can give you confidence that small driving mishaps won’t cost you a fortune out-of-pocket.
Collision Insurance Is Your First Line of Protection
The main coverage to turn to when you damage your own car is collision insurance This optional protection pays for repair costs when your vehicle is damaged in an accident, regardless of who was at fault
Collision insurance will cover incidents like
- Backing into a concrete pillar in a parking garage
- Hitting a curb and bending your wheel rim
- Rear-ending another car in stop-and-go traffic
As long as you have collision coverage, damage you cause to your own car will be covered up to your policy limits, minus any deductible you must pay. Without collision protection, you’d have to pay for repairs entirely out of your own pocket.
Comprehensive Covers Non-Crash Damage
What if you damage your vehicle without getting into an actual collision? Perhaps a rogue golf ball cracks your windshield or a tree branch falls on your car during a storm.
That’s where comprehensive coverage comes in. Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision damage from things like:
- Vandalism or theft
- Hail, floods, fire, or falling objects
- Collision with an animal on the road
So if you accidentally kick a soccer ball through your own back window, comprehensive insurance will pay for the glass repair or replacement, subject to your deductible.
The Impact of Your Deductible
While collision and comprehensive insurance are your main backstops for self-inflicted auto damage, don’t forget about your deductible. This is the amount you pay out-of-pocket towards a claim before insurance coverage kicks in.
For example, if you have a $500 deductible and cause $1,800 worth of damage to your car, you would pay $500 and your insurance would cover the remaining $1,300 repair bill. Keep your deductible amount in mind so you know your potential out-of-pocket costs when filing a claim.
When Self-Inflicted Damage Isn’t Covered
There are certain situations where your insurance company may deny a collision or comprehensive claim for harm you cause to your own vehicle:
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Intentional damage – Purposely damaging your own car, such as keying it or setting it on fire, constitutes insurance fraud.
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Damaged while committing a crime – Car insurance may not pay if you damage your car when doing something illegal.
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Lack necessary coverage – Not having collision and comprehensive insurance means you have no coverage for self-inflicted damage.
Unless prohibited by state law, your insurer can refuse to pay claims for losses occurring under these circumstances.
Filing a Claim for Self-Inflicted Damage
Making an insurance claim for harm you cause to your own vehicle is straightforward:
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Report the incident to your insurance company promptly. Provide details of what happened and the resulting damage.
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Allow your insurer to inspect the vehicle and get repair cost estimates from body shops.
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Pay your deductible amount after your insurer determines coverage applies.
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Your insurance company will then pay the repair facility directly for the remaining repair costs.
As long as you have the proper coverages and were not intentionally or illegally damaging your car, the claims process functions like any standard accident claim.
Examples of Covered Self-Inflicted Damage
To help clarify what is and isn’t covered, here are real-world examples of self-inflicted auto damage and whether insurance would pay:
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You spill coffee in your lap while driving, lose control, and hit a tree. This likely would be covered under collision insurance.
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Your car is damaged by hail while parked at work. Comprehensive insurance would cover the hail damage.
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You purposefully key your car because you can’t afford the loan payments. This intentional damage would not be covered.
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You crash into a guardrail while driving intoxicated. Because you were committing a crime, your claim could be denied.
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A tree branch breaks off and shatters your windshield as you drive. Comprehensive insurance would pay for a new windshield.
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You back over your mailbox while pulling out of your driveway. Collision coverage would pay for damages.
The common thread is unintentional damage from regular driving mistakes is covered, while intentional harm or criminal acts usually are not.
FAQs About Self-Inflicted Car Damage
Does liability insurance cover damage to my own car?
No, liability insurance only pays for damage you cause to others, not to your own vehicle. You need collision and comprehensive coverage for that.
What if I don’t have collision insurance?
Without collision coverage, you would have to pay out-of-pocket for any repairs your car needs from an accident you cause.
Am I covered if I damage my rental car?
It depends. If you purchased rental car coverage from your own insurer or the rental company, damage to the rental is covered just like your own car.
What if I hit an animal and damage my car?
Hitting an animal is considered a comprehensive claim, so this damage would be covered as long as you carry comp insurance.
Give Yourself Peace of Mind
Nobody enjoys dealing with car repairs and insurance claims. But knowing collisions or minor mishaps that damage your own vehicle are covered by insurance can give you peace of mind.
As long as you have the right policies and coverages in place, a momentary lapse in judgment or driving skill won’t become a financial disaster. Collision and comprehensive insurance have your back for most standard cases of self-inflicted auto damage.
Make sure your car is not a safety hazard
If other cars could hit yours, put on the hazard lights and try to move it off the road while you can. Do not try to move your car. Instead, leave it and do what you can to get yourself and everyone else to safety.
How does insurance cover single vehicle accidents?
The coverage will depend on the nature of the accident. If the damage is considered preventable, then collision car insurance coverage generally applies. If the damage is considered unavoidable and unexpected, then comprehensive car insurance coverage applies.
As an example, if you hit a telephone pole, you might be covered by collision because the pole is fixed in place and it’s easier to avoid it. If you hit a deer, on the other hand, it might be covered by comprehensive because you can’t control where or how the deer moves.