Will Insurance Go Up If You Hit a Deer?

Deer collisions are inevitable if you drive in areas with high deer populations. Over 1.5 million deer-related crashes occur in the U.S. every year. This leaves many drivers wondering – will my insurance rates increase if I hit a deer?

The short answer is probably not

Hitting a deer is usually considered a comprehensive claim which typically doesn’t impact your rates. However there are some caveats depending on your location and insurer. Let’s take a closer look at how deer collisions affect your car insurance.

How Hitting a Deer Affects Your Insurance Policy

When a deer darting across the road causes damage to your vehicle, it falls under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage takes care of non-collision damage from events like vandalism, weather, fire, theft and animals.

Collision coverage pays for damage from accidents you cause, Comprehensive claims are not considered at-fault accidents since hitting a deer is out of your control,

For this reason, making a comprehensive claim for deer damage generally doesn’t cause your insurer to increase rates. However, there are some exceptions:

• Frequent comprehensive claims could impact your rates even if not your fault. Insurers may see you as high risk if you have a lot of deer collisions or other not at-fault comprehensive claims.

• If you’re deemed negligent, such as speeding, your insurer may raise your rates. Some states consider hitting deer an at-fault accident.

• Major damage from a high speed deer collision may lead to a rate hike.

So while one deer claim is unlikely to affect your premium, multiple claims or high speed accidents may cause an increase.

Does Your Location Affect Rate Changes After Hitting Deer?

Whether or not your auto insurer increases premiums after a deer collision depends partly on where you live.

In most states, insurers don’t consider deer accidents chargeable at-fault accidents. Your rates won’t go up as long as you’re not negligent.

But some states allow insurers to raise rates after a deer collision even if it’s not your fault. These include West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Hawaii and Michigan.

So in higher risk deer states, a rate increase is possible after just one deer claim. Drivers in these areas may opt for higher comprehensive deductibles to avoid premium hikes.

How Much Could My Insurance Go Up?

If your insurer does raise your rate after a deer collision, how much could it increase? It depends on several factors:

• Your location – States that allow rate hikes will see higher increases than no-fault states. Michigan often sees the biggest jumps.

• Your deductible – Those with low deductibles like $250 may see bigger rate hikes than policies with $500 or $1,000 deductibles.

• Your history – Drivers with clean records get smaller increases versus multiple deer claims or past at-fault accidents.

• Your insurance company – Some insurers are more rate sensitive than others after deer claims.

While amounts vary, one deer collision could potentially increase your 6-month premium by $100-$300 in higher risk states. Multiple claims may cause higher spikes, so consider upping your deductible to mitigate rate hikes.

Will My Insurance Cancel My Policy if I Hit a Deer?

It’s highly unlikely your insurer would cancel your policy after just one deer collision claim. Policy cancellation typically happens only under extreme circumstances like:

• Failure to pay premiums
• Fraudulent activity
• Multiple at-fault accidents in a short timeframe
• Major violations like DUI

Even drivers with several deer collisions or comprehensive claims don’t usually face cancellation. Your rates may increase, but outright policy cancellation is rare from just one or two deer accidents.

Tips to Avoid a Rate Increase After Hitting a Deer

While deer collisions are often unavoidable, here are some tips that can help prevent your insurance premium from increasing:

Drive cautiously in deer-prone areas – Slow down and stay alert at dawn, dusk and fall months when deer are most active.

Consider a higher deductible – This reduces the likelihood of a rate hike from small deer claims.

Ask about accident forgiveness – Some insurers won’t raise your rate after your first deer claim.

Maintain a good driving record – Drivers with clean records can avoid hikes better than multiple violators.

Shop around – If your insurer raises rates, compare quotes to find more forgiving options.

Add emergency savings – This allows you to pay repair costs out-of-pocket rather than filing a claim.

With preparation and safe driving, you can minimize the chances of premium increases after deer collisions.

What to Do if You Hit a Deer

If an encounter with a deer results in damage to your vehicle, here are the steps to take:

• Move to a safe location and turn on hazard lights
• Document damage with photos
• Call the police to file an accident report
• Contact your insurance provider to file a claim
• Keep evidence like fur or blood to confirm you hit a deer
• Take your car to an auto repair shop for damage assessment

Never try to approach or move an injured deer. Notify authorities so they can handle the situation properly.

Can I Eat a Deer I Hit with My Car?

It’s not advisable or legal in most states to consume deer killed accidentally by vehicles. The meat is often unsafe and consuming roadkill deer also raises ethical concerns. Let law enforcement properly dispose of deer carcasses from vehicle collisions.

Bottom Line

Hitting a deer can be scary and dangerous. But in most instances, your car insurance rates won’t increase from a single deer collision claim thanks to comprehensive coverage protection. Still, multiple deer hits or negligence could raise your premiums in some states. Drive safely, document deer accidents thoroughly and maintain adequate emergency savings in case repairs aren’t fully covered.