If you’ve ever gotten into your car only to discover that it won’t turn on, you may have found that your car was affected by rodent damage. Rodents often climb into cars while seeking a warm shelter, and their instinct to chew means they can gnaw on wiring, hoses, and other components. That can lead to significant damage and expensive repairs, so your first call might be to your insurance company. But is rodent damage covered by auto insurance?
Whether your car insurance covers rodent damage depends on the type of policy you have. If you’ve purchased just your state’s minimum insurance requirements, such as liability insurance and personal injury protection, then your vehicle won’t be covered for rodent damage.
But, if you’ve bought comprehensive coverage for your car, most insurance companies will cover the cost of repairing rodent damage. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by things other than a collision, so rodent damage would fall under this category. However, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance company to verify that your policy specifically includes coverage for rodent damage.
Keep in mind that if you file a claim to cover the rodent damage, you will still need to pay your policy’s deductible. Depending on your deductible amount and the damage your vehicle sustained, your deductible could be close to the cost of the repair. However, if the rodent damage is extensive and you have a newer vehicle with advanced electrical components, repairing the damage could cost many thousands of dollars and your insurance policy could save you a lot of money.
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If you don’t yet have comprehensive coverage, you can easily get it and enjoy greater peace of mind that your vehicle is fully protected. You can get free car insurance quotes online today to start shopping for auto insurance. As you shop, focus not only on the coverage type and the premium, but also consider factors like the coverage limits, any exclusions, and your deductible amount.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
