Paul Sanchez
Whether your homeowner's insurance covers broken windows depends on several factors. Firstly, the cause of the damage is crucial; most policies cover sudden accidental damage, including vandalism, theft, fire, hail, and storms, but not general wear and tear or a lack of maintenance. Secondly, the type of policy you hold matters; named-peril policies only cover specific perils listed in the contract, whereas open-peril policies cover losses unless they are explicitly excluded. Finally, your policy's deductibles and coverage limits may influence whether it is more cost-effective to pay for repairs out of pocket.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Depends on the cause of the damage. Named-peril and open-peril policies cover different risks. |
| Named-peril policy | Covers specific perils listed in the policy. |
| Open-peril policy | Covers losses that are not specifically excluded. |
| Standard perils covered | Vandalism, theft, fire, hail, etc. |
| Primary coverage types | Dwelling coverage (Coverage A), other structures coverage (Coverage B), liability coverage (Coverage E) |
| Dwelling coverage | Covers windows that are part of the home's structure. |
| Other structures coverage | Covers windows on separate structures like a detached garage or storage shed. |
| Liability coverage | Covers damage caused by someone from the household to a neighbor's window. |
| Deductibles and coverage limits | May impact whether repairs are covered or paid out of pocket. |
| Wear and tear | Generally not covered. |
| Home warranty policies | Generally do not cover broken windows. |
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What You'll Learn
Open-peril and named-peril policies
Homeowner's insurance policies typically cover damage from 16 named perils. Named-peril policies cover only the events listed in the policy. For example, a named-peril policy that only covers floods won't pay for damage to your home caused by a fire. Some common perils covered by named-peril policies include vandalism (including damage from break-ins), theft, fire, hail, and more.
Open-peril policies, on the other hand, cover any event that the policy doesn't specifically exclude. These policies are also known as "all-risk" or "all-peril" policies. While open-peril policies provide more comprehensive coverage, they don't cover every single type of loss and there are policy exclusions to be mindful of. For example, open-peril policies typically don't cover damage from termites, wear and tear, sewer backups, floods, or earthquakes.
The type of policy you have will determine whether damage to your windows is covered. If you have a named-peril policy, check the list of covered perils to see if the cause of the broken window is included. If you have an open-peril policy, check the policy exclusions to see if the cause of the broken window is specifically excluded from coverage.
It's important to note that, regardless of the type of policy you have, homeowner's insurance typically doesn't cover damage due to general wear and tear or a lack of proper maintenance. Additionally, home warranties generally won't provide coverage for broken windows, as they are part of the structure of your home.
In terms of specific types of coverage, broken windows may be covered under dwelling coverage (Coverage A) or other structures coverage (Coverage B), depending on whether the window is part of the main structure of your home or a separate structure on your property. If you've damaged someone else's window, your personal liability coverage (Coverage E) may kick in to help cover the costs.
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Vandalism and theft
Vandalism and malicious mischief insurance is a type of insurance coverage that protects property owners from losses due to intentional damage caused by vandals. Vandalism is damage done to someone else's property, simply for the sake of causing damage. Malicious mischief is similar, though the damage may not be intended. This type of insurance is included in most basic commercial and homeowner policies. It is particularly important for properties that are unoccupied during the day, such as churches and schools, as these structures can become targets when no one is around.
A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover most incidents of vandalism, including damage to your home, property, and personal belongings. This includes damage to windows, which are considered part of the structure of your home. If your home is vacant for over 60 days, standard home insurance won’t cover vandalism. In this case, your insurer may require certain protective safeguards to reduce the risk of theft and vandalism, such as boarding up windows and glass doors.
Home insurance typically covers sudden and accidental damage, rather than general wear and tear. Broken window seals, for example, are usually not covered unless they are damaged during a break-in or a case of vandalism. It is important to regularly inspect your windows to identify any signs of wear and tear, which can be fixed with simple maintenance.
Theft, Vandalism, and Burglary insurance can be limited, and the cost of a single break-in can be high, so it is important to understand the differences and limitations of your policy. Unlike perils such as fire, these coverages may have their own sublimits underneath the property coverage limit. For example, while you may have insured your property for $100,000, you may only have $30,000 worth of coverage for Theft, Vandalism, or Burglary. Your deductible may also differ for these losses.
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Wear and tear
Homeowners insurance typically covers the cost of repairing or replacing broken windows, but only if the damage was caused by a "covered peril" and not by general wear and tear or a lack of maintenance.
Covered perils include hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, falling trees, and vandalism. For example, if a vandal breaks your window during a break-in, your homeowners insurance will cover the cost of repairs. Similarly, if a tree branch falls on your window during a storm, your insurance will likely cover the damage.
However, if your windows are simply old and break because of that, or due to gradual deterioration, your insurance will not cover the cost of repairs. This is because homeowners insurance only covers damage that is deemed to be accidental and unexpected.
To prevent wear and tear damage, it is recommended that you regularly check your windows for maintenance needs. Additionally, if you have a separate home warranty policy, it may cover the wear and tear of household items like appliances and plumbing, but it will not cover structural features like windows and doors.
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Liability coverage
Homeowners insurance policies typically include six primary coverage types, labelled as Coverages A, B, C, D, E, and F. Depending on the damage, coverage for broken windows may fall under liability coverage (Coverage E).
It's important to note that liability coverage for broken windows does not include damage due to gradual events, rot, or lack of maintenance. Window damage resulting from wear and tear is generally not covered by homeowners insurance. Additionally, your policy's deductibles and coverage limits may impact how much you're protected, and in some cases, it may be more cost-effective to pay for repairs out of pocket.
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Deductibles
The amount of money you receive from a home insurance claim depends on your deductible. A deductible is the amount deducted from any claims payouts. For example, if you have a $500 deductible and the window costs $700 to replace, you would pay the deductible out of pocket, and your home insurance provider would reimburse you for the remaining $200. If you have a $1,000 deductible with a $500 replacement cost, you would have to pay the entire cost out of pocket.
Special deductibles apply only when damage is caused by a specific type of peril. For example, in a state like Florida, you may have a hurricane deductible that applies when damage is caused by a hurricane. Similarly, wildfire deductibles may be applicable in a state like California. If you have a special deductible and make a claim for a broken window caused by the related peril, you will be required to pay the special deductible amount first.
It is important to note that your premiums may increase when you renew your policy after filing a claim. If the repair or replacement costs exceed your deductible by only a small amount, it may be better to pay out of pocket to avoid higher premiums.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the cause of the damage and your policy type. Homeowner's insurance will generally cover window damage as long as it didn't result from general wear and tear, old age, or a lack of proper maintenance.
Standard perils covered by homeowner's insurance include vandalism, theft, fire, hail, and more. Weather-related perils are also usually covered, including damage from storms and other weathering events.
Your neighbour's insurance liability coverage should cover all the damages in this instance. If they don't have liability insurance, you can ask them to pay for the repairs directly.
