Auto Insurance And Garage Damage: What's Covered?

If you accidentally damage your garage, your auto insurance will likely not cover the repairs. If the damage to your garage costs more than your homeowners insurance deductible, it might be worth filing a homeowners insurance claim. However, your auto insurance may cover damage to your car in this scenario.

Auto insurance liability coverage will only cover damage to other people's property

If you accidentally damage your garage with your car, your auto insurance liability coverage will not cover the damage to your garage. Auto insurance liability coverage typically covers two types of damage: property damage and bodily injury caused to another person in an accident where you are at fault. This means that liability coverage will only cover damage to other people's property and not your own.

In the case of damage to your garage, your home insurance policy will typically cover the cost of repairs. Home insurance usually includes structure coverage, which protects against damage to your house, detached garage, and other structures on your property. So, if you accidentally hit your garage with your car, you would need to file a claim with your home insurance provider to get the damage repaired or replaced.

It's important to note that while your auto insurance liability coverage won't cover damage to your garage, it can cover any damage to your car resulting from the accident. Collision insurance, which covers accidents with other vehicles or objects like fences or trees, may also assist in covering the costs of repairs or replacement for your vehicle. However, collision insurance is usually only required if you are leasing or financing your vehicle.

Additionally, if there is any damage to your neighbour's property as a result of the accident, your auto insurance liability coverage should cover those costs. This includes repairs to their vehicle, providing a rental vehicle while their car is being repaired, and any other property damage or legal fees that may arise.

To summarise, auto insurance liability coverage will not cover damage to your garage in the event of an accident. Instead, your home insurance policy will provide protection for your garage and other structures on your property. However, your auto insurance may cover damage to your car and any third-party property damage or injuries caused by the accident.

Home insurance will cover damage to your garage, whether attached or detached

If you accidentally damage your garage, your auto insurance will not cover the cost of repairs. However, your home insurance will cover damage to your garage, whether it is attached or detached, as long as the damage was not caused by negligence.

Home insurance policies are made up of different coverage components, and the type of coverage that protects your garage will depend on whether the garage is attached to your home or is a separate structure. If your garage is attached, it will be covered by the dwelling coverage component of your policy. If your garage is detached, it will be covered by other structures coverage.

Dwelling coverage pays out the replacement cost, so if your attached garage is completely destroyed by a covered peril, your insurance would help pay to rebuild it from scratch. Other structures coverage typically has a coverage limit of 10% of your dwelling coverage.

Home insurance covers your garage if it is damaged by a covered peril, but the specifics of your coverage will depend on whether your garage is attached to your home or a freestanding structure. Covered perils include fire, vandalism, and damage by vehicles.

If you accidentally back into your garage door with your car, your homeowners insurance may help pay for the damage to the garage, but not to the car itself. That would be covered by your auto insurance.

Home insurance won't cover damage to your car in the garage

If you accidentally damage your garage with your car, your auto insurance won't cover the repairs to your garage. However, it may cover the damage to your car resulting from the accident.

Home insurance will cover the damage to your garage, but only if the damage is proven to be unintentional. If the damage is minor and can be easily repaired, you may want to consider fixing it yourself, as insurance claims can cause your insurance rates to increase.

Home insurance covers damage to your house and other structures such as a garage, deck, or back porch, as long as the structure is attached to your home. Detached structures like a shed or fence are typically covered under "other structures coverage".

However, it's important to note that home insurance doesn't cover everything. Here are some things that are typically not covered by home insurance:

• Large-scale disasters such as floods or wars.
• Damage due to negligence or normal wear and tear.
• Inherently risky items, such as trampolines.
• Earthquakes, sinkholes, and other "earth movement".
• Acts by the government, such as seizure or eminent domain.
• Infestations such as termites, bedbugs, and sewer backups.
• Aggressive dog breeds or large dogs.
• High-value items such as jewelry, furs, and gold may have limited coverage.

Auto insurance will cover damage to your car in the garage

If you accidentally damage your garage with your car, your auto insurance will not cover the repairs to your garage. However, your auto insurance will cover any damage to your car resulting from the accident. If the damage to your garage is minor, such as a small dent in your garage door, you may want to consider fixing it yourself, as filing a claim with your insurance company could cause your insurance rates to increase.

If the damage to your garage is more severe, such as a collapsed wall, you will need to file a claim with your homeowner's insurance. Standard homeowners insurance policies usually include structure coverage, which covers damage to your house, detached garage, and protective fence. If your garage is attached to your house, the dwelling coverage in your homeowner's insurance policy will cover the damage. If your garage is detached, the other structures coverage in your homeowner's insurance policy will pay for repairs.

In addition to covering damage to your garage, your homeowner's insurance may also cover damage to or theft of belongings in your car, up to the coverage limits in your policy. However, it is important to note that your homeowner's insurance will not cover damage to your car itself. For that, you will need to file a separate claim with your auto insurance company.

If your car is damaged in an accident with another vehicle or an inanimate object, such as a fence or tree, collision insurance may help cover the costs of repairs or replacement. If your car is damaged by fire, vandalism, hail, or theft, your personal auto insurance coverage will cover it under comprehensive coverage.

You may not need to file a claim for minor damage

If you've accidentally damaged your garage, you may not need to file a claim for minor damage. Small scratches, for example, can be fixed easily and inexpensively without involving your insurance company. This is a good idea because filing a claim for every little accident can cause your insurance rates to increase. Insurance companies keep records of frequent claimants and will adjust their rates accordingly.

If the damage to your garage is minor, consider repairing it yourself. For example, a dent in your garage's sliding door can be fixed without much cost. You should also consider getting a repair estimate from a qualified professional to make sure the repair cost will exceed your deductible. If the repair cost is higher than your deductible, then it might be worth filing a claim.

If you caused the damage to your garage, your auto insurance likely won't cover the repairs. However, your home insurance will likely cover the cost of repairs to your garage, whether it is attached or detached from your house. But your home insurance policy won't cover damage to your car; you'll need to file a separate claim with your auto insurance company for that.

Frequently asked questions