We’ve seen a lot of storms causing havoc over the past few years – and it's not just your home that’s at risk.
We discuss if car insurance covers storm damage, how to protect your car and more.
What is storm damage?
It’s quite self-explanatory – storm damage is when stormy weather causes damage to things like your car or home.
There are lots of aspects of a storm which can be destructive, including heavy rainfall, winds or hail.
For example, strong winds may knock a tree over on top of your car, or hail could crack your windscreen.
Does car insurance cover storm damage?
It depends on your level of cover.
Storm damage is usually covered on comprehensive car insurance policies but not on third-party only or third-party fire and theft policies.
You should always check what you are and aren’t covered for carefully before trying to make a claim.
Is storm damage classed as accidental damage?
Technically, no. Although you might see it as accidental, weather events like this are seen as an ‘act of nature’ by insurers. That means they were completely natural and unavoidable.
What type of storm damage does car insurance cover?
There are lots of different ways a storm could damage your car. Some examples of situations we’d likely cover, if you have comprehensive car insurance, are:
Damage from hail
If the hail is strong enough that it damages your car’s bodywork or even breaks the windscreen, you should be covered. This doesn’t apply to our Essentials level of cover, though.
Check out our in-depth guide on windscreen cover.
Fallen trees or flying debris
You’ll likely be covered if the winds are strong enough to:
- knock over a tree that lands on your car
- pick up heavy debris that hits your car and causes damage
Flood damage
Unfortunately, storms often come with floods too.
Comprehensive car insurance policies usually include cover for damage to your car caused by water damage and heavy rainfall. This might be electrical damage, for example.
It’s always worth double checking if your policy has any exclusions.
When is my car not covered for storm damage?
There are a few exclusions to what storm damage car insurance can cover. This includes:
- If you drive through flooded areas – you won’t be covered if you drive straight through high flood water when there are other routes available
- Any normal wear or tear – we don’t cover damage that’s caused by your car being in a bad state of repair
Always check your policy book for the full list of what’s not covered.
Weather warnings
There are three types of weather warnings in the UK:
- red
- amber
- yellow
They're ranked based on how likely they are to happen, and how high the impact is likely to be.
For example, a red weather warning is very likely to happen and expected to have a high impact.
Read our guide on weather warnings.
Can I drive when there’s a weather warning?
Weather warnings don’t stop you from driving. The warning only gives you a heads up to the risks and how likely it is to affect you.
The Met Office advises: “You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.”
So, you can legally drive, and your insurance cover won’t be affected. But you may be putting yourself and others at risk as there’s an increased chance of having an accident during bad weather.
Driving during a storm
If you do need to drive during a storm, it’s important you drive carefully and pay attention to your surroundings.
For more information, head to our in-depth guides on:
If you’re concerned about your home too, find out more about what to do before, during and after a storm on our storm weather hub.
What to do if your car is damaged in a storm
If your car’s been damaged in the storm, the most important thing is to make sure you stay safe. Listen to any instructions from emergency services or local authorities.
Once it’s safe to, you should:
- Take photos and videos of the damage
- Try to prevent any further damage – for instance, cover broken windows
- Contact your insurer to let them know what’s happened
From there, your insurer will help manage your claim and get your car back on the road.
How to protect your car from storm damage
While you can’t avoid storms completely, there are a few things you can do to protect your car if you know a storm is on the way.
- Park indoors – if you can, park in a garage or under a shelter
- Remove or secure loose items – like roof boxes or other car accessories
- Avoid parking in flood areas – this includes any low-lying areas that are known for flooding
