Does my car insurance cover break-ins?

Is there anything more aggravating and frustrating than discovering that someone has stolen your property? It is a difficult truth to stomach when something is stolen out of a vehicle, especially since, in order to get to the contents inside, windows are often broken.

Once the anger subsides, clear thinking and deliberate action are required. Filing a police report is important since this could eventually help with getting the stolen items back.

What if the stolen merchandise is gone forever? Who is going to fix the damage to the vehicle? Will auto insurance cover the losses?

If your car has recently been a victim and you want better coverage, compare at least three to four policies today! Enter your ZIP code above to begin!

Comprehensive Insurance and Physical Damage

A vehicle protected by comprehensive insurance is covered against damage caused by a break-in. Actually, comprehensive insurance covers a lot of things.

Most people assume auto insurance only provides coverage when there is an accident. Various accident claims are covered by auto liability insurance, personal injury protection insurance, and collision insurance.

Comprehensive coverage protects a policyholder against losses when something happens outside the sphere of an accident.

A break-in is surely a mishap. The mishap also comes with all manner of damage. A window, door lock, or trunk lock could be destroyed. Additional damage may be possible.

The thief could break apart the glove compartment or rip out the material in the seats. Comprehensive insurance could pay for these losses since theft-related damage and vandalism are among the perils commonly covered.

The insurance settlement would be less the deductible, though.

The Deductible Cost

Those who have never filed a claim on damage-related losses might not be sure how a deductible works. Essentially, a deductible refers to the insured’s out-of-pocket expenses.

A $500 deductible is quite common with most auto insurance policies.

The way the deductible works is the insured is responsible for paying up to $500. Anything beyond that ends up being compensated by the insurance company provided, of course, the claim was approved. So, if the overall damage was $700, the insurance company would pay $200.

The lower the deductible, the more costly the coverage is going to be.

A $1,000 deductible is certainly going to be cheaper than a $500 one since the insurance company’s fiscal obligations are reduced. Looking over the deductible options is a task anyone interested in comparing auto insurance coverage must do.

Is there comprehensive coverage?

No all drivers even have comprehensive coverage, which can be unfortunate.

Almost all states mandate auto liability coverage. Some even mandate personal injury protection coverage.

Comprehensive coverage, however, is not mandatory. Considering all the things capable of harming a car, procuring comprehensive insurance may be worth the added cost.

Drivers have a tendency to drop their collision or comprehensive coverage after a while. Some never even add comprehensive in the first place.

Ultimately, the decision to go with or skip comprehensive insurance is up to the vehicle’s owner. Most are sure to agree comprehensive insurance is a good investment considering the wide territory it covers.

What about the stolen goods?

Sorry to say, but personal property is not covered by auto insurance. Auto insurance deals with damage to the vehicle itself or to costs related to causing an accident.

Personal property insurance is found with homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies.

An insurance company might offer personal property insurance as a separate, added type of coverage. Not every insurance provider offers property theft insurance, unfortunately.

Interestingly, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance may actually cover personal property taken from a vehicle. Those with such policies might wish to contact their homeowner’s/renter’s insurance provider to clarify.

Be forewarned. A homeowner’s policy with a $1,000 deductible for personal property losses means anything under $1,000 is out-of-pocket.

Using an Alarm

Upon reading about break-ins occurring in the neighborhood, it may be best to install or upgrade the alarm system. Hopefully, the alarm may act as a viable deterrent if someone attempts a break-in.

Another benefit exists for those who install a solid car alarm; an insurance premium may get a slight discount.

While the amount won’t likely be significant, even a small discount is sure to be appreciated by the cost-conscious.

The Right Auto Insurance

Theft, vandalism, being hit by a drunk driver, accidentally hitting another driver, these are all things to worry about. Implementing the right insurance policy could cut down on a few of those worries.

The internet allows for much more easily reviewing various different policies. Why not start looking for the best coverage today instead of after a mishap occurs.

Start comparison shopping today for better auto insurance by entering your ZIP code below!