Acts of God in Car Insurance

• In insurance, an “act of God” includes natural disasters, such as hail, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires.
• Providers cover acts of God under comprehensive insurance, which pays for damages to your car in non-collision incidents. You can look at your policy’s coverage summary to see whether your comprehensive insurance includes natural disasters.
• Getting other protections like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and windshield coverage can help if your vehicle is damaged due to an act of God.

Find out more about acts of God in auto insurance and what you need to be prepared.

An act of God in car insurance is an event no human can prevent. Typically, acts of God refer to natural disasters such as the following:

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Hail
• Hurricanes
• Lightning
• Sinkholes
• Falling Trees
• Wildfires
• Windstorms
• Volcanic eruptions

While your car insurance policy may not use the term “acts of God,” it might cover them under comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage includes property damages from incidents other than collisions. In addition to natural disasters, comprehensive covers auto theft and vandalism.

To determine whether your insurance covers acts of God, look at your policy’s declarations page. Under the comprehensive section, your policy should include acts of God as specific incidents, including floods, hail, and earthquakes. If you’re shopping for insurance, ask for a coverage summary and scan the comprehensive section.

It’s important to look at the fine print, especially if an insurer offers comprehensive coverage that excludes natural disasters. And if you don’t have comprehensive coverage at all, your policy won’t cover acts of God. You can make sure your vehicle is fully protected by looking for the best full coverage car insurance, which includes comprehensive coverage.

Acts of God claims work like any other type of auto insurance claim. Here’s a general overview of the coverage process.

1. You submit a claim to your car insurance company or directly to your licensed insurance agent, providing pictures and notes about the damages and conditions that caused the damages.
2. Your insurance provider reviews the claim. The insurer may have an insurance adjuster view your car, either physically or digitally.
3. If the insurance company approves your claim, you must pay your insurance deductible before your provider will contribute financially for the needed repairs. The insurer will then pay for repairs up to your coverage limit, which is your car’s actual cash value. If your insurance provider declares your car to be a total loss and you have new car replacement coverage, it could replace your car.
4. If your car isn’t being replaced, you’ll get your vehicle repaired and await the reimbursement check from your insurance provider.²

To get coverage for acts of God, you’ll need comprehensive insurance that includes coverage for natural disasters like hail.

Acts of God refers to events outside of human control, including hail, floods, falling trees, and windstorms. To protect yourself financially in incidents involving acts of God, add comprehensive coverage to your policy. Other add-on coverages, like glass coverage, gap insurance, and new car replacement, are also useful in case your car experiences an act of God.

Learn more about auto insurance coverages like acts of God. Or read our frequently asked questions below for more information on coverage for these events.