Does Car Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Strong winds and flooding from hurricanes can cause costly damages, so it’s important to have enough vehicle protection. An active 2024 hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean included 18 named storms — two of which made landfall in the U.S. as major hurricanes.

Hurricane Helene caused a storm surge in Florida, devastating flooding in the southern Appalachian region, and wind damage stretching from the Gulf Coast to the mountains of North Carolina.^[1] Flooding from the storm damaged around 138,000 vehicles across six U.S. states, according to an estimate from CARFAX.^[2]

Fortunately, car insurance companies help vehicle owners pay for damages through different types of coverage, including comprehensive insurance. Here’s what you should know about car insurance for hurricane damage.

What types of car insurance cover hurricane damage?

Most states require drivers to purchase a minimum amount of liability car insurance, but you select how much coverage you want when signing up for a car insurance policy. Mandatory liability insurance only covers the other driver’s vehicle repairs and medical expenses if you cause an accident. Insurance professionals recommend carrying additional insurance.

Full-coverage policies, which include liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, also protect you if you cause an accident or face vehicle damage outside of your control. Collision insurance covers damage from car accidents, and comprehensive coverage pays to repair a car after damage from a non-collision incident, like severe weather, falling objects, and more.^[3]

Comprehensive insurance covers hurricane damage, including damage from flooding, high winds, fire, hail, and falling objects.^[4] If the vehicle is a total loss, the insurance company will write a check for what the car was worth at the time of the loss. You should consider purchasing a full-coverage policy if you live in a state with high rates of accidents, vehicle theft, and storm-related damage. If you don’t have comprehensive insurance, your insurance company won’t cover damages to your vehicle from a hurricane. It’s a good idea to secure this insurance coverage.

How much hurricane car insurance costs

Adding comprehensive and collision coverage to your auto policy will increase your monthly premium, but the benefits of carrying this coverage far outweigh the drawbacks, especially in hurricane-prone areas. These coverages can save you money if you face vehicle damage or loss.

Below, you can find the average monthly cost of comprehensive coverage from top U.S. insurers.

How to buy car insurance to cover hurricane damage

Whenever you’re looking to change or add to your car insurance policy, you should compare quotes and coverage details from multiple auto insurance companies. Look for insurers offering comprehensive coverage at a price that aligns with your budget.

If you have an auto policy with a company you want to stay with, you should call your insurance agent to discuss how to add comprehensive coverage. You’ll then set a deductible, which is how much you’ll pay following an incident before your company covers the rest. Deductibles can range from $100 to $2,000, and higher deductibles result in lower premiums.

You should know that some companies in high-risk areas have a cutoff period leading up to hurricane season. During these cutoff periods, companies won’t allow any changes to an auto policy’s comprehensive coverage or write any new comprehensive policies until the season has ended. Make sure you add coverage well in advance of hurricane season.

How to file a car insurance claim for hurricane damage

If a hurricane damages your car, follow these steps to file a claim:

1. Inspect your vehicle and gather information. If it’s safe to do so, inspect your vehicle for damage after the storm. Take photographs of any damage, record videos of any water damage, and write up a detailed description of the incident. You should also make sure you have your policy number ready for when you go to file the claim.

2. Contact your insurance company and file the claim. Depending on your insurer, you can file your claim on a mobile app, online, or over the phone. You’ll need to share your policy number, documentation of the damage, and when the damage occurred.

3. Review your claim. The insurance company will then relay the information to the insurance adjuster for an independent inspection to assess the damage. The adjuster may request more information, like an estimate from an auto shop, before providing a settlement amount.

4. Accept payment and fix your vehicle. You’ll eventually receive a claim payout from your auto insurer that you can use to repair or replace your vehicle.

5. Review your premium. After you file a claim, your premium may increase. You can always compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the most affordable coverage.

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Average car insurance costs in hurricane-prone states

Several U.S. states have a higher risk for hurricanes and tropical storms than most others. If you live in one of these states, you have a higher risk of vehicle damage during hurricane season.

• 

  Florida

  Because Florida is a peninsula, almost all of the land area is vulnerable to high wind and rain damage. Cities most likely to experience hurricane damage include Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers, and other cities in the southeast or southwest of the state.

  Average monthly cost for full coverage: $241 

• 

  Texas

  Cities like Corpus Christi and Galveston border the Gulf of Mexico, which is a magnet for hurricane activity. While Texas has seen roughly half of the hurricanes that Florida has, Texas holds the record for one of the deadliest hurricanes in history.

  Average monthly cost for full coverage: $237

• 

  Louisiana

  The tip of Louisiana is another area hurricanes pass by on their way around the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans, one of the cities closest to the water, is especially vulnerable to hurricane damage because it’s below sea level. If the levees experience more stress than engineers designed them to handle, they can break and flood the city.

  Average monthly cost for full coverage: $235

• 

  North Carolina

  North Carolina has experienced fewer direct hits from hurricanes than the top three states. However, the state’s position on the Atlantic Coast leaves it vulnerable to high winds and rain damage.

  Average monthly cost for full coverage: $92

• 

  South Carolina

  Hurricanes making landfall in South Carolina are few and far between. But when they hit, they can wipe out entire fields of crops and level any standing structures.

  Average monthly cost for full coverage: $271

Hurricane car insurance FAQs