Ask an Agent
Have a question? We're here to help.
Ask an agent for free
Question

Does car insurance cover rodent damage?

I went on vacation for 2 weeks and when I came home my car wouldn't start. My brother is a mechanic so he came over to take a look at the vehicle and he noticed that some of the wires under the hood were completely chewed through by some sort of squirrel or rodent. Can I file a claim for this with my insurance company?

Jul 17, 2016 Appleton, WI

Answer
Author profile picture

The Zebra

The nation's leading independent insurance comparison site

The Zebra is an independent insurance advisor and quote comparison site with headquarters in Austin, Texas. Utilizing its real-time quote comparison …

Sorry to hear about your misfortune! Luckily enough, you should be able to file this claim through your insurance company assuming that you have comprehensive coverage on your policy. Comprehensive covers most damage to your vehicle that wasn't the result of an accident. This would include things like hitting an animal, hail damage, and theft. In your case, the rodent chewing through your wires will likely be viewed as an "act of God" which is normally covered under comprehensive. If it's your first comprehensive claim, your premium should not increase by all that much. On average, a comp claim will raise your rate by 4.35%, or $64 a year. You will want to confirm that you do have this coverage, but your insurance company should be able to answer that and start the claims process for you if it is part of your policy. Best of luck!

Ask an Agent
Have a question? We're here to help.
Ask an agent for free

Insurance is complicated, but it doesn't have to be.

The Zebra searches all of the top insurance companies, in one place, so you can compare the cost and coverage you need to protect your car, home and other property.

Step 1: Tell us a little about yourself

Choose an insurance product and enter your zip code to get started. No phone number required.

Step 2: Sip your coffee while we find the best quotes

Enter the necessary information and then sit back while we find quotes from 100 top insurance carriers.

Icon Fill Form

Step 3: Compare your quotes

Compare quotes side-by-side to find the right match for you, whether it's home, auto, or more.

Icon Agent

Step 4: Let our agents do the hard work for you

Once you pick your policy, our agents are here to get you over the finish line. Then just relax and enjoy your savings.

Compare insurance rates today!

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

Related Questions

Other people are also asking...

My musical equipment stolen from friend's house covered by insurance

This can be tricky. From my experience, most home insurance policies will cover stolen property even if it's not the property of the named insured (your friend) but I would consult their policy declarations page to be sure. The tricky thing has to do with the value of the assets. If your music…
Jun 21, 2018 El Paso, TX

What should I do with my car insurance after I pay off my car loan?

3. It depends on the value of your vehicle. The answer to your third question is subjective and up to each individual to decide what suits their needs best. That being said, you should try to get a fairly accurate idea of your vehicle's actual cash value (ACV) since that is what GEICO would pa…
Jul 11, 2018 Slidell, LA

What is Extended Transportation Expenses Coverage?

Basically, this is just another way to describe rental reimbursement coverage (which is part of rental car insurance coverage). What that means is if your vehicle becomes temporarily disabled from an incident that's covered by your policy, this coverage would reimburse you for the transportati…
Feb 22, 2018 Fayetteville, NC

Can someone with power of attorney make changes to a car insurance policy?

Thank you for reaching out to The Zebra. These are excellent questions!Because you have power of attorney, you are legally allowed to make decisions on behalf of your husband. If you contact his insurance company and provide a copy of the power of attorney you should be able to make any changes, li…
Jun 1, 2023 Louisville, KY