Does Car Insurance Cover Wildfires?
Does car insurance cover fire damage?
Yes — with a few exceptions. If you inhabit a wildfire-prone area, you should check your policy details to confirm fire damage is not a restricted coverage option. While “fire” is generally covered by comprehensive insurance, it's worth double-checking to ensure your insurance company doesn’t put any restrictions on wildfires based on your location.
Key Takeaways:
- Fire coverage falls under comprehensive coverage - so if you only carry liability insurance, your vehicle would not be covered
- Timing is important - if a wildfire is imminent, insurance companies may have a binding restriction in place
- Comprehensive coverage is especially wise to have if you have an expensive vehicle, an auto loan or are leasing the car
- Rates won't increase as much for comprehensive claims as they would for at-fault accidents, but be prepared for higher rates
Does car insurance cover forest fires?
If your vehicle is totaled or damaged by a wildfire, you should receive an insurance payout, as long as you have comprehensive coverage. This coverage — usually bundled with collision insurance — is designed to protect your vehicle against damage caused by an incident other than a collision. There are some caveats to this coverage, which may be company-specific.
The next exception concerns timing. As long as you carry comprehensive coverage prior to the fire, you will have coverage. Most insurance companies will enact a binding restriction in any area in which a forest fire is imminent. A binding restriction limits changes to existing policies — like adding fire protection — or opening any new lines of business. will restrict changes to existing policies (such as adding fire protection coverage) or adding any new lines of business. Insurance companies take this step to reduce their exposure to expensive claim payouts.
What is comprehensive auto coverage?
Comprehensive car insurance coverage is designed to fill in the gaps in collision coverage. While comprehensive doesn't offer recourse when your car collides with another vehicle, it covers the following:
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Hail/lightning
- Damage caused by weather
- Damage caused by "Acts of God"
Your coverage for natural disasters — sometimes referred to as an Act of God Clause — provides protection against wildfire-related damages. Make sure your policy is free of stipulations that would exclude wildfire protection.
How much does fire car insurance coverage cost?
The amount you pay for comprehensive coverage depends on how much your vehicle is worth. The more expensive your vehicle, the more expensive it will be for your insurance company to replace it, thus resulting in more expensive premiums. Below are the national average comprehensive coverage costs based on our sample driver profile with a Honda Accord.
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $112 | $1,342 |
| USAA | $114 | $1,365 |
| Nationwide | $123 | $1,476 |
| GEICO | $129 | $1,542 |
| American Family | $131 | $1,568 |
| State Farm | $131 | $1,569 |
| Farmers | $149 | $1,786 |
| Progressive | $157 | $1,882 |
| Allstate | $201 | $2,413 |
Dynamic auto insurance data methodology
Methodology: The auto insurance rates displayed above and throughout this page are dynamic, meaning the data will refresh when the most recent information is made available. Rates are based on a sample driver profile — a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord and full coverage. This profile was adjusted based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies, like age, coverage level, driving record and others.
Given our user profile, Travelers and USAA are the cheapest options for comprehensive coverage, insuring against forest fire damages. Use this data when beginning the process of shopping for car insurance. Just remember that for a better estimate, you should compare rates based on your unique driving profile.
Comparing liability coverage and "full coverage," paints a picture of how much comprehensive coverage may impact your premium.
| Coverage | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Liability Only | $597 |
| Full Coverage with $1,000 Deductible | $1,554 |
| Full Coverage with $500 Deductible | $1,760 |
On average, adding comprehensive and collision coverage from a liability-only policy will increase your premium 112% per year. Considering this expense, let's look a little deeper at when comprehensive coverage is actually necessary.
Do you need comprehensive coverage?
Car insurance that covers wildfire damage can be expensive, but there are scenarios in which carrying comprehensive coverage is wise.
- If you have a loan on your vehicle: because someone else technically owns your vehicle (usually a bank or financing company), you’re required to protect their investment through comprehensive coverage.
- If you’re leasing a vehicle: a lease is essentially a long-term rental, and you'll need to return the car in near-perfect condition. You should carry comprehensive coverage to satisfy your lease agreements.
- If your vehicle is valuable: if you own your vehicle but it still has considerable worth, you should keep this coverage. As a general rule, if your vehicle is worth more than $4,000, you should have comprehensive coverage.
Because wildfires are often total loss scenarios, it's important to evaluate your coverage needs well before one occurs. Your auto insurance will be your main source of protection and reimbursement after fire-related vehicle damages.
Will fire damage raise your auto insurance premium?
A claim for fire damage will result in a premium increase. But the financial repercussions will be much less significant than a liability or collision claim. See below the average rate increases after zero, one, and two comprehensive claims.
| Accident/Violation | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| None | $147 | $1,759 |
| One comp claim | $154 | $1,849 |
| Two comp claims | $161 | $1,936 |
While a collision claim can raise your rates an average of $611 per year, the rate penalty after a comprehensive claim hovers around $90 per year. This is because collision claims are generally seen as the result of the driver and thus deemed at-fault accidents. Damage caused by fire is typically outside of the control of a driver.
Another way your premium can rise after a fire claim is via a rate revision. Rate revisions are common and occur every year. Simply put, insurance companies will review their losses from the previous year to determine if they need to raise or lower premiums to stay profitable. In the event of a wildfire, which may affect a large number of clients and result in significant claims payouts, an insurance company could raise premiums to recoup its losses.
An insurance rate increase after a fire claim will usually be significantly less expensive than paying for the damage out-of-pocket. If your insurance company does raise rates substantially, consider it a good excuse to shop for a new policy.
Compare rates and find the best comprehensive auto insurance for your needs.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.