Does homeowners insurance cover car damage?

Why you can trust Insure.com

Quality Verified

At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry.

If a car crashes into your home, the driver’s auto insurance policy will cover the damages up to their policy’s limits. The remaining damages will be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

Because the damage was the fault of the driver, their liability insurance is the first line of defense to pay for the damages. However, if the damage exceeds their limits or if it turns out the driver was uninsured, your homeowners policy will kick in. Your home insurance will also cover the damage if you were the one who ran into your home in your car.

If a car crashes into your home, call 9-1-1 immediately. Even if no one is injured, you will need a police report. Call your home insurance company even if you believe the driver’s insurance will cover the damage.

Key Takeaways

Home insurance covers damage to the house or other structures done by a vehicle.
The other driver’s car insurance will be the primary policy to cover the damage, and home insurance will kick in when those limits are exceeded.
You’ll have to pay your deductible if you file a home insurance claim for damage from a car.

Does homeowners insurance cover a car crashing into a house?

Yes. Most homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by a vehicle. Damage to any structures, such as a garage or a fence, will be paid for. The driver’s auto insurance policy will cover the damages under the vehicle’s property damage liability coverage, after which your home insurance will cover the rest, up to your limits.

Additionally, certain homeowners insurance policies may provide funds for medical care if a car crash injures a household member. You’ll want to check your policy’s fine print to see if you are eligible to be reimbursed for medical bills.

When does homeowners insurance cover a vehicle crashing into a house?

Your homeowners insurance will cover damage caused by a car crashing into your house under most circumstances. But you will need to file an insurance claim with the driver’s auto insurance policy first. While the driver is liable for the repairs, once the costs reach their policy’s limits, your homeowners insurance policy will take over — but you are responsible for the deductible.

But, if the driver is uninsured, you may have to rely solely on your homeowners insurance for coverage. In that case, the policy will pay out to your coverage limits, and you will likely be responsible for the deductible.

If you accidentally crash your own car into your home, it gets a little complicated. You’ll need to file a claim with your car and home insurance policy in this situation. You will likely be responsible for some or all of the repair costs if the damage does not exceed your homeowners insurance deductible.

Does homeowners insurance cover car damage in a driveway?

If your car is damaged in your garage or on your driveway, it is not covered by homeowners insurance. Your auto insurance policy to cover any damages caused to your car, as long as you have the right coverage.

Still, you’ll want to make sure you get a homeowners insurance policy that provides as much coverage as possible in case of an accident, like someone driving into your house. While homeowners insurance may not pay for every cent of the damage, it can still save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.