Following an accident you might be wondering if your insurer will pay for damage to the inside of your vehicle. After all, you don’t want to have to pay to redo the upholstery or replace your sound system.
Yet insurers won’t always pay out for claims that involve the interior of your car. Find out why and what you can do to keep the inside of your motor protected.
It depends what type of policy you have.
Should you only have a third party policy then your insurer won’t pay out for any damage to your car.
With third party, fire and theft insurance, your car’s interior is covered in the event that someone breaks in or there’s a fire that wasn’t your fault. Should you leave a burning cigarette on the seat then you won’t be covered for instance.
A comprehensive deal will typically cover you for interior damage though. That is if it happens as a result of a collision, vandalism, theft and acts of nature, such as falling objects and wild weather.
To claim though, the damage needs to be due to an incident that was out of your control. So, if a vandal breaks into your car and slashes the seats or carpet, your insurance should take care of the repair costs.
Your collision or comprehensive coverage may cover the cost of repairing items that are part of your car’s normal configuration. These include:
Remember, your insurer will only cover this damage if it was caused by an accident or an unforeseen incident.
Regardless of what kind of insurance policy you have, your insurer won’t cover the damage caused by wear and tear or negligence.
These are the most common exclusions:
So, if you accidentally scratch the interior of your car with your keys, or spill something that shorts out your speaker system, your insurance will deny your claim.
Comprehensive policies won’t typically cover any items that you added to your car, such as:
If you want to protect any modifications such as a new sound system or DVD player then ask your insurer if it can cover them. You may have to pay extra, but not telling your insurer about any modifications could actually invalidate your policy. This means you wouldn’t get a single penny if you make a claim of any kind.
It goes without saying your provider won’t pay for interior damage if you damage your interior on purpose, or if the damage occurs when you’re using your car to commit a crime.
Here are some key steps you should take to boost your chances of a successful claim:
Making a claim for interior damage is no different to making any other sort of claim.
Each insurer has its own claims process. However, all providers will ask ask you fill out a claims form and provide supporting documents, like photos of the damage. You will do all of this either online, via email or potentially by post.
To speed up the process you’ll need the following at hand when you get in touch:
Your insurer will then look at your claim and send a claims assessor to take a look at the damage. Should your insurer decide to pay out, you’ll probably have to go to one of its approved garages to get the repairs carried out.
It depends on the extent of the damage and the make and model of your vehicle.
As a rule of thumb, the more expensive the item is to replace the more it will cost. You’ll have to pay far more for leather upholstery or a flashy sound system for instance.
Or if the parts are unique and difficult to find, then it might cost more too.
Ultimately, if your insurance provider has said it will pay out for the damage, you’ll only have to pay the excess. This is the amount you agreed to cough up for a claim before the insurance money kicks in.
Car insurance only pays for the interior damage caused by unexpected incidents, for example if you’re involved in a collision or someone breaks in and vandalises your car.
You won’t be covered for ordinary wear and tear, or if you’ve caused the damage by smoking in your car or spilling a drink. Nor will a standard policy cover certain interior parts, such as a DVD player, unless you contact your insurer and ask for these modifications to be included in your deal.
As always, it’s vital to get the right level of protection for you. Plus, by shopping around and comparing all the car insurance providers out there, you can get the best deal possible.
| Response | 55+ | 45-54 | 35-44 | 25-34 | 16-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | 62.6% | 53.8% | 60.59% | 47.83% | 51.46% |
| Yes | 37.4% | 46.2% | 39.41% | 52.17% | 48.54% |
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