Home Insurance Forum

Jan. 25, 2007

A car in my driveway — not owned by me — was damaged by a fallen tree limb after an ice storm. The person who owns the vehicle resides in my home. The car is not insured due to extensive and time-consuming mechanical repair. Will my homeowners cover the damage? My policy has a $300,000 rider for other property.

Martin, Georgia

Dear Martin,

As a rule, the answer would be no. Homeowners insurance is meant to insure your home. So if the car had damaged your home or property, by, for instance, running into the side of the house, your homeowners insurance would cover you. But for the car to be insured for damage by the home or property, the owner of the car needs to have auto insurance for his or her vehicle.

However, as State Farm spokesman Phil Supple explained, there are some exceptions to that rule. Your homeowners insurance policy could conceivably cover damage to the car under a very specific set of circumstances. If the engine had been taken out of the vehicle, because, for example, you decided to make it into a planter, then the car would be considered a piece of property with value, and as such, it could be covered under your homeowners policy.

For more information on what is and is not covered under a homeowners insurance policy, look at our stories on Home insurance basics and Home insurance exclusions run the gamut.

Back to the Forum

Disclaimer: We are journalists, not financial planners or insurance brokers. Nothing we say should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide other financial or legal advice.