Home Car insurance Coverage Does car insurance cover hitting a deer? Does car insurance cover hitting a deer? As long as you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance should reimburse damages if you hit a deer. However, there are some important steps to take after an accident to ensure your claim proceeds smoothly. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Sarah Sharkey Sarah Sharkey Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor. | Reviewed by Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is the editor-in-chief of Insure.com and a licensed life, health and disability insurance agent in New York with seven years of experience covering insurance. Her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Balance, The Financial Gym and MSN. She holds a BA in Economics from The Ohio State University. | Updated on: February 19, 2026 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 you hit a deer, the first step is ensuring you and any passengers are okay. Make sure no one is injured, and if necessary, call for help. Take a moment to assess the situation and the damage. The next question is whether or not your car insurance policy covers hitting a deer. Comprehensive coverage, which protects against non-collision incidents, usually covers damage caused by hitting a deer. This includes repairs to your vehicle or even a replacement if the damage is severe enough to total your car. If you only have liability insurance, however, your policy won’t cover the damage since liability only pays for damages to others in an accident you cause. It’s important to note that deer-related accidents differ from swerving to avoid a deer. If you swerve to miss a deer and hit another car, a tree, or any other object, it’s typically classified as a collision, which would fall under collision coverage instead of comprehensive. Reporting the accident promptly to your insurance company and documenting the damage can help ensure a smoother claims process. Key Takeaways Comprehensive car insurance covers damage from hitting a deer, but liability-only policies do not. Swerving to avoid a deer and causing an accident is typically covered under collision insurance rather than comprehensive. Promptly reporting the accident and documenting the damage helps streamline the claims process. What insurance coverage kicks in if you hit a deer? If you hit a deer, comprehensive coverage typically pays for vehicle damage, while collision coverage applies if you swerve and crash into something else. Liability insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle but may apply if other people or property are involved. Insurance responds differently depending on what actually happened in the accident. The chart below shows which coverage applies in common deer-related scenarios. What happenedCoverage that appliesWhat it pays forDoes your deductible apply?You hit a deer directlyComprehensiveDamage to your vehicleYesYou swerve and hit a treeCollisionDamage to your vehicleYesYou swerve and hit another carCollision + liabilityYour car (collision) + other driver’s damage (liability)Yes (collision only)A deer runs into your parked carComprehensiveDamage to your vehicleYesYou only have liability coverageNone for your vehicleOther people’s damage onlyN/A Powered by: What steps should I take if I accidentally hit a deer with my car? Once you understand which coverage applies, the next priority is handling the accident safely and protecting your claim. Here’s what to do after accidentally hitting a deer with your vehicle. Move your vehicle to a safe place. Move your vehicle off the roadway to prevent another potential crash. Turn on your hazard lights to indicate that other drivers should avoid your vehicle. Check for passenger injuries. Start by taking a deep breath and determine if you are hurt. Additionally, check with other passengers in your vehicle to confirm they are unharmed. If you or someone else is hurt, call for an ambulance immediately. Call 911. Call the police immediately to report the incident. When they arrive, you can fill out an official report, which might be useful when filing a claim. Document the incident. Take pictures of the accident. Some key details include your vehicle, your surroundings, the injuries you sustained, and even the animal itself. But don’t get too close to the injured animal; it could hurt you in its frightened state. Contact your insurance company. Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as possible. By providing information about the incident to the insurer, you can start the claims process. Acting quickly and safely after a deer collision can help prevent further injuries, maintain safety of others on the road and make the insurance claims process easier. Should I file a claim after hitting a deer? You should file a claim if repair costs are significantly higher than your comprehensive deductible. If the damage is minor and close to your deductible amount, paying out of pocket may make more financial sense and help you avoid adding a claim to your insurance history. Before filing, get a repair estimate. If repairs cost $1,200 and your deductible is $1,000, filing may not be worthwhile. But if damage totals several thousand dollars, comprehensive coverage can protect you from a major financial hit. Even though deer accidents are typically not-at-fault claims, insurers still track claims frequency. Filing multiple claims within a short period could affect your premium at renewal. 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She used a snow shovel, not realizing she picked up the one with the sharp metal blade at the end, so she scratched the car all over. Will her car insurance cover the damage? Show more Our agents make it hassle-free to get the right quote. Call (844) 814-8854 Ethan Available Now Jack Available Now Robbie Available Now Ellie Available Now Should I file a claim if I swerved to avoid a deer? “You can file a claim if you swerved to avoid a deer and caused an accident in the process, but there is a high probability that you will still be found liable for the accident,” says Ben Michael, founder and managing partner at Michael & Associates, a law firm in Austin, Texas. Michael continues, “Even if you swerved because of attempting to avoid hitting a deer, you are still responsible for hitting another car(s) or causing other damage, which is why you’ll likely still be found liable. You may even be found negligent. You’ll want to take as many pictures, videos, and documentation as possible to help your case.” Discuss the details with your insurance company after an accident caused by swerving to avoid a deer. A representative can help you determine whether filing a claim is the best action for your circumstances. What happens if my car is totaled after hitting a deer? If your car is totaled after hitting a deer, your comprehensive coverage will pay the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), which is its market value at the time of the accident minus your deductible. It does not pay what you originally paid for the car. Actual cash value reflects depreciation. If your car is worth $15,000 and your deductible is $500, your payout would typically be $14,500. If you owe more on your auto loan than the car’s current value, you may still be responsible for the remaining balance unless you carry gap insurance. Gap insurance covers the difference between what your insurer pays and what you still owe on the loan. Important note about your coverage Comprehensive pays what your car is worth today — not what you paid for it. How can you safely avoid deer collisions while driving? Hitting a deer can cause real damage to your vehicle. Use the following strategies to lower your chances of hitting a deer: Slow down in wooded or rural areas Use high beams when safe Watch for deer crossing signs Scan road shoulders, not just directly ahead Brake firmly and stay in your lane Heads up: Sunrise and sunset are peak crash times Low visibility combined with peak deer activity dramatically increases the risk of a collision. Extra caution during these hours matters. Does hitting a deer go on your driving record? Hitting a deer typically does not go on your driving record because it isn’t considered a moving violation. However, the claim will appear in your insurance claims history, which insurers review when pricing your policy. Your driving record tracks violations like speeding tickets or DUIs. A deer collision is usually classified as a comprehensive claim, meaning it’s treated as an uncontrollable event rather than driver negligence. If another vehicle is involved — for example, if you swerve and cause a crash — fault could be assigned, and that may affect both your record and your rates. Remember: Claims history isn’t the same as your driving record Even if the incident doesn’t show up with the DMV, insurers can still see it when you shop for coverage or renew your policy. What should I do if my insurance claim is denied after hitting a deer? “You can often request an explanation from your insurer about the denial, and sometimes providing additional documentation or evidence can help overturn the decision. It’s always a good idea to review your policy details and consult a legal or insurance professional if you’re facing difficulties,” says Andrew Pickett, a personal injury attorney and owner of Andrew Pickett Law, a personal injury law firm in Melbourne, Florida. Common reasons for denial include: Lack of comprehensive coverage Policy lapse Misclassification of the accident Insufficient evidence If necessary, you can escalate the issue within the insurance company or file a complaint with your state’s insurance department. Tip: Ask for the specific policy language Request the exact clause your insurer is relying on when denying the claim. That makes it easier to challenge the decision if needed. The bottom line Hitting a deer can cause significant damage. If you have comprehensive coverage, you can file a claim with your auto insurance company. If another vehicle is involved in the incident, things get more complicated. But, generally, comprehensive coverage will help you repair or replace your vehicle after hitting a deer. Frequently asked question What should you do if you hit a deer with a financed car? If you hit a deer with a financed car, what you can do depends largely on whether you have full coverage. Lenders typically require both comprehensive and collision coverage, but if your coverage has lapsed or is incomplete, you may be responsible for repair costs while continuing to make loan payments. Can hitting a deer impact my ability to get insurance in the future? After hitting a deer, your ability to purchase an insurance policy in the future shouldn’t be impacted. Generally, this incident stays off your driving record. What happens if someone hits a deer in my car? If someone hits a deer with your car, they should call the police. Filling out a police report with details about the incident can help you navigate the insurance claims process. What do you do if a deer runs in front of your car? If a deer runs in front of your vehicle, apply the brakes. If possible, stay in your lane and avoid swerving. Although it’s tempting to swerve, that could easily push you to lose control of the vehicle and worsen the situation. Sarah SharkeyContributing Researcher | . .Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer with a master’s degree in management from the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida. She enjoys helping readers find money solutions that work. She has written for numerous personal-finance publications including Money Under 30 and The College Investor. In case you missed it The most expensive and cheapest cars to insure in 2026 Do you have to add a teenage driver to your car insurance policy? Teenage car insurance rates: How much is car insurance for teens? Most and least expensive trucks to insure in 2026 How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2026? 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Most and least expensive models to insure Average car insurance rates by age and gender 1/1 On this page What insurance coverage kicks in if you hit a deer?What steps should I take if I accidentally hit a deer with my car?Should I file a claim after hitting a deer?Should I file a claim if I swerved to avoid a deer?What happens if my car is totaled after hitting a deer?How can you safely avoid deer collisions while driving?What should I do if my insurance claim is denied after hitting a deer?Frequently asked question ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates (844) 645-3330