Will car insurance cover scratches made when my wife removed ice from the car?

My wife was half asleep when she went out to scrape snow and ice off her car. 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?

Written by | Posted on: March 18, 2015

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Yes, if you have comprehensive car insurance on your wife’s vehicle the scratch and scrap marks she made should be covered. This incident was accidental and not connected to a collision or the upset of your car, and is why it would fall under your comprehensive coverage.

Car insurance typically covers negligent acts as long as they are accidental. It doesn’t cover intentional acts.

For instance, if your wife was mad at you for some reason and went out and banged up your car with the shovel, the damage would not be covered by your car insurance.

Read more on comprehensive and other types of basic car insurance coverages.

Penny Gusner

Contributor

Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s.