Winter Weather and Car Insurance: What’s Covered

Does Car Insurance Cover Winter Weather Accidents?

Collision and comprehensive coverage can help protect you from winter weather events that increase the likelihood your car will be damaged. While lenders generally require you to maintain these coverages if you have an auto loan or lease, neither is required by law.

Both types of coverage have deductibles, which is the amount you're responsible for paying before the insurance company picks up the tab. However, that could be a small price to pay if your car is damaged due to winter weather.

What Collision Covers

Collision pays for repairs to your vehicle when you're at fault in an accident—whether another vehicle is involved or not. It covers you if you crash into another car on a snow-covered road or slip on a patch of black ice and skid into a stationary object like a fence or lamppost.

Collision coverage doesn't pay for crash-related damage to your car if you're in an accident and another driver is at fault. In that scenario, the other driver's property damage liability coverage should kick in to pay for repairs to your vehicle.

What Comprehensive Covers

Crashes aren't the only threat winter weather brings. Hail, ice and falling tree limbs weighted down by snow can damage your car even if you never leave the driveway. If you do need to venture out, chunks of ice and snow from the road can crack windows and windshields that need to be repaired or replaced. Comprehensive pays for these and other non-crash related repairs, as long as you include it in your policy.

Do I Need Special Car Insurance for the Winter?

While sleet, snow and freezing rain can make getting behind the wheel more dangerous than usual, you don't need special car insurance for the winter months. Your policy protects you in any season, but if you've been relying on your state's minimum required insurance, winter is a good time to reevaluate your policy.

Because the risk of accidents and non-accident-related damage can be higher when winter weather strikes, you may want to increase your policy limits or add extra coverage options for enhanced protection. Here are several to consider.

• Roadside assistance: Flat tires and dead batteries are inconvenient any time of the year, but being stranded on the side of the road in freezing temperatures isn't just an inconvenience—it can be dangerous. Adding roadside assistance to your policy can help you get you back on the road quickly. Services vary by provider but typically cover jumpstarts, replacing flat tires, getting you back into your car if you lock yourself out and towing within a certain radius.
• Gap coverage: If your car is totaled, the insurer will only reimburse you for the actual cash value at the time of the incident (if you have comprehensive and collision), leaving you in a financial pinch if you have an auto loan or lease and owe more than the car is worth. Gap coverage covers the difference between what you owe on a financed vehicle and the insurance company's payout if your car is declared a total loss.
• Rental car reimbursement: The average car repair takes approximately 19 days, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Rental car reimbursement provides financial relief by picking up the tab for the cost of a rental—up to the per-day maximum—while your car's being repaired due to a winter weather incident.

How to Avoid Winter Car Accidents

You may not be able to avoid all the challenges winter weather can throw at you, but these tips can help minimize your risk of accidents and other winter weather incidents that can damage your car.

• Check the weather conditions. Knowing when and where winter weather is likely to strike can help you plan travel to avoid the worst of the snow and ice.
• Slow down. If you must be out on the roads during a storm, don't speed. It takes longer to slow down on wet, icy and snow-covered roads.
• Keep your distance. Leave extra space between you and the car in front of you so you have extra time to stop if you slip on a patch of ice or snow.
• Park in a garage or under a carport. Protecting your vehicle from the elements minimizes the chance it will be damaged by snow, ice, hail or falling tree limbs. It also prevents other drivers from sliding into your car while it's parked.
• Stay home. The only foolproof way to avoid an accident is to stay home. If you don't need to be out, stay where you are.
• Replace your windshield wipers. Dull blades don't remove snow and ice from your windshield as well as new ones do. Replace your windshield wipers for optimal visibility.
• Check your tires. It's common for tire pressure to drop in cold temperatures. Be sure your tires are properly inflated before you hit the road. You may also want to consider snow tires if you live in an area that gets significant amounts of snow during the winter months.

The Bottom Line

Winter weather doesn't require specialized insurance if you already have a policy that provides adequate coverage. However, it's worth reviewing your current policy to verify that the coverage and policy limits it includes provide the protection you need. If not, you may want to add them before winter weather strikes.

Shopping around can help you find a policy that meets your needs at a price you can afford. Experian's car insurance comparison tool can help you compare quotes from dozens of top providers.