Collision insurance specifically covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another object or vehicle, but it does not cover damages unrelated to driving, damage to other people's vehicles, or medical expenses.
Understanding Collision Insurance Exclusions
While collision insurance is crucial for repairing or replacing your own vehicle after an accident where you are at fault or when another insured driver is not identified, it has specific limitations. It's important to understand what this type of coverage does not include to ensure you have comprehensive protection.
Damages Unrelated to Driving
Collision insurance is designed for incidents involving a collision while driving. It does not cover damage to your vehicle that occurs when it's not in motion due to an impact with another vehicle or object. This typically includes:
- Weather-related damage: Incidents such as hailstorms, floods, falling trees, or severe winds.
- Theft or vandalism: If your car is stolen or intentionally damaged by vandals.
- Fire: Damage caused by a fire.
- Animal impacts: Hitting an animal, such as a deer, is often covered by comprehensive, not collision, insurance.
For these types of incidents, comprehensive insurance is the coverage you would need.
Damage to Another Person's Vehicle
Collision insurance solely focuses on your vehicle. If you are involved in an accident and cause damage to another person's car or property, your collision insurance will not pay for those repairs.
- This responsibility falls under your property damage liability coverage, which is a separate component of your auto insurance policy.
Medical Bills and Injuries
Perhaps one of the most significant exclusions is the lack of coverage for injuries or medical expenses.
- Collision insurance does not cover medical bills for you or any passengers in your vehicle.
- It also does not cover medical bills for occupants of another vehicle involved in the accident.
Medical expenses from an accident are typically covered by personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments (MedPay) coverage, or the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage.
Summary of Collision Insurance Exclusions
To summarize the key areas where collision insurance does not provide coverage:
| Category | What Collision Insurance Does NOT Cover | What Coverage Does? |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to Your Vehicle | Damage not related to a collision (e.g., hail, theft, fire, hitting an animal). | Comprehensive Insurance |
| Damage to Other Vehicles | Damage you cause to another person's car or property. | Property Damage Liability |
| Medical Expenses | Medical bills for you, your passengers, or individuals in another vehicle due to an accident. | Bodily Injury Liability, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Medical Payments (MedPay) |
