Is Rust Damage Covered By Car Insurance?
Does car insurance cover rust damage? It depends on how the rust damage happened. More often than not, car insurance will not cover rust repair. The only way rust damage is covered is if you can prove the rust came from an improper repair job or if it was due to flood damage. The purpose of car insurance is to help protect against unexpected damages. Rust is considered normal wear-and-tear, so in most policies, it is not covered.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
|
Written by
Rachel Bodine
|
|
Reviewed by
Jeffrey Johnson
|
UPDATED: Nov 24, 2021
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.
- Car insurance companies typically do not cover rust damage because rust is normal wear and tear
- Having comprehensive coverage on your vehicle will take care of damages if the rust is due to hurricanes, floods, or improper repair jobs
- If a car accident leads to rust build-up, you should report any damages to your agent immediately
After an accident, it is possible for one of two things to happen. A car accident can lead to rust build-up, or the needed repairs can lead to rust build-up if the shop did the repairs wrong.
If you have rust build-up, you may be interested in getting your car fixed – with the hopes of your insurance company covering the cost. So, does car insurance cover rust damage?
Whether your insurer covers the costs or not, it’s important to get rust damage fixed as soon as you can.
If your rust damage causes your car to fall apart and leads to a car accident, you could be held responsible by the insurance company for the damages. It can be confusing, but we can help. Read on for everything you need to know about rust and insurance.
Find out if your car insurance will cover rust repair. Enter your ZIP code and get a free quote today.
Table of Contents
Does insurance cover rust damage?
So, does auto insurance cover rust repair? Typically, car insurance companies will not cover rust damage because rust is considered normal wear and tear. The purpose of car insurance is to help protect against any unexpected damages, such as a car accident or theft.
There are only two situations when an insurance company will cover rust damage: an improper repair job and flood damage.
If you live in a coastal area, you should consider comprehensive coverage. As the Insurance Information Institute explains, comprehensive coverage helps pay to replace or repair your vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged in an incident that is not a collision, and that can include flood damage.
If your rust damage is due to situations such as hurricanes or floods, insurance will cover you if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy.
The second situation is an improper repair job. If your car is in the shop and an improper installation leads to rust damage on your vehicle, your comprehensive coverage may cover the damage.
The only stipulation is that you have to prove that the rust damage took place after the repairs were complete. Of course, not all policies will include comprehensive coverage because all policies are not created equal.
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I file wear and tear insurance claim?
No. Wear-and-tear happens over time when you drive a vehicle, so a wear-and-tear insurance claim isn’t covered. Unfortunately, finding rust damage just about anywhere on the frame of your vehicle is considered normal wear-and-tear.
Insurance companies incorporate wear-and-tear exclusions into their policies to protect them from clients who do not properly maintain their vehicles.
Although insurance companies will not cover rust damage, you should immediately fix the damage. Leaving rust damage on the frame of your vehicle can lead to collapse.
Will insurance cover rust if a car accident leads to rust build-up?
So, what should you do after a car accident? First and foremost, if a car accident leads to rust build-up, then you should report any damages to your agent immediately.
if you have filed a claim and got your car repairs completed, then it is unlikely that the previously damaged area will not develop rust.
If the insurance company determines that you knew your vehicle was unsafe to drive and you caused an accident due to the condition of your vehicle, you could be held responsible.
Ways to Prevent Rust
There are six different ways you can prevent rust build-up on your car.
- After driving your car in the winter, always rinse it with water. This will remove any salt or other material that can cause rust damage.
- Wash the underbody of your car regularly.
- If at all possible, store your vehicle in a garage.
- Avoid driving through puddles.
- Maintain your paint.
- Repair bubbles or chips that you notice in your paint.
Will insurance cover a rusted frame? If your insurance company isn’t giving you coverage you need, enter your ZIP code and get a free quote today.