Automotive paint is one of the most visible components of your car. And yet, not everyone considers paint when it comes to auto insurance. For example, will your car’s insurance cover paint damage? Follow along to discover the answer.
Will Auto Insurance Cover Paint Damage?
Yes, auto insurance covers paint damage, but only if you have collision or comprehensive coverage. If you are carrying the minimum auto insurance required by California law, then paint damage sustained by your vehicle is not covered.
For the record, these are California’s minimum auto insurance requirements:
- $15,000 for injury/death to one person.
- $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
- $5,000 for damage to property.
As you can see, these are liability coverages. In other words, they cover only damage you cause to other people or their property.
Auto Insurance and Paint Damage
Depending on how your car’s paint was damaged, two types of coverage can help repair it: collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.
Collision insurance kicks in when your car is damaged in a collision with another vehicle, or when it hits another object such as a tree, fence, or guardrail.
Comprehensive insurance, on the other hand, helps pay for damage associated with accidents other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, storms, wind, and hail.
Both collision and comprehensive coverage are optional in California, although lenders usually require you to have these coverages if you are financing your car.
If you are not sure if you have collision or comprehensive coverage, review your policy or give your insurance agent a call.
How To Protect Your Car From Paint Damage
As we saw earlier, auto insurance covers paint damage in some cases. However, the best is to avoid paint damage from happening in the first place.
Of course, you want your ride to look good. But there are other good reasons why you want to keep your car’s paint looking pristine. For example, scratches open the doors for corrosion, which in turn can end up negatively impacting the structure of your vehicle.
Here are some easy things you can do to protect your car against paint damage:
- Get rid of stains as soon as possible
- Steer clear of gravel roads
- Don’t park beside big cars whose doors can ding your vehicle
- Wash and wax your vehicle regularly
- Whenever possible, park in the shade or, even better, in a garage
For more answers to common auto insurance questions, check out our previous blogs, “What Auto Insurance Covers Theft” and “Collision vs Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: What Is the Difference?”
RF1 Insurance Services: Auto Insurance in Southern California
Looking for auto insurance you can rely on? At RF1 Insurance, we work with some of the world’s most trusted insurance companies, including Safeco, Guard, Stillwater, National General Premier, Aegis, and the California FAIR Plan.
Contact us today by email (info@RF1ins.com), telephone (909-359-2067), or social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) for a free quote or to learn more about a full range of insurance solutions.
