18 Things Car Insurance Doesn't Cover

Car insurance can be a lifesaver in case of an accident, but it's essential to know what it doesn't cover. You might be surprised at how many things are excluded from standard policies.

Here are 18 things car insurance typically doesn't cover, so you can plan accordingly: Your car's maintenance and repairs are not covered, including regular oil changes and tire rotations.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a major no-no, and if you're caught, your insurance won't cover damages or losses. This includes accidents that occur while you're driving with a suspended license.

If you're involved in a hit-and-run, your insurance won't pay for the other driver's damages or injuries. You'll need to cover those costs out of pocket.

Most policies don't cover damage to your vehicle caused by natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes. This is usually covered by a separate flood or earthquake insurance policy.

Pipes bursting in your home or a fallen tree branch won't be covered by your car insurance, even if they damage your vehicle. You'll need to file a claim with your homeowner's insurance.

If you're driving a rental car and it's involved in an accident, your car insurance might not cover the damages. Check your policy carefully before renting a car.

Driving in a foreign country may not be covered by your standard policy, so be sure to check with your insurance provider before taking a road trip abroad.

If you're involved in a road rage incident or a deliberate act of vandalism, your insurance won't cover the damages. This is considered a premeditated act, not an accident.

Most policies don't cover damage to your vehicle caused by a wild animal, like a deer collision. This is usually covered by a separate wildlife insurance policy.

If you're driving a classic car or a collector's item, your standard policy might not cover its full value. You may need to purchase a separate collector's item policy.

If you're involved in a protest or a riot, your insurance won't cover any damages or losses. This is considered a high-risk activity.

Most policies don't cover damage to your vehicle caused by a landslide or a mudslide. This is usually covered by a separate natural disaster insurance policy.

If you're driving a vehicle that's been modified with aftermarket parts, your insurance might not cover the damages if those parts are involved in the accident.

If you're involved in a war or a military conflict, your insurance won't cover any damages or losses. This is considered a high-risk activity.

Most policies don't cover damage to your vehicle caused by a fire or an explosion. This is usually covered by a separate fire insurance policy.

If you're driving a vehicle that's been used for business purposes, your personal insurance policy might not cover the damages or losses. You may need to purchase a separate business insurance policy.

Most policies don't cover damage to your vehicle caused by a sinkhole or a subsidence. This is usually covered by a separate natural disaster insurance policy.

If you're involved in a stunt or a racing incident, your insurance won't cover any damages or losses. This is considered a high-risk activity.

Car accidents caused by animals, like deer or birds, are not typically covered under comprehensive or collision insurance.

If you damage your car while driving in a foreign country, you may not be covered by your standard insurance policy.

You won't be able to make a claim if you're driving under the influence or engaging in reckless behavior.

Excluded drivers are a crucial aspect of car insurance policies. Drivers specifically excluded in your policy will not be covered if they get into an accident while driving your car.

Insurers typically exclude individuals with a high-risk history, such as a history of driving under the influence (DUI) violations. For example, a company may insure all family members on a single policy except the son with two DUI violations within the same year.

If you're unsure about who's excluded from your policy, it's essential to review your policy documents carefully. Don't assume you know who's covered or not – double-check to avoid any surprises.

Accidents that are the result of street racing or stunt driving aren't covered.

If you're not listed on your policy, but you're driving the car, you're not covered. This includes family members or friends who borrow your car without your permission.

Theft of belongings in your car is covered by your renters or homeowners policy, not your auto policy.

Intentional damage to your car, like smashing your own windshield, isn't covered.

Damage caused by freeze or ice isn't covered.

Using your car for business, including driving for rideshare companies, isn't covered.

Routine maintenance, like oil or tire changes, isn't covered.

Fancy custom parts that cost over $1,000 aren't covered.

Classic, antique, or exotic cars aren't covered.

Electrical issues not caused by an accident, like normal wear-and-tear affecting your car stereo, aren't covered.

Here's a quick rundown of what's not covered:

If you leave your valuables in the car, don't expect your car insurance to cover their loss.

Your car insurance policy won't kick in to cover stuff inside the car that's stolen, so if someone breaks in and grabs your belongings, you'd file a theft claim under your renters or homeowners insurance.

For example, if you leave an antique Japanese sword in the backseat of your car and it gets stolen, you'd need to file a separate claim for the sword under your renters or homeowners insurance.

Car insurance will pay only up to the limits you purchase, so if you're liable for more than that in losses, you'll be responsible for the remaining amount.

Purchasing $25,000 in liability insurance, for example, will leave you on the hook for any losses exceeding that amount, like if you're liable for $30,000 in losses after a car accident.

Increasing your coverage limits will increase the cost of car insurance, but it's a way to avoid being responsible for excess losses.

A single umbrella policy can cover excess losses for both your home and car insurance policy, making it a more convenient option than increasing policy limits.

You may be required to raise your car insurance limits first, depending on your insurer, before purchasing an umbrella policy.

Intentional damage to your vehicle or another driver's property won't be covered in an auto policy. This includes premeditating a car accident to profit from an insurance claim payout, which can be considered fraud and lead to policy cancellation.

Premeditating a car accident to profit from an insurance claim payout can be considered fraud. This can result in your insurer canceling your policy, creating a lapse in coverage, and leaving you facing legal and financial consequences.

Damage done intentionally, whether by yourself or because you told someone else to cause it, isn't covered. This includes paying someone to damage your vehicle, hoping to collect from your insurer.

This kind of behavior is considered insurance fraud. It's not worth the risk, as you could end up losing your policy and facing serious consequences.

Theft can be a costly and frustrating experience, especially when it involves your personal belongings. Your car insurance policy won't cover theft of belongings, so you'll need to file a claim under your renters or homeowners insurance instead.

If you leave valuable items in your car and they get stolen, you can file two separate claims: one for the theft of your belongings and another for the damage to your car, such as a broken window. This is because your car insurance policy only covers the physical damage to your vehicle, not the loss of your personal belongings.

Your car insurance policy might cover vandalism, however, if someone breaks your car window to steal something. You'll need to file a claim under your car insurance's comprehensive coverage for the broken window.

Renting a car can be a necessary evil if your vehicle is in the shop for repairs or totaled. Rental car reimbursement is an optional coverage that pays for your rental car expenses up to the policy limit for a certain number of days.

If you have rental car reimbursement, you'll be able to cover the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced. This can be a huge relief, especially if you need to get around for work or other important activities.

Comprehensive coverage will only cover your car, not any personal items left inside, such as electronics or valuables. So be sure to remove any valuable items from your car before it's repaired or replaced.

Typical wear and tear, like a malfunctioning Bluetooth speaker with age, isn't covered by your car insurance.

If electronic parts are damaged as the result of a crash or accident, they're likely to be covered.

If you hit an animal with your car, you're covered if you have comprehensive coverage. This type of coverage pays for damage to your car that isn't caused by a car crash.

You'll probably have to pay a deductible to get your car fixed. State law doesn’t allow your company to drop you if you file a claim for hitting an animal.

Punitive damages are additional compensation on top of the cost of the victim's losses. They're usually incurred for especially heinous crimes.

If you're sued by the victim party in an accident you caused, your liability coverage may not extend to punitive damages. This means you may be personally responsible for paying them.

Punitive damages can be required by a judge for things like driving while intoxicated, which caused severe injury to the other driver.

If your car is totaled in a covered accident, auto insurance will typically pay you your car's value after depreciation, up to the policy limits.

You might be left with a remaining balance on your car loan, which can be a real challenge to deal with. If your car's worth is less than the outstanding balance on your car's loan, auto insurance will not cover the difference.

This means you would still be making loan payments on a car you can no longer drive, which can be a significant financial burden.

Only gap insurance, an auto policy endorsement, will pay the difference between your auto policy's limits and the remaining balance on your car loan.

Car insurance policies often include act-of-god exclusions that omit coverage for unpredictable events like hurricanes and floods.

If you have comprehensive insurance, it will cover some natural disasters, such as hail, landslides, and sinkholes.

However, some areas of the country may have exclusions for common natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes.

You should talk to your insurance provider if you have specific concerns about your policy's coverages.

Freeze and ice damage aren't considered natural disasters, so you can't file an insurance claim if your car battery dies from extreme cold.

It's essential to know what's covered and what's not to avoid surprise claim denials down the road.

Vehicle use and maintenance can have a significant impact on your car insurance coverage. Routine maintenance tasks like oil changes and tire rotations are not covered by your insurance policy.

You'll need to budget for these expenses separately, as they're considered normal wear and tear on your vehicle. If you neglect to perform these tasks, you may be more likely to experience damage that could be covered by your insurance.

Cosmetic issues like sun-damaged leather seats are also not covered by your insurance policy, so be sure to take steps to protect your vehicle's interior from the elements.

Driving an Unlisted Vehicle can be a real hassle if you're not aware of the rules. Your auto insurance policy will only cover the cars listed in your policy, so if you're driving a new car without adding it to your policy, it won't be covered for any losses.

If you're driving someone else's insured vehicle with their permission, you're typically covered under their auto policy's permissive use clause. Claims should be filed with their auto insurance company.

Racing is a high-risk activity that can be excluded from standard auto insurance coverage, so consider investing in motorsport event insurance to ensure you're protected.

Accidents that occur while racing or performing stunts can be costly to repair, and without proper coverage, you may be left with a hefty bill.

You should look into motorsport event insurance to safeguard against financial losses in the event of an accident during a racing or stunt event.

Off-roading can be a thrilling experience, but it's essential to understand how it affects your auto insurance coverage. Auto insurance may cover some types of off-roading, but it depends on your company.

Roadside assistance can be a lifesaver if you get stuck near a main road, and the cost to extract your vehicle is usually covered. However, accidents that occur as a result of high-risk driving specific to off-roading may not be covered.

A single-car rollover accident that occurred while racing through large dunes will likely be excluded from coverage.

Towing and Jumpstarts are two essential services that can save you from stressful situations on the road. You can add towing and jumpstart coverage to your standard auto insurance by purchasing roadside assistance for as little as $8 per year.

Towing services and jumpstarts are not typically included in standard auto insurance, so it's crucial to have a separate plan in place. A standalone roadside plan like AAA can provide additional benefits, but usually at a higher cost.

If you do find yourself stranded, roadside assistance can also cover winching, locksmith services, and fuel delivery. These extra perks can be a game-changer in emergency situations.

Routine maintenance is your responsibility, not your insurance provider's. This means you'll need to pay for regular oil changes and tire rotations out of pocket.

You're also on the hook for cosmetic issues that arise from normal wear and tear, such as sun-damaged leather seats.

If you file an insurance claim and the adjuster determines that the damage to your vehicle is from normal wear and tear, you'll have to pay for those repairs yourself.

Lemonade Car covers you in all 50 states and Canada, but you'll need other coverage when renting or borrowing a car in foreign countries like Mexico, Australia, China, or anywhere else.

You can usually get additional coverage through a rental company or your credit card company.

If you put more than $1,000 of custom parts into your car and they're damaged in an accident, car insurance coverage won't extend to them.

Car insurance may not cover custom parts, including spoilers and high-performance mufflers, if they're damaged in an accident.

You'll need to ask your insurance agent about supplemental coverage or custom parts and equipment insurance if you want protection for your car modifications.

This type of coverage can pay for the value of aftermarket and custom parts to your vehicle if your car is damaged in a covered accident.

If you're unsure about what's covered, it's always a good idea to review your policy with your insurance agent to avoid any surprises.

A deductible is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance compensates you.

Your deductible only applies to Collision and Comprehensive coverages, not other types of insurance.

If you have a Collision Coverage with a $1,000 deductible, you'll pay the body shop $1,000 after an accident, like when you rear end another driver.

The insurance company will then pay the remaining cost to repair the damage, which in this case is $5,500.

You'll pay the deductible each time you file a claim, so it's essential to choose a deductible amount that fits your budget and financial situation.

Your car's insurance policy won't cover personal items left inside, such as electronics or sunglasses, if they get stolen.

If you have a homeowners or renters policy, you can file a claim to see if it covers the loss of these items.

If you live with your parents, their policy might cover the things in your car, which is a nice bonus.

You can't rely on your auto policy to pay for stolen items, but you might be able to get reimbursed through another means.

If someone steals items from your car and it was the other driver's fault, their insurance should pay for the repairs, but only if you have collision coverage.

Driving for a rideshare company can be a useful way to generate income, but it's essential to understand that any losses incurred while transporting passengers or delivering orders will not be covered by your auto policy.

Any losses incurred while driving for Uber or Lyft won't be covered by your personal auto insurance because it's considered commercial activity, which is an excluded coverage.

Uber and Lyft provide some coverage for their drivers while the app is activated, but this coverage is usually only liability insurance.

Rideshare insurance may be a good option if you want more complete coverage while driving for a rideshare company.