Fact or Fiction: Your Car Insurance Will Also Cover Your Pet if You’re Involved in an Accident

We all love our pets. They’re part of the family, and even thinking about anything bad happening to them can be distressing in and of itself. But being prepared for the worst can dull the sting of it, in the event anything were to happen.

If you have a pet, you should consider researching coverage available for pets with auto claims. In addition, you should check your policy and see if your pets are covered with your car insurance. This article will delve into what might happen if your pet was injured with you in a car accident.

What factors determine whether your pet will be covered in a car accident?

Your pet may be covered under your policy if they were in the car with you during an accident, but that depends on several factors:

  • Your policy: Some insurance companies will automatically cover your pet if they’re in a car accident with you, and some will not. Some companies have policies available for this specific type of coverage for an extra fee, and some will tack it on if you ask. Check your individual policy for details.
  • Type of pet: Unfortunately, most policies that cover pets in the event of a car crash limit their coverage to cats and dogs. This means they won’t cover birds, reptiles, fish or other, more exotic pets.
  • Who is at fault: If you’re the one at fault in the accident, there’s a reduced chance that your policy will cover injuries to your pets, though it’s still possible. If you’re not at fault, insurance companies will often list injuries to your pets under “property damage” (as technical as that may seem), and you’ll be reimbursed for medical bills and other costs incurred up to a certain point.
  • How bad the damage is: We just touched on how your pets are considered your “property,” and insurance companies frequently put a cap on how much can be paid out for property damage, usually in the realm of $500 to $1,000. Anything above that and you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket.
  • If you already have pet insurance: You might have already chosen to invest in pet insurance to help with medical bills, vet visits and any additional necessary procedures. Most pet insurance policies cover injuries sustained in accidents, and this would usually include car accidents. This is not universal, though, and you’ll want to check your pet insurance policy to make sure your pet would be covered in the event of a car accident.

Your car insurance will cover your pet if you’re both involved in a car accident

Despite the stipulations listed above, you could probably work something out with your insurance agent if you like to travel in the car with your cat or dog a lot and would like to have some protection against any accidents that might occur.

Call to discuss insuring your pet in case of a car accident today

Learning about coverage available for pets with auto claims is one facet of being a responsible pet owner. The team at Affordable Car Insurance Tampa would love to talk with you about a policy that sufficiently covers you and your pet. We understand how important it is to you that your pets are covered with your car insurance policy, and we’d be happy to explore that option with you. Call today to arrange a consultation.

Byron Johnson Blog Icon By: Byron Johnson