It seems strange, but cars are an ideal location for small animals to get cozy. Rodents are small animals like mice, rats, squirrels and chipmunks that can sneak into your car and cause large amounts of damage. Does auto insurance cover rodent damage? Here\u2019s how to identify rodent damage, what coverage you need and how to prevent it in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodents can find all sorts of ways to enter your car and cause many different types of damages. But why do they come into your car in the first place? They may be looking for food, to escape the cold or to seek shelter from predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, rodents make for pretty terrible tenants. These small animals can cause big damage. Here are some common spots to look for rodent damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A rodent\u2019s teeth constantly grow- that\u2019s why they need to chew on things to file them down. A rodent\u2019s instinct is to seek out and chew on twigs and plant matter, but your car\u2019s wiring harness is close substitute. They can easily chew through and destroy wires, fluid lines and other essential parts of your car. Damage often occurs in hard to reach areas, so it\u2019s difficult to notice until your car has an electrical problem or fluid leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Foam insulation helps keep heat and noise out of your car, but rodents like to use it to build nests. If you notice missing chunks of foam, you may have a rodent problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodents may seek out your car as a shelter from the cold or from predators. They can nest inside of your bumper, your engine bay and even underneath your carpet and seats. Droppings, nesting materials, small scratches, unusual odors and stockpiled food can indicate a rodent has moved in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A typical auto insurance policy covers medical expenses, bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Having \u201cfull coverage\u201d means you have collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to your liability coverage. Collision and comprehensive coverages help pay for damages to your car. They\u2019re optional coverages, but may be required by the lender if you finance or lease your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your auto insurance will cover rodent damage if you have comprehensive coverage. This is an optional insurance coverage that pays for damage to your car not related to a collision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodent damage falls under comprehensive coverage. You must carry comprehensive coverage for insurance to pay for any damage caused by rodents in your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some scenarios where rodent damage would be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t