Does my auto insurance cover bullet holes?

Auto insurance covers accidents on the roads, but what about other damage? Does auto insurance cover bullet holes? While standard insurance does not usually cover bullet damage, comprehensive coverage does.

Below, discover how to purchase comprehensive insurance that covers bullet holes and read about the cost to repair bullet holes in a car.

After learning how to buy auto insurance that covers bullet holes, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to compare rates from the top companies near you.

Does auto insurance cover bullet holes?

Some auto insurance policies do cover bullet holes and damage caused by a shooting. However, it depends on state laws where you live, the types of coverage you invest in, and how the damage occurred.

For example, your state minimum liability coverage does not cover bullet holes in your own vehicle.

It only covers the medical and property damage you cause to a third party if you’re ever found at fault for an accident. Instead, you must invest in comprehensive auto insurance.

Comprehensive coverage, also known as parked car coverage, pays for unexpected and unavoidable damage to your car while it is parked.

This includes auto theft and damage from acts of nature, animals, riots, vandalism, fires, and flooding.

Do you have to pay a deductible to file a claim for bullet holes?

A deductible also applies, typically around $500, but you can choose higher or lower limits.

Bullet holes are usually caused by an event outside of your control, so companies typically view this as a form of vandalism or something similar.

Find your state in the table below to see how much quotes for comprehensive auto insurance that covers bullet holes may cost you annually on average.

Nationally, comprehensive auto insurance rates cost $12.33 per month or $148.08 annually on average.

But where can you buy auto insurance that covers bullet holes? Does Progressive cover bullet holes? What about other insurers? Does Geico cover bullet holes as well?

Fortunately, yes. You should have no issue finding an auto insurance company that covers bullet holes, as almost all of the national insurance companies underwrite comprehensive insurance policies.

However, no matter what company you use to file a claim, the cost of the damage must exceed your deductible amount.

Finally, if you’re wondering if having bullet holes in a car is illegal, don’t worry. You can still drive a car even if it has a bullet hole in it.

When should I file an auto insurance claim for bullet holes?

Filing multiple insurance claims sometimes causes your rates to increase. So there are times when it doesn’t make sense to file one.

Most drivers are better off paying for minor repairs out of pocket rather than filing claims.

But, fortunately, non-fault comprehensive claims typically do not affect your rates as negatively as at-fault claims.

So, when it comes to bullet holes, you should file a claim if the cost of damage exceeds your comprehensive insurance deductible limits.

Cosmetic bullet hole damage typically costs around $50 to $150 to repair and might not be worth a claim.

If the repair costs are less than your deductible, your insurance company will not pay you anything.

For those wondering how to fix bullet holes in a car, mechanics may use a spot weld to patch the back of the hole, or they may use replacement panels, or parts painted the same color as your vehicle.

However, if the bullet damages your air bags, the vehicle upholstery, or other vital mechanical elements of your car, the costs may exceed $5,000. In this scenario, filing a claim makes sense.

While selecting higher deductibles leads to cheaper monthly insurance rates, be careful not to choose limits that are so high you’re negating the utility of the policy.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average claim cost for comprehensive insurance in 2020 was $1,995.

Does auto insurance cover a shooting?

Finding a bullet hole in your parked vehicles is one thing. But does auto insurance cover a shooting?

Auto insurance laws vary by state, so where you live impacts if your auto insurance policy covers you when you’re the victim of a shooting.

For example, in 1994, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a drive-by shooting victim was entitled to medical benefits from his father’s personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance policy.

However, PIP coverage is traditionally only underwritten and required in no-fault states like New Jersey. In most tort states, the coverage is not even available.

Plus, similar lawsuits followed the 1994 court ruling in other locations, and some state courts ruled against the shooting victims.

In some states, uninsured motorist coverage may help cover damages caused by a shooting or other road rage incidents, but again, it depends on the hit-and-run laws where you live.

For more individualized information, speak with a legal expert in your area.

Does auto insurance cover bullet holes: The Bottom Line

Typically, auto insurance covers bullet holes that appear on your parked car as long as you invest in comprehensive coverage.

Fortunately, comprehensive coverage is both affordable and available in every state.

However, state laws impact when and how auto insurance covers shootings, bullet holes, and other potential hit-and-run scenarios. So when in doubt, speak to a reputable legal expert near you.

Now that you’ve compared affordable auto insurance that covers bullet holes, secure your best auto insurance coverage by entering your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below.