Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Car Break-Ins?

When a vehicle is broken into, a concern is whether homeowners insurance covers damages or stolen items. Homeowners insurance policies protect a dwelling and its contents from various perils, and provide liability coverage. These policies cover the physical structure of a home, other structures like detached garages, and personal belongings within the home.

A homeowners policy also extends protection to personal property, even when items are not physically located within the home. This helps determine what might be covered following a car break-in.

Homeowners Insurance and Personal Property

Homeowners insurance offers coverage for personal belongings stolen from a vehicle during a break-in, known as “off-premises coverage.” This means items are protected even when away from your primary residence, such as in your car, during travel, or at a temporary location. This policy aspect applies to the personal items themselves, not the vehicle from which they were stolen.

Coverage for personal property away from home comes with specific limitations. The off-premises coverage limit is a percentage of your total personal property coverage, commonly around 10%. For example, if your policy provides $100,000 in total personal property coverage, coverage for items stolen away from home might be limited to $10,000. Review your policy for the exact percentage and maximum payout.

Policies include deductibles, the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance coverage begins. Homeowners insurance deductibles range from $500 to $2,000, though some policies may have deductibles up to $5,000. If the value of stolen items does not exceed your deductible, filing a claim might not result in a significant payout.

Homeowners insurance policies have “sub-limits” for certain high-value items. This means a maximum amount the insurer will pay for specific categories, regardless of the overall personal property limit. Common sub-limits for stolen jewelry, furs, and precious stones are around $1,500, while firearms might be limited to $2,500, and electronics like computers or laptops could be capped at $1,000 to $1,500. Items permanently installed in the car, such as a car stereo or custom modifications, are not covered under homeowners insurance.

Auto Insurance and Vehicle Coverage

While homeowners insurance may cover personal items stolen from a vehicle, it does not cover damage to the vehicle itself or its theft. This protection falls under an auto insurance policy, specifically comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage protects a vehicle from non-collision incidents, including theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and damage from falling objects.

For a car break-in, comprehensive coverage covers the cost of repairing vehicle damage, such as a broken window, damaged door locks, or a vandalized dashboard. It also applies if the entire vehicle is stolen, covering its actual cash value, minus your deductible. Without comprehensive coverage, the vehicle owner is solely responsible for these repair or replacement costs.

Similar to homeowners insurance, comprehensive auto insurance policies have a deductible that must be paid before the insurer covers remaining costs. Common comprehensive deductibles are $250, $500, or $1,000, though they can range up to $2,000. Choosing a higher deductible results in a lower premium, but means a larger out-of-pocket expense if a claim is filed.

Other types of auto insurance coverage, such as liability or collision coverage, do not apply in a car break-in scenario. Liability coverage addresses damages or injuries you cause to others, while collision coverage handles damage to your vehicle from an accident. Comprehensive coverage is the specific component of an auto policy that addresses incidents associated with car break-ins.

Filing an Insurance Claim

When a car break-in occurs, taking immediate steps can streamline the insurance claim process. The first action is to report the incident to the police. Obtaining an official police report, including a report number, is a requirement for insurance companies to process any claim related to theft or vandalism.

Documenting the scene is another important step. This involves taking clear photographs or videos of the vehicle damage, such as broken windows or damaged locks, and the area where the break-in occurred. These visual records provide evidence to support your claim. Create a detailed inventory of all items stolen from the vehicle.

This inventory should include descriptions of each stolen item, their approximate values, and any available proof of ownership, such as receipts, serial numbers, or photographs. A specific and verifiable list helps the claims adjustment process. This documentation helps substantiate the loss to your insurer.

After gathering this information, contact the relevant insurance providers to initiate the claim. If personal belongings were stolen, contact your homeowners insurance company. For damage to the vehicle itself or its theft, contact your auto insurance provider. Provide them with the police report number, your detailed inventory, and any visual documentation you collected. Understanding your policy’s deductible and how it applies to your payout is important, as the insurer will subtract this amount from the approved claim total.