homeowners insurance question?
My father has homeowners insurance that covers the exterior buildings around his house, like a garden shed/ covered carport.
this past weekend, a large snowfall provided too much weight for one building, and it collapsed. inside was a lawn mower and an antique automobile that dad has had since he was my age, and it was damaged by a metal beam. (think hot dog bun).
the insurance company is now saying that they will pay for the repair of the building and for a new lawnmower, but not the car itself. it was not fully restored, but it was in fair working condition (meaning the engine works and the auto does move).
does exterior building coverage also include everything inside, or does it have a limit?
is the insurance company trying to weasel out of paying my father? if so, who should I call? (I’m in NC).
please help! with good sources please!
HOMEowner insurance for HOMES (and the outbuildings…)
and
AUTOMOBILE insurance for your AUTOS (Antique Cars included)
Sorry, that’s just how it works.
You won’t get a dime in regard to that car. Don’t waste your money on an attorney. Talk to your state’s insurance commish, if you want more info.
Most insurance policies have a limit and you need a rider added to cover large, expensive items. Check with your insurance agent and re-read the policy to see what is covered. Anything else is really just guesswork since no one here knows what your policy states.
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Homeowners insurance does have a limit for outbuildings and does not include automobiles.
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Independent Agent
You need an attorney……..a solid value of the car must be established………
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Here’s the problem. Cars are usually covered by automobile insurance. If the car wasn’t registered, you wouldn’t have had it under such a policy.
However, a large item like an antique/non-running car would be treated like jewelry. It would need a rider specifically naming it and then he’d pay an extra fee per year.
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HOMEowner insurance for HOMES (and the outbuildings…)
and
AUTOMOBILE insurance for your AUTOS (antique cars included)
Sorry, that’s just how it works.
You won’t get a dime in regard to that car. Don’t waste your money on an attorney. Talk to your state’s insurance commish, if you want more info.
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That is correct the car is not covered. That falls under your automobile collision.
Your dad should have added a rider to his homeowners to cover the car
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Homeowners insurance has an absolute exclusion on it for automobiles. On the standard policy, there ARE limits that apply to the building, and the contents.
They are not trying to weasel out - the car is flat out not covered. It doesn’t matter if it’s registered or not, it doesn’t matter if it’s drivable or not. If you want coverage for your non-registered vehicle in storage, for something falling on it, you can BUY that coverage - on an auto policy.
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Homeowners insurance does not cover motor vehicles (antique or not). Those must be insured under an auto policy.
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I’m in NC and I just looked at my policy and it explicitly states,
We do not cover: MOTOR VEHICLES, except,
We do cover motor vehicles not required to be registered for use on public roads or property
which are:
(a) Used solely to service an insured’s residence, or
(b) Designed to assist the handicapped,
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Automobiles are specifically excluded from coverage under the homeowners policy.
The only way the car would be covered is if Dad had an automobile policy on the car with comprehensive coverage.
Does not matter if the car was restored, running, registered. Automobiles are excluded. All automobiles.
For example: the car your dad drives to work every day is parked in the attached garage. A fire erupts and the house burns down….with the car in the garage. The homeowners policy will not cover the car. Does not matter that the car was parked in the garage… it’s specifically excluded. Even if the car was parked in the middle of the kitchen and being used as a kitchen table….the car is specifically excluded from coverage.
If Dad did not have an auto policy with comprehensive coverage on the car ….he’s S.O.L.
Hiring an attorney will not change this.
Cars are not the same as jewelry ….you can not endorse them onto the homeowners policy. You can not add them to the homeowners with a rider.
If you want proof….go get a copy of your Dad’s insurance policy and read it. Under the Coverage C (contents) you will see that it specifically excludes automobiles.
If the car is a classic car…then you insure it under a stated value automobile policy.
CARS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE HOMEOWNERS POLICY IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
As far as outbuildings - there is a limit on those. Usually, outbuildings are covered up to 10% of the Coverage A limit.
If you look at your policy you will see a coverage listed as Coverage B. That is the amount to cover ALL outbuildinds. That is not a per outbuilding amount….that is for all outbuildings and Dad’s deductible will apply.
You can also go sit down and talk to Dad’s agent. He can also show you the homeowners policy and the coverage B limit that Dad has.
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Insurance Adjuster
homeinsurance.awardspace.us - try this one. Got my home insurance from them. As I know they provide such a service.
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Yeah I’m going to have to agree with the other posters here, you’re not likely to see any coverage for the auto in this example. But since a claim is being filed on the building anyway, you’ll know the answer from the insurance company directly in any case. I just wouldn’t count on them paying anything towards the car damage.
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