Does Insurance Cover Car Wash Damage? Cars need cleaning due to dust from winter driving and spring days, and car washes are an easy method to maintain cleanliness. Upon returning home, the driver-side door displays a mark, indicating potential damage from accidents during the car wash. This raises the question of whether insurance would cover car wash damage and other related expenses.
Insurance covers car wash damage, including comprehensive and collision coverage, and the cause. While collision and comprehensive coverage protect drivers from auto damage regardless of the cause. This article provides comprehensive information on how insurance covers car wash damage.
Coverage Types for Car Wash Damage
The extent of coverage for car wash damage is mostly determined by the particular insurance policy you already possess. Auto insurance provides financial coverage against potential losses resulting from theft, vandalism, accidents, and other unforeseen circumstances. Car wash damage can be a more complicated situation, even though it usually covers damage from collisions or theft.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage is a coverage type that covers non-collision events like fire, vandalism, theft, falling objects, and natural disasters. If it meets the requirements of the insurance, it can also cover damage sustained during a car wash. Moreover, examining the policy’s precise terms and conditions is essential.
Collision coverage
Your car is protected against harm from collisions with other cars or objects by collision coverage. Most vehicle washes are not responsible for damage, but they can be held liable if it occurs there. Therefore, this makes it difficult to claim collision coverage.
How Does Car Wash Damage Happen?
Car washes may harm vehicles in a number of ways. The first is when your antennae or side mirrors get damaged after you collide with another vehicle or an object in the car wash. Car wash brushes can cause paint scraping and scratches, while broken mirrors can result from equipment falling onto the vehicle.
Furthermore, soap from the car wash may erode the paint and polish of your vehicle over time. The harsh chemicals used in the cleaning products used by many car washes and auto detailers can range in price from $5,000 to $20,000 each year. Although these chemicals keep your car looking new, they might cause long-term damage.
How Will My Insurance Cover Car Wash Damage?
Auto insurance packages cover a variety of coverage categories, including damage to your vehicle and other drivers in collisions. Your collision and liability coverage will cover the damage to your vehicle at a car wash, up to the policy’s limitations. Additionally, you can submit a claim to your insurance provider to have the expense of fixing any damage to your vehicle that is not your fault, such as fallen objects or a broken windshield. If the car wash is found to be at fault, insurance companies may subrogate the costs in court to make sure the insured is compensated.
When Your Insurance Can Cover Car Wash Damage
Auto insurance covers repairs for accidents caused by your negligence, such as a collision with another automobile. However, the insurance company’s willingness to cover the damage depends on the type of coverage you purchase. Most states mandate liability insurance, which covers harm to another person or property and includes comprehensive and collision insurance, with some cases requiring a deductible.
What Should I Do If a Car Wash Damages My Vehicle?
If your car gets damaged during a car wash, you should first examine your car’s exterior and interior for damage before you leave the car wash so you can report it immediately. It will be challenging to demonstrate the location and time of the damage if you wait until you arrive home. Inform the owner of the car wash of any issues you see so that an incident report can be completed. Lastly, take pictures of the damage and include as much information as you can for future purposes.
Factors That Affect Insurance for Car Wash Damage
The following circumstances may affect your eligibility to file a claim for vehicle damage from a car wash:
- Type of car wash: If human error plays a role in the damage, manual washes may have different consequences than automated ones.
- Negligence or fault: Your insurer may seek compensation from the car wash’s insurance if the owner is shown to have been careless (for example, by neglecting to maintain equipment).
- Pre-existing damages: If your car has suffered some damage, your insurer may contest claims for more damage from a car wash.
Who is Responsible for Car Wash Damage?
You are responsible for out-of-pocket expenses if you caused damage to a vehicle wash due to negligence or contempt for safety procedures. The car wash did not adhere to accepted safety procedures.
- The equipment was not adequately maintained by the car wash.
- The car wash failed to adequately train its staff.
- A piece of tool broke down or dropped onto your car.
- The car wash’s operating instructions were unclear and poorly marked.
These are some typical situations where the car wash owner could be responsible for any dents, scratches, or other damage to your automobile.
