What You Should Know
- If your vehicle is parked, damage caused by a landslide or mudslide is not covered unless you have optional comprehensive insurance
- If you hit something while driving, collision insurance may cover an accident caused by a landslide or mudslide, depending on the terms and conditions of your auto insurance policy
- Under comprehensive insurance coverage, damage caused by floods, earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, and mudflow is usually covered, and other disasters too
Regular homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage to the home or a parked vehicle from a landslide or mudslide. To cover a home, you need separate insurance policies for each type of disaster, including floods, earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, and mudflows.
In addition, you must add comprehensive vehicle insurance to cover all these risks.
Suppose you live in an area subject to flooding, water surge, and heavy rains. A landslide or mudslide could total your vehicle, so it is better to have affordable comprehensive auto insurance coverage.
Does auto insurance cover damage caused by a landslide or mudslide? Having comprehensive auto insurance could be helpful.
Auto Insurance Coverage for Landslides and Mudslides
Comprehensive auto insurance is optional. However, seven out of 10 people add comprehensive auto insurance coverage to their auto policies.
Depending on your policy terms and conditions, comprehensive auto insurance may cover losses resulting from these catastrophic events:
- landslides, falling object
- earthquakes
- mudslide or mudflow
- rainstorms, storm surges, and floods
- hailstorms
- fire
- theft
- vandalism
- damage by animals
- other natural disasters
When you understand the different types of auto insurance coverage and the benefits of having comprehensive coverage, you will probably want to have it.
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Comprehensive Insurance Coverage and Landslides
In this scenario, your vehicle will likely be totaled. If that is so, the coverage will be the cash value of your car, less the auto insurance deductible you pay out-of-pocket, up to the policy limit of comprehensive insurance coverage.
Comprehensive insurance coverage usually also covers damage to a vehicle caused by a sinkhole if it falls in.
Comprehensive auto insurance will not usually cover the value of any personal belongings left in a car if they are lost or damaged by a landslide. Usually, comprehensive auto insurance only covers features that are permanent parts of the vehicle, such as the stereo system.
There will not be coverage under comprehensive auto insurance for a child’s seat, wallet, purse, personal computer, or telephone if they get damaged or lost in a landslide. However, a homeowner or renter insurance policy may cover these items.
Comprehensive Coverage Does Not Pay Medical Expenses
When considering how much auto insurance coverage you need, you will likely want comprehensive coverage for the vehicle. However, be sure you understand that medical expenses for any person injured in the event will not be covered by comprehensive insurance.
For coverage of medical costs, you may need additional optional coverage such as personal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay.
Auto Insurance for Damage Caused by a Landslide or Mudslide: The Bottom Line
Comprehensive insurance offers significant coverage for many perils that could damage your vehicle. This insurance protection is very popular because it protects against adverse events.
If the expense is a concern, consider having the comprehensive with a higher deductible. Of course, if something terrible happens, you will have to pay the higher amount out-of-pocket. Still, if the damage is significant, you will appreciate having coverage for the excess amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the chances of a landslide in my state?
Landslides occur in every state. The USGS created a report called Landslide Inventories Across the United States and an interactive map that shows where they occur.
What is the difference between a landslide, mudslide, and mudflow?
The difference between these three categories is the increasing amount of water involved. A landslide has the least water, and a mudflow has the most, with a mudslide in the middle.
Does homeowners insurance cover vehicle damage caused by a landslide or mudslide?
Homeowners insurance does not usually cover the damage if your vehicle is damaged by a landslide or mudslide while parked in your driveway.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insurance…
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