Does insurance cover flat tires?
Although insurance doesn’t cover flat tires, it does cover some tire damage if you have the proper coverages. Collision coverage pays for tire damage from accidents or potholes while comprehensive pays for tire theft or vandalism like slashed tires.
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Licensed Agent for 15 Years
Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states. After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health insuran...
Rachael Brennan
Former Auto Insurance Claims Manager
Chris Harrigan has an economic degree from Limestone College and an MBA from Clemson University. He previously managed auto insurance claims for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Currently, he is using his business and insurance expertise to provide insurance data analysis and visualizations to enhance the user experience.
Chris Harrigan
Updated March 2022
- Typically, car insurance does not cover flat tires
- Collision and comprehensive insurance covers tire damage from potholes, theft, and vandalism
- Full coverage insurance is more expensive but offers protection for your vehicle and tires
Having a flat tire is a headache and can throw off your entire day. Not to mention, repairing or replacing a tire is expensive.
Does insurance cover flat tires? Coverage depends on exactly what happened to your tire. While some damages are covered, a flat tire from normal wear and tear isn’t covered.
If your tire is flat due to a pothole or vandalism, you need full coverage car insurance to handle the damages. In addition, roadside assistance coverage sends a technician to change your tire for you.
Although full coverage is more expensive, it offers more protection for you and your vehicle. You can also save money on full coverage by adding discounts and shopping around for the best rates.
Keep reading to learn more about when insurance covers flat tires and how to save on full coverage car insurance.
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Does insurance cover flat tires?
Cars are significant investments and require regular maintenance to run smoothly. This includes your tires as well. For example, keeping your tires inflated properly and rotating them when needed reduces flat tires and other issues.
Tire maintenance is very important. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 612 car crash fatalities were tire-related in 2019.
Not only will properly maintaining your tires save you money, but it can also save your life. To avoid dangerous tire problems, inspect and rotate them regularly, inspect your wheels and alignment, and drive safely.
If your tire is flat because of normal wear and tear or from neglect, your car insurance won’t cover repairs or a replacement tire.
Does insurance cover a nail in a tire? Unfortunately, car insurance doesn’t cover tire damage from a nail. Although car insurance won’t help, a tire warranty might.
Is a flat tire covered under warranty? If you purchased a warranty with your tires, it might cover damages your car insurance won’t. However, each warranty is different, so you’ll need to examine your paperwork closely to find out what is covered.
Although car insurance won’t cover a flat tire, roadside assistance will change your tire if you have a spare. So while the cost of a new tire won’t be covered, you will be back on the road again.
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When does car insurance cover tire damage?
Even though flat tires aren’t covered, car insurance will cover some tire damages if you have the proper coverages. Full coverage car insurance offers liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages.
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Collision insurance covers damages to your vehicle from an accident. That includes hitting potholes or damage to the body of your car from a flat tire or blowout. In addition, collision pays if an accident damages your tires.
On the other hand, comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your car unrelated to an accident, such as theft, vandalism, and acts of nature. So, for example, comprehensive coverage pays to replace your stolen tires.
Does car insurance cover slashed tires? Yes, comprehensive insurance covers vandalism, including slashed tires.
How many tires does insurance cover if slashed? An urban legend says car insurance only covers a certain amount of slashed tires. That’s simply not true. Comprehensive covers slashed tires regardless of how many.
However, if you have custom wheels or rims, you may need additional coverage. Since custom parts are expensive, costs may exceed your comprehensive coverage limits.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay your deductible before car insurance pays for your tires. In some cases, your deductible may be more than repairing or replacing the tire yourself. In addition, your car insurance rates may increase after filing a claim.
So carefully consider costs before filing an insurance claim for tire damage.
How much is car insurance coverage that covers tire damage?
Most states require drivers carry at least liability coverage. However, liability only covers property damage and bodily injuries to others in an accident. It doesn’t offer protection for you or your car.
What does full coverage car insurance include?
As we’ve discussed, collision and comprehensive coverages pay for damages to your vehicle. Full coverage combines liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages and offers the most protection for your car.
While full coverage offers the most protection, it also costs the most. This table shows average car insurance rates from top companies based on the type of coverage.
| Company | Average Annual Rate for Low Coverage | Average Annual Rate for Medium Coverage | Average Annual Rate for High Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $4,628.03 | $4,896.81 | $5,139.02 |
| American Family | $3,368.49 | $3,544.37 | $3,416.40 |
| Farmers | $3,922.47 | $4,166.22 | $4,494.13 |
| GEICO | $3,001.91 | $3,213.97 | $3,429.14 |
| Liberty Mutual | $5,805.75 | $6,058.57 | $6,356.04 |
| Nationwide | $3,394.83 | $3,449.80 | $3,505.37 |
| Progressive | $3,737.13 | $4,018.46 | $4,350.96 |
| State Farm | $3,055.40 | $3,269.80 | $3,454.80 |
| Travelers | $4,223.63 | $4,462.02 | $4,619.07 |
| USAA | $2,404.11 | $2,539.87 | $2,667.92 |
Full coverage rates aren’t that much higher than liability-only coverage. For example, GEICO rates only increase by $35 a month for full coverage.
Although full coverage rates are low, does GEICO insurance cover flat tires? GEICO covers tires the same as other car insurance companies. Flat tires are typically not covered, but damaged tires are covered.
In addition to full coverage, consider adding roadside assistance to your policy. While it doesn’t pay for tire damage, it covers a service technician changing your tire.
Does Insurance Cover Flat Tires?: What You Need To Know
Car insurance doesn’t usually cover flat tires, but it does cover damaged tires. Drivers are expected to pay for damages from normal wear and tear or negligence if tires aren’t maintained properly. In addition, your tire warranty may pay for specific damages.
However, collision and comprehensive insurance cover tire damage from accidents, potholes, theft, and vandalism. Since most states require liability coverage, combine it with collision and comprehensive for full coverage.
While full coverage car insurance is more expensive, it offers more protection for your vehicle. Also, add roadside assistance to cover changing your tire if it is flat or damaged.
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