Your summers are filled. You’ve got pool parties, picnics, and vacations. You’ve also got strong winds, hurricanes, and heavy rain.
Are you ready for it? Is your car ready? Do you have comprehensive auto insurance, a level of coverage that can save your finances from risks to your vehicle from the Georgia storm season?
Understanding Storm Risks in Georgia
The Georgia storm season is more than a summer occurrence. The most damaging weather event in the Peach State is the hurricane, whose season runs from early June into November. Springtime is tornado time, and high winds and torrential rains can happen most of the year. Even blizzards have struck Georgia in the northern part of the state, though they are thankfully rare.
The point is, storm damage can befall your vehicle just about year-round as you go about working and playing in Georgia.
What Does Comprehensive Auto Insurance Cover?
What do you think of when you imagine a car accident? One vehicle crashing into another on a street or highway? Well, that’s one way your car might be seriously damaged or even totaled — but it’s not the only way.
The standard accident between two or more vehicles while in motion is covered by your liability and collision benefits. Comprehensive covers everything else.
There are numerous ways your car might be lost, damaged, or totaled while it’s not even turned on or on the road with you behind the wheel. It could be stolen or vandalized. Damaged or destroyed in a house fire that spreads to your attached garage. Battered or swept away by high winds or hail damage.
Your comprehensive benefits will even cover collisions with deer or other wildlife, which in Georgia might include coyotes, bobcats, and black bears, among others.
You’re also covered through comprehensive if those tornado or hurricane winds toss your car off the road while you’re trying to drive. Or drop tree limbs on your vehicle, causing thousands of dollars in damage. And if you have flood damage from storm surge, you don’t need separate flood insurance — it’s covered by your comprehensive.
Bottom line, you’re covered against numerous risks from the weather and other causes you can’t even imagine if you have comprehensive benefits.
Is Your Current Auto Policy Enough?
Sure … if it includes comprehensive and collision coverage.
Together with liability, these two benefits make up a full coverage insurance plan. You’re protected whether the damage happens when your ride is in motion, parked by the side of the road, or tucked away in your garage.
If, to save money, you’ve bought the minimal legal level of auto insurance, you’re not covered for loss or damage in the Georgia storm season. In fact, this minimal level of coverage — liability — only covers others if you are the cause of an accident or related damages.
Liability does not cover your own vehicle if it’s stolen, or damaged in an at-fault collision, or in a weather event, or by other cause.
How to Prepare Before Storm Season Hits
First, know what you’re up against. Different weather events are more likely to occur in some parts of the state than in others.
Then read your policy and get a better understanding of what you’re actually protected against. Know your deductible. That’s the amount of money you agree to pay out of your own pocket before your coverage kicks in. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium — but the bigger the hit to your bank account if you do need to make a major weather-related claim.
Reach out to a knowledgeable and helpful neighborhood auto insurance agent if you have questions or doubts. Your agent can help you interpret your policy, run the numbers, and determine the right level of deductible for your budget and peace of mind.
If you feel like your coverage has left you exposed to the Georgia storm season or other risks, ask your agent about comprehensive auto insurance and other ways to maximize your financial protection with affordable coverage.