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Does Car Insurance Cover Flat Tires?

Flat tires can increase your car’s repair expenses. Suppose your car’s getting repaired, and if your car insurance does not cover your car’s flat tires, then you will have to pay for it out of pocket.

On average, it takes $20 to $50 to replace a flat tire. If you use more expensive tires, then it may exceed $100 to $200 or more. So, if you need to replace all 4 tires, then it will cost you a few hundred dollars. The point is, while your car insurance covers every other repair expense, wouldn’t it be convenient if it also covered the flat tires?

Generally, car insurance does not cover flat tires for gradual wear and tear, however there are certain conditions in which your car insurance will pay for flat tires. Let’s break down when your car insurance might cover flat tires and when it won’t.

When Does Car Insurance Cover Flat Tires?

Typically, car insurance is designed to cover accidental damage, not regular wear and tear that requires routine maintenance. So, your car insurance will only cover flat tire damages, if you’re involved in an accident, or if it meets certain conditions specified in the following.

Hits a Pothole

If your car’s tires get damaged by accidentally hitting a pothole, then it will be considered a no-fault accident which is covered by collision auto insurance. Collision insurance is a type of optional auto insurance which you will have to add to your insurance policy. The insurance coverage will pay for the tire’s repair and replacement costs.

Crashes with Another Vehicle

If your car crashes with another vehicle, whether you’re at-fault or not, you can use your collision auto insurance to repair or replace your flat tires. However, if the other driver is at-fault for the accident, then their liability auto insurance coverage will pay for the repair and replacement costs of your flat tires, and vice versa.

On the other hand, if the other driver is uninsured/underinsured then your uninsured/underinsured (UI/UM) insurance coverage will pay for your flat tire’s repair costs.

Even when it comes to covering flat tires, you need to have a combination of multiple car insurance coverages. Here in Michigan PLPD Insurance is a reliable auto insurance agency providing a wide variety of car insurance coverage required to financially cover your flat tires. Additionally, you can explore our regional offices in Michigan located in Flint, Saginaw and Mt Pleasant.

Tire Gets Slashed

Acts of vandalism include slashing tires. So, if your car’s tire gets slashed to the point it's badly damaged or punctured then your comprehensive auto insurance will cover the damage for the flat tires. Similar to the other auto insurance coverages, the comprehensive auto insurance coverage will pay for the repair and replacement expenses of your flat tires.

Gets Stolen

If your car gets stolen, and if it’s recovered but you notice significant damage including flat tires, then you can claim your comprehensive auto insurance to cover the tire’s repair and replacement costs. As comprehensive auto insurance covers financial protection from theft, it also covers any damages upon retrieving the vehicle after it’s stolen.

Gets Damaged in a Natural Disaster, or Fire Hazard

Accidents like natural disasters such as flood, earthquake, tsunami, hailstorm, among others can badly damage your car and even your tires. Apart from that, fire hazards can burn and severely damage your tires.

Typically, all these situations are beyond your control. These accidents are inevitable and can happen at any time. So, to ensure that your tires are financially covered, you should consider adding comprehensive auto insurance coverage to your policy.

Accidentally Hitting a Large Animal

Deer accidents are common in various locations throughout the U.S especially in West Virginia, Montana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Just like car insurance covers flat tires, it also covers accidentally hitting a deer. So, if your tires get damaged upon accidentally colliding with a deer, or any other large animal your comprehensive auto insurance will cover its repair and replacement fees.

When Car Insurance Won’t Cover Flat Tires?

When it comes to car insurance covering flat tires, it mainly depends on the situation along with the terms and conditions specified in your auto insurance policy. Apparently, there are situations and conditions when your car insurance won’t cover flat tires which includes the following mentioned and explained below.

Wear and Tear

As it was mentioned earlier, if your car’s tires get damaged due to gradual wear and tear then it won’t get covered by your car insurance policy. The main condition to claim auto insurance coverage for flat tires is, it is only applicable for any kind of accidental damage or unexpected event.

Poor Maintenance

Maintaining your car and its tires is part of routine vehicle ownership. If a tire gets damaged due to poor maintenance like underinflation, worn-out tread, or failure to rotate regularly your insurance won’t cover the cost. In such cases, the damage is seen as preventable, and insurance providers typically deny claims related to owner negligence.

Manufacturer’s Defect

If the car has manufacturing defects leading to tire damage, then it won’t be covered by your car insurance policy. Typically, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to address and compensate any manufacturing defects.

So, if you’re experiencing tire issues due to manufacturer’s defect, you should consult with the auto shop, or the manufacturer to claim warranty (if it’s still applicable). Or you can even write to the company’s management to inform them of the manufacturing defect.

How to Change Flat Tire?

Changing a tire may seem like a lot of hard work, and it may even seem difficult but with proper guidelines, and the right set of tools, it’s quite easy. Before getting started, make sure that you have the following tools such as:

Car jack
Spare tire
Lug wrench
Portable tire inflator
Flat head screwdriver
Pressure gauge

Here are the steps to change a flat tire.

Loosen the lug nut with your lug wrench
Place the jack right beneath the flat tire, and raise your car
Remove the lug nut and pull out the flat tire
Bring the spare tire, and carefully install it
Attach the lug nuts and tighten them
Lower the vehicle and remove the move the car jack away
Test the tire pressure using a pressure gauge to ensure the tire has fit properly

Get Roadside Assistance Insurance for Financial Protection from Flat Tires
Roadside assistance is one of cheapest optional add-on auto insurance coverages. Roadside assistance is especially helpful when you need someone to replace your car’s tire.

Suppose your car breaks down in the middle of the road, with roadside assistance facility, you can seamlessly call for roadside assistance and have your flat tire(s) replaced. While the service is free, you may need to buy another tire.

However, the price of the tire may not be covered by roadside assistance coverage, you will have to pay that out of pocket. Usually, the average tires last for 6 to 10 years, but accidents are inevitable.

So, even if you run into an accident leading to tire damage, you can still get financial coverage for the road assistance service.

Final Thoughts: Can Car Insurance Help with Flat Tires?

Yes, car insurance can help with flat tires but only if the tires get damaged in an accident or unprecedented incident. As car insurance covers flat tires for accidental damage, it is crucial to know which auto insurance coverage you need.

If you want to keep your cars financially covered against accidental damage or expected events it is recommended that you consider purchasing liability auto insurance commonly known as PLPD insurance here in Michigan, comprehensive auto insurance, collision auto insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and roadside assistance insurance.

If you need help determining car insurance coverage and limits best fit to cover your car’s tires, then you should contact us to get a free quote and consultation with our auto insurance experts today.

FAQs

Is a flat tire covered under auto insurance?

It depends, a flat tire is covered under auto insurance only if it gets damaged in an accident or unforeseeable incidents such as natural disasters, fire outbreaks etc. If your tire needs repairing or replacement due to regular wear and tear, manufacture defect or poor maintenance, it won’t get by your auto insurance policy.

Can I file an insurance claim for a flat tire?

Yes, you can file an insurance claim for a flat tire, but you need to have the right auto insurance coverage to make your claim. If your car collides with an object, pothole, or another vehicle then you need to have collision auto insurance to claim insurance. If it’s due to theft, vandalism, fire hazard or any natural disaster then you need to have comprehensive auto insurance.