Your driveway is just as important as the other structures on your property. Luckily, most insurance policies will cover or offer additional coverage to protect it. So, does standard homeowners insurance cover your driveway?
Home insurance covers driveway damage as long as the cause of the damage was due to one of the covered perils. The perils depend on the type of homeowners coverage you hold. Homeowners insurance will cover driveway damage under dwelling coverage A or other structures coverage B, depending on how your insurance company classifies your driveway.
The cause of the damage will also be assessed to determine if it is a qualifying event. Read the full article to understand what is covered and what is not. Determining what is covered and what isn’t can be confusing and can differ for each insurance policy. Below we outline the key details you need to know in case you find yourself in this exact situation.
- Homeowners insurance covers sudden unexpected events for driveways.
- Most natural disasters that cause damage to a driveway are not inherently covered.
- Homeowners can purchase additional endorsements to cover driveway damage.
Covered Driveway Damage
As a homeowner, it is important to first understand the incidents that are covered by your insurance policy. This will help you stay diligent in preventing driveway damage and determine if you need to purchase endorsements to cover excluded perils.
In most cases, homeowners insurance will cover driveway damage caused by a sudden unexpected event. This does not include natural disasters like flooding and earthquakes.
For example, if a tree were to suddenly fall and crack your driveway, this would be considered a sudden, unexpected event. Your homeowners insurance would cover the damage after your deductible is met. It would also be covered if it was damaged by a volcanic eruption, explosion, windstorm, hail, fire, smoke, vandalism, the weight of ice or snow, water damage, and more.
If your driveway leads to your home it is considered to be part of your home and will be covered by dwelling coverage A, as an attached deck would be. Driveways to outbuildings or other structures are covered under your unattached other structures coverage B which has much lower limits.
Driveway Damage Not Covered
Although homeowners insurance will cover sudden unexpected events, it will not cover every instance of such peril. There are special exclusions homeowners need to keep in mind. The most common exclusions are:
- Flood
- Earthquakes or other earth movements such as mudslides or mudflows
- War
- Neglect
- Ordinance or Law
- Normal wear and tear, deterioration
- Settling, Shrinking, Bulging or Expanding
- Intentional Loss
- Birds, Vermin, Rodents, Insects
- Animals Owned by Insured
Cracks from the earth shifting under the driveway would not be covered. As you can see above, earth movement is an excluded peril and cracks show up over time. Most of the list above excludes certain types of natural disasters. While this can be concerning for some, it is important to note that you can purchase special endorsements to cover your home and secondary structures from these types of losses.
Home insurance companies will not cover your drive if it is due for repair because of wear and tear. It is considered to be the responsibility of the homeowner to upkeep and maintain the whole property including the driveway
If the driveway leads to a building where business is conducted, there may not be any coverage. For example, you have a small garage and you run a woodworking shop out of it. The driveway leads from the road to the woodworking shop. Even though this is on your property with your home, the claim would be excluded because the driveway leads to a building used for business use.
What endorsements are available?
If you have determined that you want to purchase additional endorsements to protect your driveway and home from the unthinkable, you aren’t alone. Millions of insured add endorsements for this exact reason. But what endorsements are available? Below are common endorsements you can add along with their benefits.
Water backup coverage
Having this type of insurance is a great addition to any home as it will cover any damage that may occur to a house or driveway if a drain or sewer pipe backs up onto the property. If water gets onto a driveway and freezes in the winter, it can cause serious damage.
Equipment breakdown coverage
It is imperative that you consider this coverage if you have a home with a heated driveway. If the driveway’s heating system breaks down, this endorsement will assist in replacing it or cover the cost of its replacement.
Sinkhole coverage
As long as you live in an area where sinkholes are common, it may be a great idea to get an endorsement that covers the leveling, repair, and replacement of structures that have been damaged by sinkholes, including damage to your driveway.
Earthquake coverage
Another common event that is not covered without an endorsement is an earthquake. Depending on the severity of the earthquake, it can leave behind major damage to your home and driveway. Purchasing this endorsement can make a world of difference, especially if you live on or near an active fault line.
Preventing driveway damage
It isn’t possible to prevent a natural disaster from occurring, but you can take measures to prevent driveway damage from occurring. After all, an ounce of prevention can lead to a pound of cure. Try some of the following proactive measures to stay protected:
- Inspect surrounding trees regularly. Remove any dead or rotted trees before they fall on their own.
- Keep excess water away. Water damage can wreak havoc on your driveway. Ensure to keep as much runoff and excess water away from your asphalt as often as you can.
- Keep excess weight off the driveway. If you want to pile up pallets of heavy materials, or leave heavy equipment on your property, keep it off of your driveway. The excess weight can cause cracks and divots to occur.
- Proactively insure your home. Purchase additional endorsements to cover your property. Select the ones that make the most sense for your budget and geographical location.
There are several simple measures that you can take in order to reduce the likelihood of a peril occurring, as well as to save yourself thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Your driveway is covered
The next time you go to renew your homeowner’s insurance policy, be sure to check to see what damage is covered for your driveway and other structures and add more if necessary.
If more than 25% of the driveway is damaged does the insurance have to replace the whole driveway?
If not, it would not seem fair. Roofs with 25% damage requires the insurance company to do the whole roof because of the patchwork appearance.