Updated: September 15, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Homeowners insurance does not cover a damaged vehicle, whether it’s in your driveway, at a parking lot or on the road. You need auto insurance to protect your car from sudden accidents.
While homeowners insurance liability coverage protects assets like your vehicle from lawsuits, it does not cover any physical damage to the vehicle.
When a covered peril damages both your home and car, you'll need to file separate claims with your homeowners and auto insurance providers.
Homeowners insurance doesn't cover vehicles parked in your driveway, regardless of the cause of damage or loss. Your home policy only protects your dwelling and personal belongings inside the house, not any vehicles on your property.
Vehicles need their own dedicated auto insurance policy because they face different risks than homes do. Auto policies protect against vehicle-related perils like collisions, theft and weather damage that home policies exclude.
Only auto insurance protects vehicles parked in your driveway. This policy is specifically designed to safeguard against vehicle-related risks that homeowners insurance excludes. You'll pay a deductible (the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance coverage begins) for comprehensive and collision claims, which typically ranges from $250 to $1,000.
Auto insurance protects against these common risks to vehicles:
Auto insurance covers your vehicle if it's stolen from your driveway, including potential recovery or replacement costs.
If your parked car is hit by another vehicle while in your driveway, auto insurance covers the resulting damage.
When storms, floods, falling trees or other natural events damage your car while parked at home, auto insurance provides protection.
Auto insurance covers repair costs if someone damages your vehicle through keying, breaking windows or other malicious acts.
If your vehicle causes injury or property damage to others, the liability portion of your auto insurance (which has no deductible) pays for medical expenses, repairs and potential legal costs up to your policy limits.
State minimum auto insurance covers liability only. It doesn't pay for theft, vandalism, or weather damage to a vehicle parked in your driveway. Comprehensive and collision coverage, often called full coverage, protects against these risks.
Homeowners insurance excludes vehicles of any type, even when stored on your property. Several vehicle categories need their own dedicated policy:
While home insurance does not cover car damage or even car theft, it does cover theft from cars and your liability in lawsuits.
If your personal belongings are stolen from your vehicle in the driveway, in a parking lot, or on the road, homeowners insurance will pay to replace those items up to a specified value.
Personal belongings such as your electronics, personal accessories, clothing and sports gear are covered. However, cash, important documents, business equipment and high-value items are not. If you often keep expensive items in your car, you may want to add scheduled personal property coverage.
Homeowners insurance's liability coverage protects your assets (including your car) from being seized in costly lawsuits. If someone gets injured on your property and sues you, your homeowners liability insurance covers legal settlements up to your policy limits.
All your assets could be at risk without adequate liability coverage if you're found liable for an incident on your property. Your car, home and even retirement savings could all be seized to pay damages.
Standard homeowners policies offer liability protection up to $500,000. Consider umbrella insurance if your total assets exceed this amount to extend your coverage beyond standard policy limits.
Purchase affordable home insurance for the house and right-size your auto comp/collision for the car to cover different risks at a price that suits your budget.
When a covered peril (which is an event your insurance policy protects against), like a storm or fire, damages both your home and car, you must file two separate insurance claims. Homeowners insurance excludes vehicles, while auto insurance only covers your car.
Here's how to handle claims for both your car and home:
Take detailed photos and notes of all damage to your home and vehicle before cleanup or repairs begin. Record the date, time and circumstances of the incident.
File claims with your homeowners and auto insurance companies as soon as possible. Bundling both policies with the same company speeds up the process, but you still file separate claims for each.
Each insurer guides you through its claims process, including estimates, inspections and repair options. Expect different adjusters for your home and auto claims.
Keep organized files of all communications, estimates and expenses for both claims. Update both insurance companies on repairs and retain receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.
Bundle perks can help; the best homeowners insurance companies often pair home with auto for simpler claims when one event hits both. The best home and auto insurance bundles grant you discounts and streamline how you manage all your policies.
Homeowners insurance never covers vehicles, even when they're parked in your driveway or garage. Your car requires a separate auto insurance policy with comprehensive and collision coverage to protect against theft, accidents, vandalism and natural disasters.
If you're concerned about vehicle protection, review your auto policy to ensure you have more than just the state-required liability coverage. Consider bundling your home and auto policies with the same insurer to simplify claims if a single event damages both assets.
Vehicle accidents on your property involve both homeowners and auto insurance policies. We answer common questions about which policy covers what in various vehicle-related situations.
If your neighbor's car gets damaged, homeowners insurance will not pay to repair or replace it. Your auto insurance policy handles liability for damage to another person's vehicle, even if the incident occurs on your property.
If car accidents occur involving your vehicle, homeowners insurance will not cover the damage. Auto insurance provides the appropriate coverage for vehicle accidents, whether they happen on your property or elsewhere, including liability, collision and comprehensive protection.
If personal items get stolen from your vehicle, homeowners insurance may offer limited coverage for those belongings. Homeowners insurance doesn't cover theft of the car itself or car parts, which requires comprehensive coverage under your auto insurance policy.
If a tree damages your car, homeowners insurance will not provide coverage. The comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy covers this type of damage along with other non-collision incidents.
If your car damages your garage, homeowners insurance doesn't cover the repairs. The property damage liability section of your auto insurance policy covers damage your vehicle causes to structures.
MoneyGeek analyzed homeowners and auto insurance coverage using official rate filings from state Departments of Insurance in all 50 states and pricing data from Quadrant Information Services.
We examined how standard homeowners policies address vehicle-related incidents and damage on residential property. We evaluated coverage limitations and exclusions for vehicles under typical homeowners policies, along with the auto coverages needed for full vehicle protection.
We compared bundled versus separate policies for homeowners with vehicles, calculated the average added cost of comprehensive and collision coverage for parked vehicles, and identified common coverage gaps that leave homeowners exposed when an incident affects both home and vehicle at once.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
