Does your insurance cover damage caused by bad weather?

On By Pranco

Temperatures are set to drop this week, with warnings of snow and ice in several parts of Britain. What costs does your insurer cover if you suffer from the cold wave?

Frigid weather can cause pipes in homes to burst, cars to break down, accidents on roads and even ground planes to crash. But other extreme weather conditions, such as storms and even heat waves, can also cause major damage and disruption.

Here, which one? explains what weather-related damage your insurance is likely to cover.

Does the insurance cover extreme weather?

According to the Met Office, storms, heavy rain and heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change.

An increase in extreme weather events means a more frequent risk of property damage and travel disruptions.

The latest data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows that claims for damage to homes due to storms, heavy rain and frozen pipes reached £136 million between July and September 2024, up 6% year on year.

Home insurance

Your home insurance should cover you against sudden, unforeseen events such as bad weather and storms.

Your home insurance must cover damage caused by hail, wind, rain, snow or ice. This includes broken roofs, frozen pipes, falling trees and power outages.

As always, there are some caveats. You may not be covered by standard home insurance if the damage is the result of general wear and tear, for example if water enters your home through a poorly maintained roof. For these types of claims, you need accidental damage coverage. Although this is included in some policies, it is more often sold as an optional extra.

Storms can also cause flooding, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to homes. Fortunately, flood cover is also a standard part of home insurance and is widely available for most properties – even in areas considered to be at high risk of flooding. A typical policy should cover damage caused by flood water entering your home from an external source, such as heavy rain, storms and high tides, or a river overflowing its banks.

Insurers generally cover cleaning and repairs of your home, as well as temporary housing if your home is made uninhabitable. If you also have home contents insurance, your belongings are covered.

But again, beware of exclusions. Many insurers do not cover damage caused by groundwater flooding. Some policies also exclude damage to certain parts of your property, such as outbuildings or fences.

Car insurance

Snow, ice, storms and heavy rain can cause serious damage to your car, including engine failure, faulty brakes, broken lights and rust.

Make sure you check your policy documents carefully before making a claim. Most comprehensive car insurance policies should cover the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by bad weather, but drivers are unlikely to get any protection with a standard third-party fire and theft policy.

Coverage typically includes damage to the vehicle’s upholstery and entertainment system, but the insurer may not pay for personal belongings left in the vehicle. If that’s the case, don’t panic; you may be protected by ‘Contents outside the home’ cover as part of your home contents insurance. Damaged mobile phones, laptops and tablets can also be covered by gadget insurance.

Even if your policy covers weather-related damage, insurers may not pay out if they believe you haven’t taken steps to keep the car safe, for example if you drove recklessly in a snowstorm or deliberately drove through floodwaters.

Also take into account any weather warnings. Driving during a red weather warning does not mean you cannot make a claim, but it could invalidate your policy if the insurer decides you have not followed travel advice, such as maintaining a lower speed limit.

Travel insurance

Snow and ice in Scotland, England and Wales on November 19 led to widespread transport disruptions, with roads blocked, trains canceled and flights delayed.

You may already be covered by your existing travel insurance, if you have one. Read the terms of your policy carefully to check whether trip interruption cover is included. Some providers add this automatically, others ask you to pay extra for it.

Travel to Britain longer than a few nights and further than 25 miles is covered by most travel insurance policies, but the disruption must have been caused by an event outside your control, which you were not aware of when you booked your holiday.

Your insurer may offer alternative means of transport or accommodation. If you have to make your own emergency travel or hotel arrangements, keep all receipts. Without proof you may not be able to reclaim the costs.

What should you do if this bothers you?

Contact your provider as soon as possible. Your insurer can make any emergency payments, arrange temporary emergency shelter and organize necessary repairs. Most insurers have a 24-hour emergency helpline.

If you need to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts as they will form part of your claim. Do not throw away damaged items unless they pose a health hazard as they may need to be repaired or repaired.

This newsletter provides free money-related content, along with other information about Which one? Group products and services. Log out whenever you want. Your data will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Which one? Limited is registered in England and Wales at 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is an Introducer Appointed Representative (FRN 610689) of the following:

1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment car, home, travel and pet insurance, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and non-investment car, home, travel – and pet insurance insurance products to be arranged (FRN310635). Inspop.com Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arranging non-investment car, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales with Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd.

2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN656479), for the launch of Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance, which are authorized and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales at 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386.

3. HUB Financial Solutions, to introduce equity release advice, which are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) to provide advice and guidance on financial products for those in or nearing retirement retire (FCA Firm Reference Number: 455713). HUB Financial Solutions is registered in England and Wales at Enterprise House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH12 7RP, company number 05125701.

4. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd (FRN 301), for the introduction of non-investment insurance for landlords, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide advice and underwrite insurance contracts. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd is registered in England at Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE, company number 02591252.

Other financial services:

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), Unit 26 (2.06), Newark Works, 2 Foundry Lane, Bath BA2 3GZ. London & Country are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. If you do not make your mortgage repayments, your home or real estate may be seized.

We do not make, and do not pursue, recommendations or personalized advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA as we are not regulated or authorized by the FCA to advise you in this way. However, in some cases we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose, you can purchase a product from our commercial partners.

If you go ahead and purchase a product through our link, we receive a commission to help fund our non-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for British consumers. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which? entails.