When you purchase homeowners insurance, you expect this coverage to protect you from mishaps and other instances, but does your homeowners insurance policy cover mailbox damage? Here’s what you need to know about your homeowners insurance policy and mailbox damage.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mailbox Damage?
It’s not uncommon for your mailbox to be damaged or destroyed by a car if your mailbox is close to the street. In some situations, your mailbox can be destroyed or damaged by a passerby. In any situation, the cost of repair or replacement is an unexpected expense and can be frustrating.
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In short, the answer is yes. Your homeowners insurance will cover your mailbox if it is insured under the other structures section of your home insurance policy.
Make sure you have “other structures” coverage on your auto policy. The other structures coverage helps with the replacement or repair of structures that are located on your property, but not attached to your home. Items that would fall into the other structure category include:
- Sheds
- Walkways
- Driveways
- Detached garages
- Fences
- Patios
- Gazebos
- Swimming pools
Is Filing A Claim for Your Mailbox Worth the Hassle?
When it comes to filing a claim, you need to consider your deductible. Your deductible is the amount of funds you agree to pay out-of-pocket before your homeowners insurance begins to pay for the remaining amount of any fee. If you have a basic mailbox, filing a claim would not be worth it because you would save money by replacing it yourself without the claim. However, if your mailbox is a specialty mailbox, one that is made from bricks perhaps, or one that is expensive, filing a claim might be in your best interest.
If you’re in a situation where your mailbox was a part of a different incident on a larger scale, such as an accident that damaged your home and your mailbox, your homeowners insurance might replace our mailbox as a part of the overall damages as a result of the accident.
What If I Damage My Mailbox?
Mistakes happen and even if you’re the cause of the damage, that’s okay too, but your home insurance most likely will not cover the damages associated with your mailbox. If your car sustained damages due to the collision with your mailbox, if you have active collision coverage, your insurance will help pay to repair or replace your car if it collides with another car or another object. Keep in mind you will have to fulfill your deductible before your car insurance company will begin to pay for any sustained damages.
What Is the Best Way to Replace My Mailbox?
If you decide to file a claim to have your mailbox replaced, you need to gather as much documentation as possible, including receipts, proof of installation fees, and other important documentation. You want to make sure you are reimbursed for the right amount of money.
If someone damages your mailbox, before you attempt to file a claim, you need to file a police report. Filing a police report helps the extensive claims process operate smoother.
How Can Homeowners Insurance Protect You?
Homeowners insurance can protect you from:
- Natural disasters
- Theft
- Lawsuits
- Protection from natural disasters – home insurance protects you from natural disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and fires. This type of insurance can save money by helping pay for the cost of repairs.
- Protection from theft – one of the worst feelings is someone breaking into your home. Theft can make you feel paranoid and insecure. Homeowners insurance gives you peace of mind by covering the damages to your home and the cost of your possessions that were taken.
- Protection against lawsuits – In the event, someone is hurt on your property, if they wanted to, they could sue you. In this situation, having homeowners insurance will help with paying medical bills and handling attorney fees.
Is Homeowners Insurance a Requirement for a Mortgage?
If you plan on getting approved for a mortgage loan, you need to have homeowners insurance. As a precaution to hazard, a mortgage lender will require that you have a specific level of insurance because you are using your home as collateral.
Homeowners insurance, like any other insurance, is a necessity because it provides valuable protection for your home and saves money. The more protection you have, the more peace of mind you have. The goal with home insurance is having enough coverage to make sure you can handle most of the mishaps and similar situations that life may throw at you.
Life is already hectic. You don’t have to compound the stress by not having home insurance. The pennies on the dollar you will pay to have hundreds, even thousands of dollars to help cover the cost for a variety of instances, is better than spending your hard-earned money and paying out of pocket for medical bills and other fees.
