When rodents gnaw your car wires, they don't have evil intent. But, when you're running late for work and your car won't start due to frayed or cut wiring, does it matter? If the rodents deceive you once, you should be able to file a claim for repair costs under your comprehensive insurance. Don't be duped again; check out this complete information on how to simply discourage rodents from your vehicle.
Are rodent damage covered?
Although the specifics vary by policy, certain auto insurance policies may cover damage caused by small rodents and rats nibbling on automobile cables. If your policy includes comprehensive coverage, you may be able to submit an insurance claim for rodents gnawing through car wires. Comprehensive coverage is a form of coverage that can be added to your policy to cover vehicle damage that is not covered by collision coverage—that is, damage to your car that is not the result of an accident.
Comprehensive coverage includes vandalism, theft, weather damage, fire damage, and damage caused by wildlife. Comprehensive coverage cover damages caused by hitting a larger animal, such as a deer, damages from all sorts and sizes are usually covered, even if the harm is caused by rodents, such as mice gnawing automobile wires. Although a trained mechanic must establish that rodents caused the damage, repairs for squirrels, mice, or rats chewing on automotive cables should be covered by a comprehensive claim.
Do I have comprehensive coverage?
Before you try to file an insurance claim for rodents gnawing car wires, make sure you have comprehensive coverage. The simplest approach to validate this coverage is to review your policy declarations page. This coverage is referred to as "other than collision" by some auto insurance providers and "comprehensive" by others. This coverage often includes a deductible, but not all carriers need it. If you are still confused, contact your insurance representative. If you're looking for extensive coverage, get quotes from different companies to compare coverage.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 80% of drivers in the United States carry comprehensive coverage. While comprehensive coverage is considered optional, it is usually needed if you have a car loan or lease.
Why do rodents chew automobile wires?
Pest control firms say that rodents gnaw on car cables because they are always chewing. Rodents' teeth are constantly developing, and in order to keep them from becoming too long or too sharp, they must chew frequently to wear them down.
For a long time, many people assumed that automobile wiring contained rodent-friendly components, but this is fiction. If a mouse has already set up home in your area, the reason they chew through your wiring is simple: the wires are right there and easily accessible to them. More recently, there has been debate (and even class-action lawsuits) blaming vehicle manufacturers for rodents gnawing on automobile cables, as numerous automakers have converted from petroleum-based to soy-based wiring to become more environmentally conscious.
How to protect your automobile against rodents
Although knowing that your comprehensive auto insurance policy would cover mouse damage should provide you with piece of mind, it is preferable to avoid the trouble of rodent damage altogether. Fortunately, you may take efforts to keep rodents from burrowing into your car's hood and inflicting damage.
Park indoors: If your house has one, always store your automobile in a sealed garage. Keep exterior doors shut as much as possible, and do not store trash bins, pet food, bird seed, or other objects that may attract rodents within the garage.
Seal up your garage. Rodents can slide into tight areas, so check the seals on your garage doors and windows. If there are any gaps, repair them or replace the weather-stripping to properly seal off your garage.
Keep your car clean. Trash, food wrappers, and other detritus that could act as a food source may attract mice to your vehicle. If you keep the interior and exterior of your vehicle clean on a regular basis, rodents will be less inclined to consider it a home.
Use repellent. If you can't park inside or live near a wooded or grassy area where rats are known to congregate, you should take precautions by using rodent repellents like moth balls, peppermint oil, or other products with a strong odor. You can always consult a local pest control specialist and your mechanic to ensure that a product is safe and effective to use. You can even buy specific tape to wrap over your wires that has an unpleasant flavor that may discourage further biting.
Move your car frequently. Rodents prefer to nest in enclosed locations, and your car hood may appear to be an ideal location if it is consistently sitting in the same spot, especially during the colder months. Even if you work from home and rarely drive, attempt to start your car on a regular basis to keep any undesirable animals from crawling inside.
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