Will my car insurance policy cover damage done by a shopping cart?

Shopping cart damage may seem like a complicated issue, but it is not. Since the store cannot be held responsible for how carts are handled, and the person who allowed the cart to damage your car is long gone, trying to find an at fault person for the claim is nearly impossible. However, if you have the right kind of insurance on your car, even damages caused by unknown parties will be repaired.

The type of car insurance you need to for shopping cart damage is called Collision coverage. This type of coverage includes damages caused by unknown people, falling or uncontrolled objects, and theft, among other things. If someone keyed your car out of spite, Collision insurance would cover it. It will also pay for damages caused by shopping carts or even a rock thrown up from the road into your windshield. Collision insurance is not part of a standard car insurance policy, but can be added to an existing policy.

Before you file a collision insurance claim, consider the cost of the damages and your deductible. If the cost of repairs is only a little more than the deductible you have to pay, it would be in your best interest to make the repairs out of pocket and save the insurance claim for a more expensive event. Not only does that work out best for you in the financial long run, it also works in your favor for buying future insurance policies.

A collision insurance claim is a type of liability claim, without a named fault. Because it involves a liable loss, the claim will count against you both with your current insurer and with future insurers by way of your CLUE report. Your Comprehensive Loss Underwriters Exchange report contains a list of all liability claims you have filed over the past 7 years, and the amount of each claim. When you apply for a liability policy, insurance companies will use this report to help determine what your rates will be or if you are even insurable at all. Fewer claims, even small ones, are the best long-term financial solution for everyone.