Does auto insurance cover cracked wheels? (2024)
A cracked rim may be covered by auto insurance under collision or comprehensive coverage, depending on the cause and other circumstances. You'll want to consider your deductible before filing a claim.
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Zach Fagiano
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Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
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UPDATED: May 31, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: May 31, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Your insurance company will only cover a cracked rim if you have comprehensive or collision coverage and the crack was the result of a specific cause
- Your insurance company is unlikely to pay to repair a cracked rim and probably prefers replacement for safety reasons
- It may be better to pay for rim replacement yourself rather than having your rates go up
You may be wondering, does car insurance cover wheel damage? Does car insurance cover rim damage like a cracked rim on car? Well, a cracked rim is only covered if your contract includes collision or comprehensive insurance. Each of these covers automobile damage caused by different factors.
The most basic auto insurance policies are comprised of liability coverage, which is intended to cover medical bills and repair costs for the other party if you become involved in an accident. This means they don’t cover your vehicle’s cracked rim cost or costs associated with a cracked wheel repair.
Will my insurance cover a cracked rim?
So, does car insurance cover rims? Understanding the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage is helpful when you’re wondering are rims covered by insurance. Collision or comprehensive insurance may cover a cracked rim where general liability coverage doesn’t, but each does so for different situations.
Is rim damage covered by insurance? Does insurance cover stolen wheels? Keep reading to find out.
What does collision insurance cover?
If the rim cracked because you collided with another car or an object that’s not an animal (like a light pole, mailbox, or house) the damage falls under collision coverage. Examples of common causes of how rims cracked that fall under the umbrella of collision coverage include:
- Hitting a curb
- Running over a pothole
- Hitting a roundabout
Collision coverage usually applies even if you are at fault in an accident. The average annual cost of collision insurance is around $500 to $600.
What does comprehensive insurance cover?
Comprehensive insurance is often referred to as “Other Than Collision” insurance because it is meant for instances of damage where a collision did not take place, so the repairs would not fall under collision coverage. This may include:
- Acts of nature like hail or wind blowing rocks or large debris into your car
- A person vandalizing your car
- A person stealing your car or certain components of it (though usually not the contents)
- An animal jumping in front of your car and you hitting it
On average, comprehensive coverage costs $150 a month. If your cracked rim is the result of an incident that was not your fault, as in the case of when a pothole cracked the rim, was not a collision, or occurred while you were not in the vehicle, it is probably covered by comprehensive coverage.
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Is filing a claim for a cracked rim always the right decision?
While having comprehensive and/or collision insurance provides coverage for many of the circumstances in which you might end up with a cracked rim, using that coverage may not always be a financially smart decision.
You need to consider three things before deciding to file a claim: whether your insurance company will pay, the potential long-term impact on your rates, and how much the replacement will cost.
Does the insurance company always pay if you have comprehensive and/or collision coverage?
There is a car insurance deductible you must pay with both forms of coverage. Your insurance company will not pay anything unless the replacement cost exceeds this deductible.
The average price of rim replacement can range from $250 to $1000, based on your car’s model and make and the type of wheels on it. However, many policies come with a $500 deductible, so filing a claim doesn’t guarantee you will receive repair funds.
Does the insurance company pay for both repairs and replacement?
Notice that “replacement” is used rather than repairs, or both replacement and repairs here. Your insurance company is very unlikely to cover rims repair. Driving on a cracked rim is dangerous because it compromises the overall integrity of the wheel. Even repaired, there exists a danger of tire blowout, mainly if you run over uneven sections of roads, potholes, or cracks in the street.
Most insurance companies prefer replacement for a broken rim because performing repairs can be risky and further damage the wheel, resulting in a deadly situation. If you choose to repair the cracked car rim yourself and it later breaks, your insurance company can and may refuse to pay for the resulting damages because you are not maintaining your vehicle properly.
How will the claim affect your rates?
Even if your insurance company refuses to pay any money, it may raise your rates because you filed a claim. On the immediate level, since a cracked rim is a minor claim, this may lead to a $20 increase in your payment, which may not seem substantial but adds up. Typically though, people see only a tiny increase.
However, if you have already filed multiple more minor claims or anticipate doing so in the future, this may cause an issue. The insurance company may note these many reported incidents and adjust your rates accordingly.
At what price is filing a claim for a cracked rim worth it?
A cracked wheel rim, depending on the cause, may be covered under collision or comprehensive policies. Even if you have both, it’s not always worth it to file a claim. If the cost to replace a tire rim is not significantly greater than your deductible, it may be wiser to simply pay out of pocket, given you can afford it, to avoid a hike in rates.
Similarly, if you have a history of making small claims, paying for the replacement yourself may cost less than the subsequent rise in your payments.
However, if the cost is high and you do not have a record of minor claims, filing a claim for your cracked rim may be worthwhile. Obtain a price estimate before filing a claim since even if your insurance company doesn’t pay, you may end up with higher rates.
And keep in mind that the type of car you drive may impact rates. For example, the Tesla cracked rim repair cost may differ from the cost of a BMW rim repair.
Final Thoughts Regarding Cracked Rims and Coverage
So, does insurance cover rim damage? No, cracked rims are not usually covered by basic insurance policies. You need collision or comprehensive coverage for them to be covered.
While your insurance company may not pay for a repair, it will probably pay for a rim replacement if the price is higher than your deductible. Whether you should file a claim depends largely on your previous claim history and the replacement cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does auto insurance cover cracked wheels?
A cracked rim may be covered by auto insurance under collision or comprehensive coverage, depending on the cause and other circumstances. If you want your insurance to repair a cracked wheel, you’ll want to consider your deductible before filing a claim.
What does collision insurance cover?
Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by colliding with another car or non-animal objects like light poles, mailboxes, or houses. It can potentially cover a cracked rim resulting from such collisions.
What does comprehensive insurance cover?
Does comprehensive insurance cover tires? Well, comprehensive insurance, also known as “Other Than Collision” insurance, covers damage to your vehicle from incidents other than collisions. This may include theft, vandalism, weather-related damage, or hitting an animal. If your cracked rim is the result of a non-collision incident, it may be covered under comprehensive insurance.
Is filing a claim for a cracked rim always the right decision?
Filing a claim for a cracked rim may not always be the best financial decision. Consider factors such as whether your insurance company will pay, the potential impact on your rates, and the cost of replacement before deciding to file a claim.
Does the insurance company always pay if you have comprehensive and/or collision coverage?
Insurance companies typically have a deductible that must be paid before they cover any damages. If the cost of replacing the cracked rim is lower than your deductible, the insurance company may not pay for the repair.
Does insurance cover wheel damage?
Wheels insurance provides coverage for damage to your vehicle’s wheels, including both factory-installed and aftermarket wheels. Many drivers wonder, “will insurance cover aftermarket wheels?” The answer depends on the specifics of your insurance policy.
Some wheels car insurance policies offer coverage for aftermarket wheels, while others may only cover factory-installed wheels. Review your policy or speak with your insurance provider to understand the extent of your coverage and the various factors that can impact the tire and wheel insurance cost.
Are alloy wheels covered in insurance?
When considering alloy wheel insurance cover, you might want to do an alloy wheel insurance comparison to find the policy that best suits your needs. While standard auto insurance may provide coverage for certain damages, such as accidents or theft, you should verify whether does insurance cover alloy wheels specifically.
Alloy wheels may not be fully covered by traditional insurance plans, so you be out of luck if you’re wanting insurance to pay for a cracked alloy wheel repair. But opting for specialized alloy wheel insurance cover can offer assurance knowing that your wheels are protected against risks.
Can you drive with a damaged rim?
If your tire fell off rim while driving, you should not keep driving. You could seriously damage your car or get into a worse accident if you do so. Are cracked rims dangerous? Yes, they can be. So instead of wondering is it safe to drive on a cracked rim, you should find out how to fix a cracked rim.
Are wheels covered under warranty?
Does insurance cover wheels? And is a cracked rim covered under warranty? Warranties vary according to the manufacturer, but usually they offer coverage for certain defects. You have to review the terms and conditions of the warranty to determine what damages are included. For example, if a wheel came off while driving, warranty coverage may apply. Some drivers may choose to purchase a tire and wheel road hazard protection plan or a wheel and tire warranty.
While standard auto insurance policies may provide coverage for incidents like accidents or theft, they may not always extend to specific wheel damage such as the need for a bent rim repair. So when you’re asking are wheels covered by insurance, make sure you talk to your insurance provider to find out the details of your coverage.
Does insurance cover rims and tires?
Many drivers wonder will insurance cover rim damage? That depends on the level of insurance coverage that you have bought. Basic insurance policies will not usually cover specialized incidents. For example, does insurance cover scratched rims? Typically no, but you could purchase add-on protection to make sure you’re covered.
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.