Winter Driving in North Idaho: What Your Auto Insurance Covers, and What It Doesn't

If you live around Coeur d'Alene, you already know the drill. The first real snow shows up, the roads turn slick, and everybody remembers at the same moment how to drive on ice. Or tries to.

I'm Brandy O'Brien, and I run O'Brien Insurance Services right here in Coeur d'Alene. Winter is when a lot of people find out what their auto policy actually says, usually right after something happens. I'd much rather you find out now than on the shoulder of I-90 waiting for a tow.

So here's a plain-language rundown of what auto insurance typically covers in a North Idaho winter, and where the gaps usually are. One honest note before we start: every policy is different. What I describe below is how these coverages generally work. Your own policy is the final word, so check your policy, or call me and we'll read it together.

First, know which coverages you actually carry

A lot of people say "I have full coverage" without being sure what that means. There's no single official "full coverage" policy. It's a nickname people use for a policy that includes liability plus collision and comprehensive.

If you only carry liability, that covers damage and injuries you cause to other people. It generally does not pay to fix your own car. That detail matters a lot in winter, so pull up your declarations page (the summary page of your policy that lists your coverages) and look for the words "collision" and "comprehensive." If they're not there, most of what follows about repairing your own car may not apply to you.

Sliding into a ditch, a snowbank or another car

Ice doesn't care how careful you are. When your car slides off the road and hits a guardrail, a ditch, a mailbox or another vehicle, that's generally a collision claim for the damage to your car. Collision coverage usually pays to repair your vehicle after it hits something or rolls over, regardless of who was at fault, minus your deductible.

If you slide into someone else's car or property, your liability coverage is what typically handles their damage and injuries, up to your limits. Winter is a good time to ask yourself whether those limits are high enough. Repairs on newer vehicles and medical bills can add up fast, and if the damage goes past your limits, you could be responsible for the rest.

Then there's your deductible. If you picked a high collision deductible years ago to lower your premium, make sure it's still an amount you could pay tomorrow.

Deer, falling branches and cracked windshields

Comprehensive coverage is the one people forget about, and it does a lot of work in North Idaho. It generally covers damage to your car from things other than a collision. That typically includes:

• Hitting a deer, elk or moose. Animal strikes are usually handled under comprehensive rather than collision.
• Tree limbs or heavy snow falling on your car.
• Windshield damage. Between sanding trucks and gravel on the highway, chipped and cracked glass is common this time of year. Some policies include glass coverage with a lower deductible or none at all, and some don't. Check your policy.

If you swerve to miss a deer and hit a tree instead, that may be treated as a collision rather than comprehensive. How it's handled can depend on the details and the carrier, which is one more reason to know both of your deductibles.

When someone else causes the accident

You can drive perfectly and still get hit by someone who couldn't stop in time. Ideally, their liability insurance pays for your damage. But not every driver carries insurance, and some carry only small limits.

That's where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage comes in. It's designed to protect you and your passengers when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Some policies also include medical payments coverage, which can help with medical bills for you and your passengers no matter who caused the accident. What's included and how much it pays varies, so check your policy.

Stuck, towed and without a car

Getting stuck is part of winter around here. Whether a tow is covered depends on whether you added roadside assistance or towing coverage. It's usually an optional add-on, and depending on your policy it can help with things like a tow, a jump start or a lockout.

Rental reimbursement is another optional coverage. If your car is in the shop after a covered claim, it can help pay for a rental while it's being fixed. If you don't have it, that cost is on you.

What auto insurance usually doesn't cover

This is the part I most want you to hear, because nobody likes surprises after a claim.

• Mechanical breakdowns and wear and tear. A dead battery, a cracked engine block from the cold, worn tires or a heater that quits are maintenance issues, not accidents. Auto insurance generally doesn't pay for them. Roadside assistance might help get you moving, but it won't pay for the repair.
• Personal belongings inside the car. If your laptop or ski gear is stolen from your car, that's often a homeowners or renters insurance question rather than auto. Check both policies.
• Using your personal vehicle for business. If you plow driveways for pay or make deliveries with your truck, your personal auto policy may not cover that use. This is a big one to ask about before it matters.
• Anything beyond your limits. Coverage stops at the limits you chose, and your deductible comes out of your pocket first.

Before the roads get worse, let's look at your policy together

Here's what I'd go over with you:

1. Do you carry collision and comprehensive, and what are your deductibles?
2. Are your liability limits enough for what you own and what you could lose?
3. Do you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
4. Do you have roadside assistance and rental reimbursement?
5. Are you using your vehicle for anything your policy might not cover?

I'll tell you straight what your policy does and doesn't do. If something isn't covered, I'd rather you hear it from me now than find out after a claim. You can request a quote at bobrieninsurance.com/quote or call us at (208) 966-4374, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.

And if something does happen out there, take photos at the scene and call us promptly so we can help get your claim started. Put your winter tires on before the first snow, leave yourself extra room on those icy mornings, and drive safe.