The answer is “Yes”. Your garage and other outbuildings are covered under your homeowners insurance but there are limits to that coverage. The first item that you need to be concerned about is your garage. If your garage is attached to your home it will be covered by the dwelling coverage component of your homeowners insurance. Alternatively, if your garage is detached from your home it will be covered by the other structures coverage.
In the case of an attached garage, if your garage is fully destroyed by a covered peril the dwelling coverage will pay you replacement cost coverage. As a result, this can assist in the rebuilding of your garage from the ground up.
Your detached garage has a percentage limit based on the total amount of coverage on the dwelling. The detached garage claim limit would be 10% of your dwelling coverage. Therefore, if your home were insured for a maximum of $400,000.00 the coverage limit for a detached garage would be $40,000.00. This is unlike the replacement cost coverage with a garage attached to your home..
Some of the more common causes of damage to a garage that are covered by your homeowners insurance are the following:
Windstorm or hail damage
Fire and lightning
Smoke
Vandalism or burglary
Falling objects (a tree)
For example, let’s suppose you backed into your garage door and caused damage to both your vehicle and your garage. The garage door would be covered under your homeowners insurance. The damage to your vehicle would be covered under your auto insurance. In both cases, your deductible would apply.
OTHER STRUCTURES
The other structures coverage with your homeowners policy would cover damage to your pool house as well. Similarly, your pool house would be covered in the same manner as your detached garage. The same causes of damage as listed above would apply. Also, the coverage limit would be 10% of your homeowners policy limit and you would be responsible for your deductible amount.
Your homeowners insurance would not cover your garage and other structures due to other specific damages. These damages would include pest infestations, flood, basic wear and tear, earthquakes or other earth movement among other issues.
To learn more about coverage for your garage and other structures contact your FAPCO agent.