South Carolina requires bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage for all drivers in the state, but will any of these coverages help you pay for damage that is done to your vehicle in a tornado? The short answer is no, but there is a type of South Carolina car insurance coverage that will pay for tornado damage, and an independent agent can help you purchase it.

With the right South Carolina independent insurance agent, you can make sure that your vehicle has the protection it needs for any disaster you might be facing in South Carolina. But first, here's a little more information about what car insurance you need for tornado damage.

What Does Car Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Car insurance is designed to help pay for any damage that is done to your vehicle or by your vehicle. Whether it's an accident or a natural disaster, like a tornado, if you have the proper car insurance then you will be covered. Most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage that will protect you in the event that you cause third-party bodily or property damage with your vehicle.  Then you can choose to purchase additional coverage options that will cover things like hitting a wild animal, damage from a tornado, or collision with another vehicle. Here's what specific car insurance policies will cover.

• Liability insurance: Pays for any injuries or property damage that you cause with your vehicle. You must be the at-fault driver in the accident and it will pay up to your policy limit. 
• Collision insurance: Pays for any damage that your vehicle sustains from an accident where you are the at-fault driver.
• Comprehensive insurance: Pays for damage that your vehicle sustains for nearly any other type of event besides a collision. This includes tornadoes, theft, fire, hail damage, falling objects, colliding with a wild animal, and damage caused by other natural disasters.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Pays for any damage that your vehicle sustains if you're in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
• Medical payments insurance: Pays for injuries you or your passengers sustain in an accident whether you're the at-fault driver or not.

This is not an exhaustive list of car insurance coverage options or what events are covered. Any risk you can think of behind the wheel, there's most likely policy coverage for it. The important thing is to know if there's a specific risk you want to be prepared for and make sure that you have the proper policy to cover it. So, If you live in an area that is prone to tornadoes, like South Carolina, then you'll want to make sure that you have comprehensive car insurance coverage.

The average American driver pays $1,311 per year for car insurance. In South Carolina, drivers pay an average of $1,210 each year. Take time to compare quotes to make sure you get the best deal on auto insurance in your area. With South Carolina car insurance rates being lower than the average US rate, you can also see they also have a lower uninsured motorist rate at 9.4%.

What Isn't Covered in Car Insurance in South Carolina?

Very few things are not covered by some form of a car insurance policy. With that said, there are still a few things that will not be covered by insurance, including general wear and tear on a vehicle. Most policies will also only cover at-fault events if the person driving the vehicle is listed on the policy. 

For this reason, you'll want to be sure to list any possible drivers on your policy, or understand your limitations if someone else is driving your vehicle. Car insurance also won't cover damage beyond your liability limits. If you have a $100,000 liability limit and you drive your vehicle through a business's storefront, racking up $200,000 in damages you will only be covered up to the $100,000. 

How Much Tornado Damage Needs to Be Done for Car Insurance to Cover It in South Carolina?

If your vehicle is damaged in a tornado and you file a claim, your insurance will cover the damage up to the policy limits of your comprehensive coverage. It doesn't matter how little the damage to your vehicle costs, a tornado is considered a covered event. With that said, every insurance policy has a deductible that you have to pay when you file a claim. That deductible can range anywhere from $250 to $1,500 or more. 

It's important to understand what your deductible is, because it would not make sense to file an insurance claim if the repairing the damage costs less than your deductible. In this case, you'd end up paying more to have your insurance repair your vehicle than to get it fixed yourself. 

What Other Disasters Does Car Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

South Carolina is home to a variety of natural disasters. Residents are not only at risk of hurricanes and tornadoes, but flood zones are also scattered throughout the state, and it experiences severe thunderstorms and snowstorms. All of these weather patterns can result in fallen power lines, broken trees, slippery roads, hail, wind, and other events that can cause damage to your vehicle. Aside from tornadoes, most car insurance policies will cover the following disasters:

If you're unsure what your car insurance covers, your independent agent can help you understand what risks are included. You want to know your coverages long before an event occurs, as most insurance companies restrict the ability to purchase new plans or change plans if a natural disaster is expected.

How Many Tornadoes Does South Carolina Experience Every Year?

South Carolina has averaged 11 tornadoes a year since 1950. Compared to other states in the US, South Carolina ranks twenty-sixth in the number of tornado strikes each year. However, the state ranks eighteenth in the number of tornados per square mile. Hop onto Google and search for "damage caused by a tornado in South Carolina," and you'll see a series of headlines about thousands of homes that have been destroyed and thousands of people who have been killed by tornadoes.   

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?

There's no denying that it's a smart idea to have the proper car insurance to cover tornado damage if you live in South Carolina. When it comes to car insurance, you have many options, and shopping different companies and quotes can be overwhelming. A South Carolina independent insurance agent is an expert in comprehensive car insurance and can do the hard work for you. 

They'll gather a variety of quotes that include the best coverage available based on your potential risks behind the wheel. The best part? If you end up having to file a claim, your independent agent is there to help get you through the process.