Does Insurance Cover Tire Blowouts from Potholes?
2 Answers
Insurance companies will not compensate for tire blowouts caused by driving over potholes, as auto damage insurance excludes coverage for tire damage alone. Below is a detailed introduction to situations where insurers are not liable for compensation: 1. Sole tire damage: natural wear and tear, corrosion, malfunction, or tire damage alone; 2. Sole glass breakage: glass breakage alone or body scratches without obvious collision marks; 3. Man-made causes: losses caused by direct manual fuel supply or high-temperature baking; 4. Spontaneous combustion: losses due to spontaneous combustion or fires of unknown origin (unless stipulated otherwise in the contract for non-commercial or government vehicles); spontaneous combustion refers to fires caused by faults in the vehicle's electrical system, wiring, fuel supply system, or the cargo it carries.
Whether a tire blowout when driving over a pothole can be claimed depends on the specific type of insurance. Generally, auto damage insurance may cover such accidental situations, as it includes losses caused by human factors or external forces. For example, last year I drove over a large pothole without noticing, and the left front tire blew out immediately. Fortunately, I had auto damage insurance. After reporting the incident and providing on-site photos and repair invoices, the insurance company quickly verified and covered the cost of tire replacement. However, if the blowout was caused by tire aging or normal wear and tear, insurance usually does not cover it. Compulsory traffic insurance only covers third-party liability, not vehicle damage. In such cases, it's advisable to immediately check the vehicle's safety, pull over and stop driving, then contact the insurance company to consult the policy terms. Regularly checking tire pressure and wear conditions can also help prevent similar troubles.
