Motorists could be hit with huge bills if they have an accident driving today in Storm Eowyn’s hurricane-force winds.
As record-breaking 114mph gusts hit parts of the British Isles, there are warnings insurers might refuse to pay out on claims if they can prove a driver’s negligence.
This could include drivers going on a road they have been advised not to or failing to take reasonable measures to ensure safety.
It comes as motorists in parts of the country have been told ‘don’t drive unless you need to’ and millions have been sent a phone alert warning of the ‘extreme and real risk to life’.
Travelling during a red weather warning does not automatically invalidate a policy but insurers say road users must be responsible and take all necessary precautions.
A spokesman for the AA said: ‘Yes, you can drive during any weather warning, be it red, amber or yellow. But the aim is to make you aware of the risks and their likelihood so that you can plan ahead.
‘Your insurance provider won’t invalidate your policy just because you had to drive in heavy snow or strong winds. If your car is taxed, has a valid MOT and is insured, you’re legal for being on the road.’
Advice issued by the company includes going ‘slow and steady’, avoiding country roads, and getting ‘kitted up’.
A road sign displaying a red weather warning for Friday on Calder Road, Edinburgh
A rare red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Storm Eowyn, warning of gusts of up to 100mph and ‘flying debris resulting in danger to life’
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The Road Safety Authority added: ‘Avoid unnecessary travel when [the red warning] passes due to the extremely strong winds which will result in fallen trees and power lines, destruction to property, flying debris, and road blockages.’
But Nick Millerchip, driving expert at the campervan conversion specialist Van Junkies, has warned drivers should check the type of insurance policy they have as some with third-party protection won’t be covered if their vehicle sustains storm damage.
He said: ‘With the increased insurance prices, many motorists are switching to lower-tier insurance policies to save money.
‘While third-party cover might reduce premiums in the short term, it leaves drivers exposed to significant financial losses if their vehicle is damaged in a storm.’
It comes as the – typically cheaper – insurance policy will often not pay out if a driver makes a claim to cover the repair costs of their own vehicle, including if damage is caused by debris from bad weather.
Chief Executive of Insurance Ireland, Moyagh Murdock, said: ‘It is very important that people put safety first and heed the warnings regarding Storm Eowyn.
‘Our strong advice is that you don’t put yourself and emergency services personnel in unnecessary danger by driving during a red warning.
‘In the event that your home or car is damaged, your insurer will be on standby to assist, and our advice is to contact them as quickly as possible.’
Trees have been blown down in Kerry during Storm Eowyn
Forecasted path and wind strength of Storm Éowyn at 5am today
Car insurance and storms FAQs
How do insurers define a ‘storm’?
The Association of British Insurers says a storm is a period of violent weather defined as:
- Wind speeds with gusts of at least 48 knots (55mph) or
- Torrential rainfall at a rate of at least 25mm per hour or
- Snow to a depth of at least one foot (30 cm) in 24 hours or
- Hail of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass
Does car insurance cover storm damage to my vehicle?
If a motorist has comprehensive motor insurance, this will cover damage to your vehicle.
Insurers often classify weather-related incidents as an ‘Act of God’.
The type of damage and situations insurers will cover can vary though, so always check the policy wording.
However, drivers with third party fire and theft will not be covered if damage occurs during storms or floods.
Will my insurance premiums increase if I make a claim for storm damage?
Claims made due to damage caused by bad weather will generally fall under the ‘at-fault’ category because the insurer can’t recover their costs from elsewhere.
This means that claiming for storm damage will usually impact your no-claims discount (NCD). So, you’re likely to see your premiums increase when it comes to renewal time.
However, some insurers protect NCD in the event of storm damage, so check your policy wording.
What type of storm damage will be covered by my insurer?
For those with comprehensive motor insurance policies, it can cover the cost of damage if high winds cause a tree to fall onto your car or flying debris was to smash a window(s), scratch paintwork and dent panels.
If heavy rainfall triggers sudden floods that damage your car, for instance causing electrical faults, you should also be able to make a claim. Read This is Money’s in-depth guide to flood damage claims.
Most comprehensive policies will cover vehicle damage caused by unusually large hailstones and most policies cover damage sustained when weather suddenly causes dangerous driving conditions which result in a crash, or your parked vehicle is hit by another driver.
Again, it is always worth checking the policy wording to see if there are any exemptions to the above.
When might your insurer refuse a claim for storm damage?
While most comprehensive policies cover story damage, there are instances where insurers can refuse claims.
Typical exclusions for storm damage might include:
- Damage from a neighbour’s property: If a neighbour’s tree or roof tile falls and damages your car, your insurer will recommend you claim through their home insurance. However, to do so you would need to show that they were legally liable (negligent), says the ABI.
- Driving through flood water: An insurer can refuse a claim if they prove you have driven through high flood water when doing so was avoidable.
- Ignoring warnings: Comparison site GoCompare says a claim will likely be rejected if a driver has ignored warnings about travelling or closed road signs.
- Driving irresponsibly: You won’t be covered if you were found to be driving without due care and attention, or at high speeds.
- Leaving your car unattended: In storms during icy conditions and heavy snowfall, insurers will not accept a claim for theft if the owner has left the vehicle unattended with the engine running to defrost the windscreen.
Storm Eowyn: Parts of the UK braced for 114mph winds
The warning follows wind readings that show southern and western Ireland bearing the early brunt of one of the strongest storms to ever hit the Isles.
Mace Head on the exposed Galway coast recorded a gust of 114mph this morning, the strongest ever recorded in Ireland.
Figures of more than 80mph are appearing widely with Aberdaron in Gwynedd hitting 93mph and 70mph recorded in Cumbria.
But gusts of 80 to 90mph are expected widely inland in the warning areas, with speeds of up 100mph likely to rip along coasts as the storm progresses.
National Highways reported the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and M6 in Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were both closed overnight due to the strong winds.
The M48 Severn Bridge was also closed, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 between Devon and Cornwall was shut to high-sided vehicles until 5am.
Meanwhile, local roads in Avon and Somerset were blocked due to fallen trees, with motorists advised to ‘take care when travelling’.
RAC Breakdown has advised drivers in warning areas to stay safe by parking away from trees, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, avoid coastal routes and watch out for debris.
Red warnings for wind have been issued by the Met Office in Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm on Friday, and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.
The alerts are extremely rare, with the last one imposed on Scotland almost exactly a year ago.
The Met Office issued the alert on January 22, 2024, during Storm Isha, although it only covered part of the North-East.
Before that, the last such alert was for Storm Eunice in February 2022.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gunderson said: ‘We reserve the issuing of red warnings for the most severe weather which represent a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Eowyn.’
In a statement at the Scottish Parliament, First Minister John Swinney added: ‘The storm could bring winds up to 100mph.
‘The Met Office advice is clear, the potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property and transport and power disruptions.
‘We have to be clear, people should not travel.
‘Our message is simple, please follow the advice from the Met Office and the police, take this seriously and stay safe.’
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