BY SOLO INSURANCE®

Man oh man, got distracted when backing out of your driveway and hit your neighbor’s mailbox. Now what? We’ve all made careless mistakes from time to time, including behind the wheel. If you have ever backed into your neighbor’s mailbox, you might find yourself annoyed, but hopefully unharmed. Your car, however, might sustain damage and so might the mailbox. As a result, you might want to file a claim against your car insurance to make the necessary repairs. You will still have to make sure that your policy covers the cost of the damage, however. Plus, sometimes limits on coverage and deductibles might apply. So better to figure out first cost to repair and look at your deductible to see if it’s worth even making a liability or collision claim.

Car Insurance and Mailbox Collisions  

When driving, you are ultimately responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle. If you have ever hit another object, the accident is likely your fault. After all, inanimate objects don’t typically jump out in front of you. If dropped off a truck they could suddenly appear in the roadway, however. As a result, you will have to use your own car insurance to pay for the damage costs.  

Suppose, for example, that when backing out of your driveway one day, you miscalculate your clearance and hit your neighbor’s mailbox. The bumper and sides of the car sustain various dents and damage. You’ll probably want to have the car repaired. However, you’ll have to make sure your car insurance applies.

Car Insurance for Neighbor’s Mailbox

On its face, car insurance is likely able to help you pay for the damage caused by backing into the mailbox. This accident was obviously something you didn’t plan or intend to happen. Still, you might find your coverage is more limited than you thought. 

• To pay for damage to your car, you will likely have to make sure you have collision insurance on the policy. Collision coverage pays for damage to the vehicle that occurs when you hit something. However, car insurance policies don’t automatically include collision insurance. If you don’t indicate you want coverage when you buy your policy, then you won’t have it. You cannot add it after an accident and expect it to apply retroactively.  
• Most collision policies will include damage deductibles. You will have to pay the cost of the deductible towards the repair costs on your own. For example, if you have a $500 deductible and sustain $3,000 in damage, then you will pay $500 and your policy will pay the remaining $2,500. If the cost of the damage is less than the deductible, then you cannot receive any help from the policy. 

To determine how your policy will pay for the damage you caused or your vehicle’s damage, talk to your insurance agent. They can help you see if you have collision insurance  and if it will apply to your vehicle’s damage. The neighbor’s mailbox would be under liability. If it’s your own mailbox, however, your car insurance won’t pay for damage to the mailbox itself. You will have to pay for the repairs.

Key Points to Consider:

• Deductible vs. Damage Cost: If the repair cost is lower than or close to your deductible (e.g., $500 or $1,000), it is usually cheaper to pay out-of-pocket rather than filing a claim that could increase your premiums.
• Property Damage Liability: If you backed into a neighbor’s mailbox, your auto policy’s property damage liability coverage typically covers the cost to repair or replace their mailbox.
• Damage to Your vehicle: If you have collision coverage the damage could be covered. Remember to check your deductible before making a claim. It may not be worth having a claim on your record when it’s under or near your deductible.

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