Are car seats covered by insurance? The answer is yes, most of the time, insurance covers the replacement of a car seat. Check our guide below to know more about car seat replacement.
For the most part, the only things that are typically covered under auto insurance coverage are those items that are permanently installed in your vehicle. But can car insurance pay to replace a car seat for an infant or toddler? Progressive and other insurance providers offer discounts and reimbursement programs for parents, so check with your provider to see if you qualify.
If you were traveling with someone that is using their car seat, their seat should be under comprehensive coverage. This is similar to damage to your car seats caused by another person. That other person is liable for any damage to your vehicle.
Coverage and Claims for Car Seat Insurance
Coverage and claims for your child’s car seat depend on the accident’s cause. This will apply to damages to your vehicle will also be applied to the car seat. If you are in a rear-end accident, that will be under collision insurance. While theft and fire accidents are under comprehensive coverage.
You will need to have the correct coverage to pay for your vehicle’s damages and replacement for car seats. Meaning, that if you only carry liability insurance, car seats cannot be replaced on your coverage. But keep in mind that you can/may get reimbursement from another carrier if they are indeed liable for the accident.
When to Claim Car Seat Insurance
It’s a good idea to change and replace your car seat even if it appears that there are no damages after an accident. Car seats are built with special locking mechanisms. These locking mechanisms keep smaller children safe should they suddenly unbuckle themselves. These child-proof locks also make it more difficult for a child to open the car door independently, and are designed to securely contain infants and toddlers even in the event of an accident.
Locking mechanisms may fail to work in a second accident especially if they received any impact or stress during the first accident. This means that they cannot keep your child safe.
If you are in doubt about your child’s car seat, make sure to check the manual thoroughly or give the manufacturer a call. Keep in mind that every manufacturer has different rules when it comes to car seat installation, maintenance, and replacement.
Parents should be aware that this rule only applied to rear-facing and front-facing car seats for newborns.
Harness and booster seats are less likely to be affected by any impact. If there is no sign of physical damage to your booster seat, there might be no reason to replace it. Manufacturers have designed them to withstand impacts from collisions. But if you want to be sure, check with a professional if you need to replace them.
Things to Know When Claiming Insurance or Replacement
When filing for a car seat replacement, make sure to inform the insurance company that you were traveling with a child in their car seat or that your child’s car seat was in your vehicle at the accident.
Steps for claiming insurance or replacement
- Inform them whether the child’s car seat was in use at the time of the accident and what type of car seat.
- Collect all the information needed to proceed with the claim.
- Ready your car seat receipt if you still have them and submit it for reimbursement.
- If the seat in the accident is no longer available in the market, you will need to find another car seat in the same price. Else, you will cover the cost difference.
Things to know before buying a new car seat
- The insurance company will only cover the cost of your original car seat. If you are planning on buying a more expensive one, you will need to pay for the difference.
- Bring your damage car seat along with the vehicle inspection.
- The insurance adjuster will confirm your car seat type and cost while checking for the damages.
- Car seat replacement are often times in the form of reimbursement. Just submit your car seat receipt for proof and they will send you a check.
Conclusion
It is important to remember when you are filing a claim for the loss of a car seat, that your deductible applies to any damage incurred as well. So if there was no damage beyond the loss of the car seat itself, this might not be covered by your insurance company if the replacement cost is less than your deductible.
Many people might not know that car insurance policies do cover car seats in some cases. If you have experienced a major accident, it is very common to file a claim with your collision coverage to repair or replace your damaged car seat.
