Insurance Coverage for Broken Stereos
Protecting our personal belongings is instilled in us from a very young age. We have to learn how to share, and when things get broken, we get upset. Trying to figure out how to fix, repair, or replace those broken items is sometimes more difficult. This is especially true if insurance is involved somehow. Car insurance is a must for everyone on the road. But does your car insurance truly provide you comprehensive coverage, like for a broken stereo? I’ve done some research to help you answer this question – keep reading to find out more.
Does insurance cover a broken stereo? The short answer is probably not. Truthfully, the answer to this question can be complicated because it depends on the type of coverage you have. It comes down to your insurance coverage and whether or not you’ve made any upgrades or changed anything about your sound system.
Sound system insurance, collision insurance, and/or comprehensive insurance will be your best options to cover any broken stereos or sound systems in your car. Now let’s talk about the differences in these insurance options, how much they cost, and why you should consider getting them.
Sound System Insurance
A standard car insurance policy will not cover any aftermarket sound system (upgrades). Without the add-on sound system insurance, you will be responsible for repair or replacement costs if your sound system is stolen, vandalized, or damaged in an accident.
It specifically protects modified sound systems. If you are someone who enjoys adding upgrades and buying new toys for your car, this insurance add-on would be an important one to consider.
Unfortunately, theft of car stereos is a relatively common occurrence. If you get into an accident that damages your sound system, you may have to cover the expensive costs of getting a new one.
Comprehensive Coverage
Under a basic auto policy, if you haven’t replaced or modified any components to your sound system, it will likely be covered. However, this coverage is contingent upon the stereo suffering acts of vandalism or nature – nothing more.
You would think a policy with the name “comprehensive coverage” would mean that it covers everything, but that’s not quite the case. It’s important to always double-check the terms of your policy to ensure it has the right amount of coverage.
Collision Coverage
If you were to get into an accident, collision coverage will protect your stereo if it has been damaged or broken. The bottom line is, collision coverage is something you will want to have regardless of the sound system coverage.
Getting into an accident is never a fun experience and it always takes a lot of time to get everything resolved. At the same time, the likelihood of an accident damaging your stereo without totaling the car is quite low. You’ll want to consider adding on the sound system insurance or comprehensive in order to protect your stereo.
Do You Need Sound System Coverage?
The market value of your car is used as a factor to determine the price of your insurance premiums.
When you install an expensive stereo system that raises the value of your car, you will need to purchase additional coverage for the sound system.
Choosing not to cover an upgraded sound system will mean that you are responsible for the sound system repairs. Unfortunately, insurance will not cover it.
Be aware! Any modifications done to your car must be approved by your insurance provider. The insurance company will appraise the new item, analyze proof of purchase, and approve the cost of installation as well as the quality of the installation. Your insurer will then base the value of the audio system on the actual cost of the replacement or repair.
The Cost of Sound System Insurance
Auto insurance typically runs under the same rule of thumb. The more valuable the car (luxury brands), the more it costs to insure them. The same is true of a sound system add-on. As always, prices will vary from provider to provider, but each follows this general guideline.
You can expect to pay between $100 and $200 per year for sound system insurance. However, this will vary depending on your car’s purchase value. Remember that this is an auto insurance add-on. You will be paying the money on top of your regular car insurance.
You should expect insurance companies to only cover new sound systems if they have a value above a certain amount. You’ll want to discuss the full cost of the system you installed in your car to get the right coverage. This will ensure that you purchase adequate coverage for the sound system you have installed.
Related Questions
What Should I Do If My Car Stereo Breaks?
Filing insurance claims can be a bit of a nightmare. The sooner you get started, the sooner it gets fixed. Once you have noticed that your stereo or sound system in your car is broken or not working properly, you should contact your insurance as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide your insurance information, how you think or know the damage occurred. Other information about the other damaged parts will also be helpful.
Most insurance companies will request that you submit the receipt for the replacement or repairs made to your stereo, and then reimburse you accordingly. You should know that you will likely have to pay a deductible if you make a claim. If the sound system is worth less than the deductible, it may be better to just pay out of pocket. In this case, you should always get an estimate on the replacement/repairs before submitting a claim.
Why Doesn’t Auto Insurance Automatically Cover Broken Stereos?
The truth is, most comprehensive insurance plans will cover car systems that are factory installed in the vehicle. If add an upgrade without talking with your insurance or making sure your policy covers aftermarket parts, they will likely not cover any costs for replacements or repairs.
Insurance companies have many reasons for why they choose to cover certain things in policies, and why they choose not to. I don’t think anyone really knows the answer to why an insurance company does anything.
A broken car stereo is less common than if someone were to steal it. However, the repairs and replacements for each are pretty much the same. If you report a stolen stereo claim to your insurance company and the deductible costs more than the stereo itself, it’s best to just pay out of pocket.
What Does My Car Insurance Do for Me if it Costs Me to Make Claims?
Car insurance is a requirement in order for you to drive and operate a vehicle on the road safely. In regards to how car insurance actually protects you, it comes down to accidents in which you are the cause.
Filing claims for a stolen car, getting hit by someone else, broken parts, etc. will probably cost more than if you were to just pay out of pocket for any repairs. The point of car insurance is to protect you in the event of a collision that you cause. In this case, insurance will protect you from the financial responsibility of damage you cause to another car or injury to another person.
