Does your pet need car insurance?
According to a new report in Insuarance.com, a few policies now cover veterinary expenses -- or burial costs -- for pets injured in automobile accidents.
Some auto insurers are providing motorists with a little more peace of mind when they're behind the wheel with Spot or Fluffy. Special car insurance helps cover the cost of care if pets are injured in an auto accident.
Don't confuse this with pet health insurance, which covers a pet that needs treatment at a veterinarian's office. Instead, an auto insurer's pet-injury coverage typically kicks in if a pet is traveling in your car, is injured in an accident and needs veterinary care. Some policies also pay out if the pet is killed in a crash. (Also be aware that pet owners can take precautions to keep their pets safer in cars.)
Progressive was the first car insurance company to offer pet coverage, starting in 2007. If you are involved in an automobile accident, Progressive's insurance policy "covers the people in the accident as well as the cats and dogs," said spokesperson Brittany Senary.
Progressive's pet-injury coverage is built into the company's collision insurance. It provides up to $1,000 to pay vet bills if a pet is injured in an accident or during a vehicle fire or theft. Coverage also applies to cats and dogs that are in recreational vehicles, boats or commercial vehicles.
You need to mention your pet's injuries when you file an accident claim, and then submit a copy of the veterinary bill along with proof of payment.
In February, Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., of Warren, N.J., introduced an auto insurance policy that covers $2,000 of pet injuries in a handful of states. The company hopes to expand the program to other states soon. Chubb launched the coverage after seeing how much policyholders cherish their pets.
Arbella Mutual Insurance, a regional insurer in Quincy, Mass., also has introduced auto insurance for pets. The company began offering a "pet lover's endorsement" for its auto insurance policies last year.
For an additional $20 a year, pet owners can receive up to $500 in coverage for cats and dogs injured in a wreck. The money can be used to pay for treating the pet's injuries, or for burial or other costs if the cat or dog dies as a result of its injuries.
If you're shopping for a car insurance plan that covers pets, be aware that coverage varies by insurer.
For example, while the coverage provided by Progressive and Arbella applies only to cats and dogs, Chubb's pet protection applies to any kind of pet, as well as animals pulled in a trailer (such as horses) that some might not think of as pets. However, Chubb coverage does not extend to animals used for income-generating purposes, such as race horses.
