Q:Question I was driving home from work the other day, when something suddenly came flying right at my window. I thought it was a bird, at first, but it turned out to be a drone! Can an auto insurance policy provide coverage to fix my window?

We posed this question to Stacy Korsgaden, a Farmers Insurance® agent based in Grover Beach, California. Here’s what she had to say about coverage provided by an auto insurance policy, even damage resulting from drones.

A:Answer  Wow, it’s as if this question is flying in from the future. But I guess it’s the world we live in, right? Seeing personal-use drones out in the real world is becoming a common occurrence and it won’t be unusual to run into a situation like yours sooner or later.

The good news is that generally an auto insurance policy would provide coverage for damage from a drone hitting your car. The details of that coverage depend on the circumstances and the specific auto insurance policy terms: Was anyone hurt in the accident? Did the drone hit your car, causing you to run off the road, perhaps into another car? Was the body of your car damaged by the drone, to your windshield or windows? Answers to these questions would determine how I’d help you submit your auto claim.

From what you describe, damage to your car would likely fall under comprehensive auto coverage. This is an optional coverage designed to provide coverage for damage caused by things you can’t control, such as theft, vandalism or, in this case, damage from flying objects, and subject to policy terms and exclusions. If you have an auto loan or lease, your lender may require you carry comprehensive along with collision coverage, which is designed to cover damages when your vehicle collides with another. If you don’t know whether you carry comprehensive or collision on your auto policy, check with your agent. Another possibility is to file a claim against the drone operator’s liability insurance policy, if any. Your agent can help you evaluate the best course of action.

My windshield is shattered. Will my auto policy cover glass repair?

The answer to this question depends largely on your insurance company and the coverage you purchased. In many cases, the cost to repair damage to glass can be less than the deductible, or the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance covers the damage. At Farmers, we offer something called Glass Deductible Buy Back. This optional coverage includes windshield and glass repair and replacement and your only responsibility is a $100 deductible. We also can coordinate directly with the repair company on your behalf and can send a technician to you for the repairs. The Glass Deductible Buy Back is not available in every state and deductibles may vary slightly, so sure to check with your Farmers agent to see what is offered in your area.

Does car insurance pay for a rental car while my car is being repaired

Again, it depends on the coverage you purchase. At Farmers, we offer optional rental car coverage for this type of scenario. If your car is out of commission after a covered loss, this coverage provides a rental car at a value of up to $50 per day. This benefit isn’t offered by every insurer, so be sure to check with your insurance company to learn more about what coverages they offer to cover the cost for a rental vehicle.

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