Will Car Insurance Replace a Child’s Car Seat?

Last Updated on April 29, 2021

Serious car accidents can be incredibly debilitating. Not only do you lose your car, but you lose everything inside it as well. If you have kids, this often means that you will lose their car seats. You may also lose your child’s car seat as a result of vandalism or a flood. If this has happened to you, you may be wondering if your car insurance will replace your child’s car seat. Here’s what you need to know about car insurance and child seats.

Are Car Seats Covered Under Insurance?

Generally, most car insurance companies will cover baby and child seats as part of your damages. Usually, car insurance companies will only pay to replace the car itself, not the items in it. However, this is a notable exception. Car insurance companies will typically cover child seats because they are essential for your passengers’ safety. Some companies will only pay for the car seat if a child was using it during the accident, while others will replace it regardless of the circumstances. Check with your insurance company to see what their policy is before filing a claim.

Keep in mind that the type of coverage that applies to a car seat is the same as coverage that applies to the entire car. For example, if the car seat was damaged in an accident at someone else’s fault, then their liability coverage will usually pay for the damage. In other cases, you may need to use your collision coverage or comprehensive coverage for these damages.

What Type of Car Insurance Coverage Should I Get?

Every state has different requirements regarding car insurance coverage. Most states require you to have a certain amount of liability coverage for injuries and property damage. Some states may also require you to have a certain amount of uninsured motorist coverage, which ensures you are covered if you are hit by somebody who does not have insurance. On top of the required coverage, you can add even more to your policy to ensure you are covered in all situations. For example, you can get collision coverage, which covers accidents that wouldn’t be covered under your liability coverage. You can also get comprehensive coverage, which covers you in the event of vandalism, flooding, or other damages outside your control. If you are worried about coverage for your child’s car seat, talk to your insurance agent to learn more about the different types of coverage options.

When Should I Replace My Child’s Car Seat?

Even if your child’s car seat seems okay after an accident, you should still assess it for damage. Although the seat may look fine, an accident can put a lot of stress on the safety mechanisms that protected your child in the crash. You may want to consider replacing the seat just to be safe. This is particularly important for rear-facing infant seats, which take more shock and impact in an accident than toddler seats. If you are unsure about whether or not your child’s car seat needs to be replaced, have a professional look at it just to be sure. When you get a replacement car seat, you may even want to get it installed professionally to be entirely sure that your child will be safe.

How Do I File a Claim for a Car Seat?

When filing your claim for the accident, let your claims adjuster know that there was a car seat in the vehicle and that you’d like to get replaced. Take note of what type of car seat it is and whether or not it was in use during the accident. Once the claim is approved, you will need to inform your insurance company of what type of car seat they’re replacing. You can submit your receipt from the original car seat if you have it, or you can send the insurance company information for a similar model. Keep in mind that the insurance company will only pay for the value of the original car seat. If the new car seat is more expensive, then you may have to pay the difference yourself. When you purchase a new car seat or any other accessory for your car, it’s helpful to save the receipts, just in case you do need to make a claim.

Car insurance companies care about your safety and the safety of your child, so they will be happy to cover the cost of your car seat if it was damaged in an accident. Make sure you’re always using the appropriate car seat for your little one. Although accidents are rare, they do happen, and a high-quality car seat will keep them safe. A good seat minimizes any impact of the accident on your child to protect them from injury.