As a homeowner or property developer in the UK, we hope you’ll never have to ask this question, but if the worst happens, then you’ll be wondering if your driveway is covered by your home insurance policy.
The answer to this question isn’t straightforward and will depend on many factors, including the type of policy you have, and the cause of damage to your driveway.
In this blog, we’ll explore the topic in more detail and provide you with some useful information to help you find out.
Typical Cover
First, it’s important to understand what is typically covered by home insurance policies in the UK. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), home insurance policies usually cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding your property if it’s damaged by an insured event, such as fire, theft, storm damage, or flooding. Contents insurance, which is often sold as part of a home insurance policy, covers your belongings against theft or damage, including accidental damage.
However, the level of cover can vary between policies, and it’s important to read your policy documents carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered. Some policies may offer additional coverage for things like accidental damage to your property or contents, while others may exclude certain events, such as subsidence or damage caused by wear and tear.
In their article Cost of living boost for millions of households as the average price of home insurance falls to lowest since records began, ABI stated that 2022 was a year of turbulent weather that caused damage to many homes and driveways. It was a bit of a freak year when it came to the weather we experienced.
Storm damage from Dudley, Eunice and Franklin in February led to £473 million paid out to support affected customers. Followed by the summer heatwave, which led to a sharp rise in subsidence claims, but not all customers were covered. Especially when it came to subsidence; we’ve noticed there’s often a heavy excess to be paid when making a claim, sometimes more than £1,000!
What about my driveway?
So, where does your driveway fit into all of this? Generally, driveways are considered to be part of your property, and therefore may be covered under your buildings insurance policy. This means that if your driveway is damaged by an insured event, such as a fallen tree or a vehicle collision, your insurance policy may cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
Ideal Home published a great article last year that specifies what home insurance covers, and they provide some top tips to understand what your policy protects you against. In our opinion, it’s well worth a read!
It’s worth noting that some policies may have exclusions or limitations when it comes to driveways. For example, some policies may only cover damage to driveways that are within the boundaries of your property, while others may only cover damage to certain types of driveways, such as those made of concrete or tarmac. It’s important to check your policy documents or speak to your insurance provider if you’re unsure about what is and isn’t covered. At ALS, we believe knowledge is power, which is why we recommend you having that conversation and checking that small print. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Warranty Cover & Guarantees
It’s also worth considering whether your driveway is covered by any warranties or guarantees provided by the company that installed it. Many driveway companies offer guarantees or warranties for their work, which may cover things like defects or damage caused by poor workmanship. These warranties can vary in length and coverage, so it’s important to check the terms and conditions carefully.
As a Brett Approved Installer, ALS Driveways Lincoln offer a 5 year installation guarantee and a 10 year product guarantee. We can’t predict the weather, but you can rest assured that if something goes wrong, we’ll be here to fix it!
Enhanced or Separate Insurance
Another factor to consider is whether your driveway is covered by any separate insurance policies. For example, if you run a business from your home and use your driveway for commercial purposes, you may need to take out separate insurance to cover any liability or damage caused by your business activities. Similarly, if you rent out your property, you may need to take out landlord insurance to cover any damage caused by your tenants.
Ultimately, the level of coverage you have for your driveway will depend on your individual circumstances and the policy you have in place. It’s so important to review your policy documents regularly and notify your insurance provider if any changes are made to your property or its use. This will ensure that you have adequate coverage in place should the worst happen.
There are, of course, specialist insurance providers out there, especially if your home (and driveway) is in an area that has previously suffered from subsidence. Matt Fernell, explains how to find the right insurance in these circumstances in an article he wrote for Money, a financial comparison site.
Conclusion
Driveways are generally considered to be part of your property and may be covered under your buildings insurance policy. We can’t give you a definitive and finite answer because each individual circumstance and policy will be different. We can’t stress how important it is to check your policy documents carefully (and read the small print!) to understand what is and isn’t covered, as some policies may have exclusions or limitations when it comes to driveways.
It’s also worth checking if your driveway installer provides any warranties or guarantees, or whether you need any separate insurance policies to cover your specific circumstances.
One of our most frequently asked questions is, ‘Will A driveway will add value to my property?’ The simple answer is yes, you can read why in our recent blog.
At ALS Driveways in Lincoln, we want the best for you. Please make sure your investment is protected.
If you’re ready to take the next step to turn your dream driveway into a reality in Lincoln, and you want the peace of mind that our guarantees give you, get in touch with us today.
