Does my auto insurance cover flat tires?
Auto insurance covers flat tires under comprehensive coverage. However, a flat tire caused by a nail isn't covered by your car insurance policy. You can add comprehensive auto insurance for as low as $13 per month to cover flat tires caused by theft, vandalism, or other accidental damage. Shop around and compare multiple insurance companies to secure affordable auto insurance coverage with tire damage protection.
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Insurance & Finance Writer
Merriya Valleri is a skilled insurance writer with over a decade of professional writing experience. Merriya has a strong desire to make understanding insurance an easy task while providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information. Merriya has written articles focusing on health, life, and auto insurance. She enjoys working in the insurance field, and is constantly learning in order to ...
Merriya Valleri
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Daniel Walker
Updated January 2025
Does auto insurance cover flat tires? It depends on how your tires become flat. Your insurance company covers some situations.
In what scenarios does insurance cover flat tires? Don’t worry — we’re here to answer your questions.
Our guide has everything you need to know about how auto insurance companies cover flat tires. Also, we’ll explain why you won’t find nail-in tire insurance and why you should add roadside assistance.
After learning how auto insurance covers flat tires, use our free online quote tool to compare multiple insurance companies in your area.
- Auto insurance companies don’t cover nails in your tires
- Your auto insurance policy covers slashed tires under comprehensive coverage
- You could pay as low as $13 a month for comprehensive auto insurance
- You’ll need custom equipment insurance for non-OEM parts
Does auto insurance cover flat tires?
It depends on your situation.
If your tire was punctured because something fell off another vehicle, your comprehensive coverage pays for the damage.
Your car insurance policy also covers slashed tires under comprehensive insurance.
Do insurance companies cover flat tires when a nail caused the damage? The answer is no.
Is it possible to buy nail-in tire insurance?
No, it isn’t. There’s no specialty insurance that covers nails in tires. Generally, car insurance companies don’t cover damage to tires unless you’ve encountered an accident.
Can roadside assistance help me fix my flat tire?
Yes, it can. One of the most helpful services from car insurance companies is emergency roadside assistance. If you have a flat, roadside assistance can get you back on the road with a repaired tire.
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How do auto insurance companies cover slashed tires?
Car insurance companies use your comprehensive coverage to cover damage to slashed tires. However, you’ll need to pay a deductible before the insurance company pays out on a claim.
What if I have three slashed tires?
It doesn’t matter if you have one slashed tire or four. Comprehensive coverage pays for unforeseen accidents and acts against your vehicle.
What does comprehensive auto insurance cover?
Comprehensive car insurance covers damage that doesn’t involve a collision. Here’s a list of events that comprehensive insurance covers:
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Fire
- Natural disasters (such as a storm, mudslide, or wildfire)
- Falling objects
- Damage done by animals
- Damage from a civil disturbance (such as a riot)
In some situations, comprehensive auto insurance covers stolen tires and tires damaged by potholes.
https://youtu.be/d3eh4wIuNks
Your comprehensive insurance won’t pay for another driver’s injuries or damage to another driver’s property. Normal wear and tear on tires isn’t covered, either.
Does comprehensive auto insurance cover custom equipment parts?
No, it doesn’t. Your car insurance company only covers original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and select aftermarket parts. Custom tires can only be covered by custom equipment insurance.
How much is comprehensive auto insurance?
If you decide to add comprehensive car insurance to your policy, you’ll need to know how much it costs per month.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), comprehensive auto insurance costs $13 a month on average. However, your rates may vary.
Let’s look at the average comprehensive rates by state.
Average Monthly Comprehensive Auto Insurance Rates by State| States | Average Monthly Comprehensive Auto Insurance Rates |
|---|---|
| Maine | $8 |
| Oregon | $8 |
| California | $8 |
| New Hampshire | $9 |
| Hawaii | $9 |
| Utah | $9 |
| Washington | $9 |
| Idaho | $10 |
| Indiana | $10 |
| Ohio | $10 |
| Nevada | $10 |
| Delaware | $10 |
| Florida | $10 |
| North Carolina | $11 |
| Vermont | $11 |
| Illinois | $11 |
| Massachusetts | $11 |
| Connecticut | $11 |
| Rhode Island | $11 |
| New Jersey | $11 |
| Wisconsin | $12 |
| Virginia | $12 |
| Tennessee | $12 |
| Kentucky | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | $12 |
| Countrywide | $12 |
| Alaska | $12 |
| Alabama | $13 |
| Georgia | $13 |
| Maryland | $13 |
| Michigan | $13 |
| New York | $14 |
| Minnesota | $15 |
| Missouri | $15 |
| New Mexico | $15 |
| South Carolina | $15 |
| Colorado | $15 |
| Iowa | $16 |
| Arkansas | $16 |
| Arizona | $16 |
| West Virginia | $17 |
| Texas | $17 |
| Mississippi | $18 |
| Louisiana | $18 |
| Nebraska | $19 |
| Montana | $19 |
| Oklahoma | $19 |
| District of Columbia | $19 |
| North Dakota | $20 |
| Kansas | $20 |
| Wyoming | $21 |
| South Dakota | $22 |
Maine, Oregon, and California have the most affordable comprehensive rates. Meanwhile, Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota have the most expensive comprehensive insurance rates.
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How do I file an auto insurance claim for a flat tire?
Assuming that you have comprehensive coverage, you can file a claim with your car insurance company by contacting them and explaining that you need to file a comprehensive claim.
They’ll walk you through details on how you should proceed. You’ll need to pay a deductible, also.
You can use the same process for slashed tires, stolen tires, or tires damaged by unforeseen incidents.
Will you get new tires if an auto insurance company finds out you slashed them?
Absolutely not. Damaging your property and filing a claim is insurance fraud. There are serious penalties for this.
Check out our insurance law article to learn more.
Case Studies: Auto Insurance Coverage for Flat Tires
Case Study 1: Theft-Related Tire Damage
John’s car was parked on the street when someone stole his tires. He had comprehensive auto insurance coverage, which included coverage for theft. John filed a claim with his insurance company, and they covered the cost of replacing his stolen tires, minus the deductible.
Case Study 2: Vandalism and Slashed Tires
Samantha woke up one morning to find her car with slashed tires. She had comprehensive coverage that protected against vandalism. Samantha contacted her insurance company and filed a claim. After paying the deductible, her insurance company covered the cost of replacing the slashed tires.
Case Study 3: Flat Tire from a Pothole
Mike was driving and hit a large pothole, causing a flat tire. Unfortunately, his comprehensive auto insurance did not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear or potholes. He had to pay for the tire replacement out of pocket.
Case Study 4: Roadside Assistance for Flat Tires
Lisa experienced a flat tire while driving on the highway. Luckily, she had added roadside assistance coverage to her auto insurance policy. She called her insurance company’s roadside assistance service, and they dispatched a technician to her location. The technician repaired her flat tire, allowing her to continue her journey without additional costs.
Auto Insurance Covers Flat Tires: The Bottom Line
A flat tire with a nail or a flat from wear and tear is your responsibility to fix. However, if a flat tire is caused by an event that is covered by comprehensive insurance, your insurance company may be able to help.
Any claim that you file comes with a deductible. But if the cost of the damage is lower than the deductible, it’s best to find a way to avoid an insurance claim.
Now that you know how auto insurance covers flat tires, enter your ZIP code in the free online quote tool to compare multiple insurance companies in your area.
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