Depending on the cause of the damage, your homeowners insurance will cover the costs of repairing your fence. Your home insurance policy's "other structures" coverage covers damage to your fence caused by storms and vandalism, but not dings from a lawnmower or poor landscaping. In terms of coverage, most policies cover fence damage up to a certain percentage of total coverage — typically 10%.
Your homeowners insurance will cover fence damage based on how it occurred, up to the limits of your policy. Fence damage caused by a flood or earthquake, for example, is not covered because both events are excluded from standard coverage.
The amount of coverage for structures other than your primary residence is typically limited to 10% of your total policy coverage. For example, if you have $200,000 in coverage on your home, the other structures coverage will be capped at $20,000, implying that your insurer will only reimburse you for up to $20,000 in damage.
The following are some scenarios in which homeowners insurance should cover fence damage:
Your tree falls on your fence
Your home insurance will cover the damage if a healthy tree on your property falls onto your fence. If the tree was already weakened due to neglect or lack of maintenance, your insurance company may refuse to cover the damage. Insurers typically only cover accidents, and a weakened tree would be considered a foreseeable and preventable issue. This makes it critical to monitor the health of trees on and near your property.
A neighbor's tree falls on your fence
If your neighbor's old, rotting, or diseased tree falls and damages your fence, your insurer will hold them liable for the damage. However, depending on your state's laws, a fence that borders a boundary line may hold both you and your neighbor liable for 50% of the damage, with each of you paying half the deductible for repairing the fence.
In either case, you must file a claim with your home insurance provider, who may then seek reimbursement from your neighbor (or their insurance). If you believe your neighbor's tree is a threat to your fence, notify them that the tree requires maintenance; a little pruning or even cutting the tree down before it causes damage could save both you and your neighbor a future headache.
Storms or vandalism damage your fence
If the wind from a storm knocks down or damages your fence, your homeowners insurance policy will cover the damage up to the limits of your coverage. In the event that your fence is vandalized, your homeowners insurance will cover it as well. If your fence was damaged by someone other than a storm or natural disaster, you should contact your local police department and file a police report.
Someone's car crashes into your fence
If someone drives into your fence, the damage should be covered by your homeowners insurance. However, by filing a claim against the driver's property damage liability car insurance, you may be able to avoid filing a claim against your home insurance. Property liability coverage is required in all states and typically covers at least $10,000 in damage.
Furthermore, if your homeowners policy does not cover all of the costs, filing a claim against the driver's liability insurance can help cover the total costs. You will not be able to file a claim against yourself if your car collided with the fence.
When you notice damage to your fence, take pictures before cleaning up or moving anything. Photographs of your fence can help your insurer prove that the damage was caused by natural causes, vandalism, or careless driving. The police report will also serve as substantial evidence in the latter two cases.
Next, contact a contractor to get an estimate on the damage to your fence. If the total cost of the fence repair estimate is less than your insurance deductible, you're probably better off paying for the repairs yourself rather than filing a claim.
This is due to the fact that insurance policies have deductibles that the policyholder must pay out of pocket before the insurer will cover any costs. Making claims raises your homeowners insurance premiums, so file a claim only when the cost of repairs exceeds your deductible.
If filing a claim makes financial sense, the next step is to review the "other structures" coverage in your home insurance policy. This section describes the specific circumstances under which your fence is covered and how much it is covered for. If you can't find this section, contact your agent or insurer for more information.
It's time to contact your insurance company and file a homeowners claim after you've taken pictures of the damage to your fence and received an estimate for the cost of repairing it. Most insurers allow you to do this over the phone or online.
The agent who answers your call will ask you a few questions about the damage to help you determine if the cost of repair exceeds your deductible, as well as the nature of the damage. Following that, you will be sent claim forms to complete.
The insurance company will then dispatch an adjuster to assess the damage and determine what, if any, damage is covered. Make an appointment with the adjuster to point out any damage they may have overlooked and to provide your photos and, if applicable, a police report. It's also a good idea to provide any prior pictures of the fence to the adjuster, if you have any.
Following the inspection by the adjuster, the insurance company will inform you of the amount of money it will provide to cover repairs. Keep in mind that you can bargain if you believe the insurer is not providing adequate coverage. This is where an estimate from an independent contractor can help.
If your claim is denied or the payout is unreasonable, the insurance company must explain why. If you disagree, talk to the adjuster or your agent about it, or have another contractor or adjuster come out for a second estimate. Once you've reached an acceptable settlement with your insurer, it may choose to pay you in part before repairs begin and the rest after the fence is repaired.