It’s common for people to watch a scary movie and wonder what happens after the villain is defeated at the end. Who would pay for all that property damage? Are there insurance companies in the horror movie universe? What would happen if your car was damaged or stolen by a movie monster?
Drivers who have full coverage car insurance might be surprised to learn that, in a world where monsters actually existed, they would be covered for damage caused by several movie monsters, villains, and other creatures.
Michael Meyers slashes your tires
You drive into the town of Haddonfield a few days before Halloween and a maniacal serial killer slashes your tires while chasing a young Jamie Lee Curtis down the street. What are you supposed to do now?
Your comprehensive coverage pays for damage caused by vandalism, which means your insurance company will pay to repair or replace your tires. However, the cost of replacing your tires may be less than your deductible, especially if you have a deductible of $500 or more. If the cost of new tires is less than your deductible you will be expected to pay for the damage out-of-pocket, which means there would be no point in filing a claim.
Choosing a lower deductible amount will increase the annual cost of your car insurance, but it might be worth it if you find yourself stuck in a horror movie with a knife-wielding villain.
You crash your car while under Dracula’s thrall
Dracula and his vampire offspring have a number of supernatural abilities. They are immortal, they can shapeshift, and they can put their victims in a thrall. That was bad enough when horse-drawn carriages were all the rage, but what happens if a vampire puts you under his thrall while you are driving and causes you to crash your car?
There is no way to prove to an insurance agent that Dracula had you under his spell when you crashed your car, which means your collision coverage would pay to repair or replace your car after your vampire-assisted accident. Additionally, your liability insurance would cover any damage you caused during the accident, up to the limits of your policy.
Given that you likely weren’t even capable of braking properly because you weren’t in control of yourself, the odds of you causing a significant amount of damage are high. Setting your liability coverage at 100/300/100 is the best way to make sure you have enough coverage in the event of a serious accident.
Norman Bates sinks your car into a lake
If you check into the Bates Motel, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with a murderer who killed a woman and dumped her car in the lake to get rid of the evidence. What would happen if you survived an attack only to find Norman has already pushed your car into the water?
In addition to the charge of attempted murder, Norman Bates would also be charged with auto theft. Comprehensive insurance covers theft, which means your insurance company would write you a check for the actual cash value (ACV) of your car, minus your deductible.
Once the police arrive on the scene, make sure they include the stolen car in their report. Insurance companies typically require stolen vehicle claims to be reported to the police before a claim can be filed.
King Kong crushes your car
You’re driving through Manhattan on a seemingly normal day when, suddenly, the biggest primate in the world steps menacingly out from behind the Empire State Building. Though you managed to flee on foot, King Kong picked up your car and crushed it like an empty soda can. Now what do you do?
Your comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by animals. This typically covers you if you hit a deer or chipmunks chewed through a hose in your engine, but it would apply if King Kong destroyed your car as well. The odds are good that a monster the size of King Kong would damage your car beyond repair, which means your insurance company would likely declare the car totaled. You would be entitled to the ACV of your car, minus your deductible, and the insurance company would scrap your car.
Facing these monsters? You won’t be able to file a claim.
Filing a car insurance claim only works if there are enough people left alive to have a functional society once the danger is gone. After all, if you are one of a handful of survivors there won’t be anyone else around to process your claim. If you wake up one day and find that the world has been invaded by the monsters listed below, filing a car insurance claim probably won’t be possible and will likely be the least of your worries.
Zombies - “Night Of The Living Dead,” “Train To Busan,” “I Am Legend”
Death Angels - “A Quiet Place”
Body Snatchers - “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”
The Ancient Ones - “Cabin In The Woods”
Triffids - “The Day Of The Triffids”
The Creatures - “Bird Box”
Clover - “Cloverfield”
