a large tree that fell on a home garage is being cut up by worker with a power saw

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Surprising Claims Covered By Your Homeowner's Insurance Policy

Meteors? Earthquakes? Dog bites? Riots? Our quiz has the answers

John Waggoner

AARP

En español

Published August 01, 2022

10 Questions

29c07cf9-26eb-4b18-84d5-a8fb5ab0ca0b

What's actually covered by homeowner's insurance? The answer is critical once disaster strikes. That's when you will need to know when your insurance company will come to your aid and when the repairs will have to come out of your own pocket. Policies vary somewhat, so start by reviewing the declarations page of your homeowner's policy, which provides a summary of your coverage, deductibles and how claims are paid. Still not sure what's covered and what isn't? Call your agent. Add to your knowledge now by taking this quiz to see how well you really understand what's covered by typical homeowner's insurance policies.

Surprising Claims Covered By Your Homeowner's Insurance Policy

[ {
  "question" : "Your neighbor’s oak tree isn’t quite as mighty as the derecho that swept through your area. It landed on your garage, which is now flatter than the tires on the car inside of it. Your homeowner’s policy will pay for:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Your garage",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Your garage and your car",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Your garage and removal of the tree",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "In most states, if the tree trunk is on your neighbor’s property, you are responsible for the damage it causes when it falls on your property, and your insurance will pay, minus a deductible. (If the tree is on the property line, you both are responsible and have to split the bill.) If the tree falls because of your neighbor’s negligence, your insurer might have cause to blame your neighbor and demand that your neighbor’s insurance company pay. Your car isn’t covered on your homeowner’s insurance; it is covered only if you have purchased optional comprehensive auto coverage (for non-collision damage), according to Mark Friedlander at the Insurance Information Institute.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A hurricane causes water from a nearby creek to overflow its banks and flood your house, resulting in $20,000 worth of damage. Your house isn’t in a floodplain. Your policy will pay:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Everything, minus a deductible",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nothing ",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "50 percent of the damages, minus a deductible",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Everything, including damage to the yard",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "As a general rule, if water touches the ground before it comes into your house, it’s not covered by a homeowner’s policy. You need a separate flood policy for that, regardless of where you live. If the water comes in through a roof that has been torn off during a hurricane, however, the homeowner’s policy will typically cover that damage.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A meteor crashes through your house, lodging in your granite counter, and shattering your Ming vase. Your policy will pay for:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Repairs to the roof",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Repairs to the roof and the counter, as well as the Ming vase on the counter",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Repairs to the roof and the counter",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Most property policies cover against objects falling from the sky, including meteors, satellites and that wrench someone dropped from the space station. They typically don’t cover the entire value of very expensive personal items, unless you add a separate rider.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A riot breaks out in the town square where you live. Your home gets spray-painted, and someone hurls a flaming torch through your window. You move to a hotel while your house is repaired. Your policy will pay for:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "A. Spray-paint removal, fire restoration, debris cleanup, temporary living costs ",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "B. Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "C. Spray-paint removal, fire restoration",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "D. Spray-paint removal, fire restoration, debris cleanup",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Standard homeowner’s insurance covers damage done during civil unrest, and it typically includes additional living expenses, such as lodging and restaurant bills while your home is being repaired.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A man driving home from work falls asleep at the wheel. He winds up sleeping in your living room, because his car crashed through your picture window. Your homeowner’s policy covers:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Damage to car and house",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Home repair, except picture window",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "The amount of damage above the driver’s collision policy.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Typically, the insurance carried by the person at fault covers accidents. If the sleepy driver had $20,000 in collision coverage and damages were $30,000, your homeowners’ policy would pay the extra $10,000, minus any deductible.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "You’re deep-frying a turkey for Thanksgiving, and you wisely stay 25 feet away from the flames. Unfortunately, your house is 10 feet from the fryer pot, and your guests get a helping of melted siding with their dinner. Your insurance will pay:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of repairing the siding",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of repairing the siding and any injuries you received",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of repairing the siding plus the cost of removing hundreds of embarrassing Facebook posts about you",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Unless your insurance company suspects that you set the fire intentionally, that is. Homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover arson unless you can prove someone else set the fire as an act of vandalism. Your medical insurance covers your injuries. And you can’t insure against being mocked on Facebook, although your policy may protect you against libel and slander.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "You invite your church members over for dinner. Regrettably, your lasagna sauce included a pinch of norovirus, and half the guests had to go to the hospital. Your insurance will pay:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Only medical bills for the guests",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Only your medical bills",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Medical and legal bills for the guests",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Most homeowner’s policies come with a minimum $100,000 in liability insurance, which will cover medical and legal bills for incidents that happen to others on your property. (If you poison yourself, your medical insurance covers that.) To be fully protected, according to Friedlander, homeowners should purchase between $300,000 and $500,000 worth of liability coverage.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Your son hits a home run and the ball goes through a neighbor’s window and smashes a valuable Greek urn. Your policy covers:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Window repair",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Urn repair or replacement",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Window repair and urn repair or replacement",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Homeowner’s insurance covers accidents that happen outside your home, from Junior’s “urned run” to your shanking a golf ball into the clubhouse dining room. If you smash a home run into your own window, however, you’re out of luck.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Your dog bites your neighbor as he fetches the newspaper from his driveway. Your homeowner’s policy covers:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Medical bills",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Medical bills and legal bills for a liability lawsuit against you",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Nothing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of a fence to keep your dog out of trouble.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Your homeowner’s policy would cover the victim’s medical bills and your legal costs as part of your liability coverage. But read your policy carefully: Some insurers won’t cover certain dog breeds, and some policies may raise your homeowner’s rates after your dog bites someone. Conversely, if your neighbor’s dog bit you, the neigbor’s homeowner’s policy would cover your medical bills. Liability claims stemming from dog bites and other canine-related injuries cost homeowners insurers $882 million in 2021, according to the Insurance Information Institute.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A tree falls on your power line during a cold snap and your pipes freeze. Your homeowner’s policy covers:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Nothing ",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of the pipes and the plumber",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The cost of the pipes, the plumber and the damage caused by the water leak",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The damage caused by the water leak",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Insurance typically doesn’t cover the pipes themselves, so the cost of replacing them is on you. It does, however, cover water damage from burst pipes, which includes soggy rugs, wrecked wallboard and mold, among other things. Be sure to make your claim quickly and to arrange for repairs as soon as you know there’s damage.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Surprising Claims Covered By Your Homeowner's Insurance Policy

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John Waggoner was AARP's money editor from 2019 to 2024, covering everything from budgeting and taxes to retirement planning and Social Security. He was previously a reporter for Kiplinger's Personal Finance and  USA Today and has written books on investing and the 2008 financial crisis. Waggoner's  USA Today investing column ran in dozens of newspapers for 25 years.

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