Many dog owners enjoy driving with a dog in the car, but what happens if a pet owner is involved in a car accident? Many dogs are injured in car accidents, but only one auto insurance company offers pet injury coverage as part of its auto collision coverage plans.
According to the Progressive Insurance Company website, "Pets are part of your family, and when you take them with you in the car, they're your passengers, too. So shouldn't they be covered by your auto insurance policy? We think so...Your dogs and cats are covered for vet costs up to $1,000 when they're hurt in an accident."
Progressive Insurance provides pet injury coverage as a part of all collision insurance policies. As of December 2009, coverage for pets was available in all states except in New Hampshire and North Carolina.
Progressive Insurance Pet Injury Coverage – How it Works
Progressive Insurance's pet injury coverage is free of charge to all car collision insurance policy holders; there is no extra cost for the benefit. Progressive's pet injury coverage will also pay for pet injuries associated with car theft or fire.
Pet owners can enjoy peace of mind as they drive with their dog (or cat) in the car, as an auto insurance benefit of up to $1,000 will be paid to cover the cost of veterinary care or medicine for a injury that results from a car accident.
In addition, Progressive Insurance says that, "[Pet injury] coverage also extends to a cat or dog owned by a relative who lives with you."
How is Pet Injury Coverage Different from Pet Insurance?
It's important to note that pet injury coverage is not pet insurance. The Progressive Insurance website explains it like this: "Progressive's Pet Injury coverage protects your dog or cat from injuries that result from accidents when they're inside your vehicle. Pet Injury coverage is not pet insurance, which covers your pet in the event of illness or injury."
So while pet injury coverage will pay veterinary costs for a pet who's injured in an accident, the insurance benefit will not pay for a pet who is injured while playing outside. It's also important to note that pet injury coverage does not cover veterinary costs associated with injuries sustained if a dog is hit by a car.
The car insurance policy wording also indicates that pet injury coverage will only pay for cat and dog injuries that are associated with a motor vehicle collision. So if a dog sustains an eye injury while riding in the car with his head out the window, the pet injury benefit will not apply.
Unlike car insurance with pet injury coverage, a pet insurance policy will pay for veterinary care associated with illness or injury, regardless of whether the pet's injury or illness is a result of a car accident.
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Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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