Will auto insurance cover a vandalized gas tank?

Coverage Q&A: The insured suspects someone intentionally put water or other substance in his car's gas tank.

The insured suspects his car gas tank was vandalized. (Photo: PHOTOBUAY/Shutterstock)

Every claim is different, and some insurance policies can be difficult to interpret for unique situations. FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, the recognized authority on insurance coverage interpretation and analysis for the P&C industry, makes it simple to find credible answers to your complicated coverage questions. Analysis brought to you by our FC&S experts. 

Editor’s Note: What happens if someone intentionally adds water or other substance to the gas tank of a vehicle owned by another? Is this vandalism, and would there be coverage under the personal auto policy? This week’s Q&A explores this scenario.

Question: If an insured suspects that someone put water or a substance in his gas tank,  would this be covered under the vandalism portion of his auto policy?

— New York Subscriber

Analysis: It is seldom an accident when foreign substances are put into a gas tank, although some seem to think that certain substances will help their engine run better, which is far from the truth. In general, vandalism requires an act made with willful and malicious intent, intending to cause harm.

Answer: To learn the answer to this week’s coverage Q&A, please log into your FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation account.

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