Can Insurance Companies Inspect My Home or Car Without Permission?
Posted on Wed, Apr 06, 2011
Your car is hit from behind and the trunk is smashed in. Or, a branch from a tree in your yard breaks off and crashed through your roof. A physical inspection is the best way to assess the amount of damage to your property. The benefit is that it ensures you're paid for all the eligible damage sustained. But that doesn't mean your insurance company can show up on your doorstep any time.
Your insurance company (and its representatives) cannot trespass onto your property, or go into your car without your permission.
In most cases, you have a legal right to refuse an inspection from your insurance company but, think about the potential consequences. At the very least, refusing an inspection will delay the processing of your insurance claim. That means you could be left with a damaged car or needed home repairs longer than expected. Your insurance company could also deny the claim outright so you could be left with some hefty out of pocket expenses.
Home insurance companies can send appraisers to conduct inspections on their behalf. The appraisers are trained to assess potential liability issues (e.g. missing handrails or deteriorating walkways) and general property conditions to determine if a property is eligible for coverage.
If you deny an insurance company a pre-policy inspection, you could be facing a similar fate. The insurance company will probably not write the policy.
Under typical circumstances, an insurance adjuster will not show up at your home unexpectedly. Adjusters will generally contact you to schedule an appointment because they will probably want to discuss the damage with you and find out more details that just a physical inspection might not reveal.