Motorists could be hit with big bills if they have an accident driving into Storm Eowyn’s hurricane-force winds today.
As record gusts of 114mph hit parts of the British Isles, there are warnings that insurers could refuse to pay claims if they can prove a driver’s negligence.
This could include drivers traveling on a road who have been advised or not to take reasonable steps to ensure safety.
It comes as motorists in parts of the country have been told “don’t drive unless you need to” and millions have received a phone alert warning of the “extreme and real risk to life”.
Traveling during a red weather warning does not automatically invalidate a policy, but insurers say road users should be responsible and take all necessary precautions.
An AA spokesperson said: ‘Yes, you can drive during any weather warning, whether red, amber or yellow. But the goal is to make you aware of the risks and their likelihood so you can plan ahead.
‘Your insurance provider will not invalidate your policy just because you had to drive in heavy snow or high winds. If your car is taxed, has a valid MOT and is insured, you are legal to be on the road.’
Advice issued by the company includes going ‘slow and steady’, avoiding rural roads and getting ‘equipped’.
A road sign showing a red weather warning for Friday on Calder Road, Edinburgh

The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for Storm Eowyn, warning of gusts of up to 100mph and ‘life-threatening flying debris’
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The road safety authority added: “Avoid unnecessary travel when (the red warning) passes due to extremely strong winds which will result in downed trees and power lines, destruction to property, flying debris and road blockages.”
But Nick Millerchip, driving expert at Campervan conversion specialist Van Junkies, warned that drivers should check the type of insurance policy they have, as some with third-party protection will not be covered if their vehicle is damaged by the storm.
He said: ‘With insurance prices rising, many motorists are switching to lower-tier insurance policies to save money.
“While third-party coverage could reduce premiums in the short term, it leaves drivers exposed to significant financial losses if their vehicle is damaged in a storm.”
It comes as the generally cheaper insurance policy will often not pay out if a driver claims to cover the costs of repairing their own vehicle, even if the damage is caused by debris from bad weather.
Insurance Ireland chief executive Moyagh Murdock said: ‘It is very important that people put safety first and heed the warnings regarding Storm Eowyn.
‘Our strong advice is that you do not put yourself and emergency services personnel in unnecessary danger by driving during a red warning.
“In the event that your home or car is damaged, your insurer will be on standby to help, and our advice is to contact them as quickly as possible.”

Trees have been felled in Kerry during Storm Eowyn

The forecast path and wind strength of Storm Éowyn at 5am today
Auto & Storm Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
How do insurers define a ‘storm’?
The Association of British Insurers says that a storm is a period of violent weather defined as:
- Wind speeds gusting to at least 48 knots (55 mph) or
- Torrential rain at a rate of at least 25 mm per hour or
- Snow to a depth of at least one foot (30 cm) in 24 hours or
- Salve of such intensity that it causes damage to hard surfaces or breaks glass
Does auto insurance cover storm damage to my vehicle?
If a motorist has comprehensive motor insurance, this will cover damage to their vehicle.
Insurers often classify weather-related incidents as an “act of God.”
However, the type of damage and situations that insurers will cover can vary, so always check the policy wording.
However, third party fire and theft drivers will not be covered if damage occurs during storms or floods.
Will my insurance premiums increase if I make a storm damage claim?
Claims caused due to damage caused by bad weather will generally fall into the ‘at fault’ category because the insurer cannot recover its costs from elsewhere.
This means that claiming for storm damage will usually affect your no claims discount (NCD). Therefore, they are likely to see their premiums increase when it comes to renewal time.
However, some insurers protect NCD in the event of storm damage, so check the wording of your policy.
What type of storm damage will be covered by my insurer?
For those with comprehensive motor insurance policies, it can cover the cost of damage if high winds cause a tree to fall on your car or flying debris should crush a window(s) paint and dent panels.
If heavy rain triggers flash flooding that damages your car, for example causing electrical faults, you should also be able to make a claim. Read this is Money’s in-depth guide to flood damage claims.
Most comprehensive policies will cover vehicle damage caused by unusually large hail and most policies cover damage suffered when the weather suddenly causes dangerous driving conditions resulting in a crash, or your parked vehicle is struck by another driver.
Again, it’s always worth checking the policy wording to see if there are any exemptions to the above.
When might your insurer deny a storm damage claim?
While most comprehensive policies cover history damage, there are cases where insurers may reject claims.
Typical exclusions for storm damage may include:
- Damage from a neighbor’s property: If a neighbor’s tree or ceiling tile falls and damages your car, your insurer will recommend you claim through your home insurance. However, to do so, they would need to prove that they were legally responsible (negligent), the ABI says.
- Driving through flood water: An insurer may deny a claim if it proves that driving through high flood water when doing so was avoidable.
- Ignoring warnings: Comparison site Gocompare says a claim is likely to be rejected if a driver has ignored warnings about traveling or closing road signs.
- Irresponsible driving: You will not be covered if you were found to be driving without due care and attention, or at high speeds.
- Leaving your car unattended – In storms during icy and heavy snow conditions, insurers will not accept a theft claim if the owner has left the vehicle unattended with the engine extending to defrost the windshield.
Storm Eowyn: Parts of UK brace for 114mph winds
The warning follows wind readings showing Southern and Western Ireland bearing the brunt of one of the strongest storms ever to hit the islands.
Mace Head on Galway’s exposed coastline recorded a gust of 114mph this morning, the strongest ever recorded in Ireland.
Figures over 80mph appear widely with Aberdaron in Gwynedd reaching 93mph and 70mph recorded in Cumbria.
But gusts of 80 to 90 mph are expected widely inland in warning areas, with speeds of up to 100 mph likely to tear along coastlines as the storm moves.
National Highways reported that the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and the M6 in Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were closed overnight due to high winds.
The M48 Severn Bridge was also closed, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 between Devon and Cornwall was closed to high-sided vehicles until 5am.
Meanwhile, local roads in Avon and Somerset were blocked due to fallen trees, with motorists advised to “take care when travelling”.
The RAC breakdown has advised drivers in the warning areas to stay safe by parking away from trees, maintaining firm control of the steering wheel, avoiding coastal routes and watching out for debris.

The Met Office in Northern Ireland has issued red Wind warnings from 7am to 2pm on Friday, and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.
Alerts are extremely rare, with the last one imposed in Scotland almost exactly a year ago.
The Met Office issued the alert on January 22, 2024, during Storm Isha, although it only covered part of the northeast.
Before that, the last alert was for Storm Eunice in February 2022.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gunderson said: “We reserve issuing red warnings for the most severe weather that poses likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case for Storm Eowyn.”
In a statement in the Scottish Parliament, First Minister John Swinney added: ‘The storm could bring winds of up to 100mph.
‘The advice from the Met office is clear, potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property and transport and power disruptions.
‘We have to be clear, people should not travel.
“Our message is simple, follow the advice of the metal bureau and the police, take this seriously and stay safe.”
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