Riot Damage: Will Your Home or Auto Insurance Pay?

The UK has been hit by riots this past week, most of which targeted buildings linked to immigration, but what are your rights to compensation if your home or car is also damaged?

Violence has erupted across the country after three children were killed in a stabbing in Southport on July 29.

Numerous shops, mosques and immigration centres have been subject to looting, arson and violence against police and minorities.

Some cars and private homes were also damaged in the riots.

But neither drivers nor property owners are guaranteed payouts for damages caused by riots, as this can be a sensitive issue for insurers.

Although most policies cover riots, some insurers specifically state that they will not pay claims for damages resulting from such riots.

The good news is that if insurance doesn’t pay, claimants can still seek compensation from the local police and crime commissioner, but even this is not guaranteed.

Here you will find everything you need to know about compensation for damage to vehicles and property caused by riots.

Will insurers pay for damages caused by the riots?

Damage caused by riots is typically covered by auto and home insurance policies.

These insurance policies usually require claimants to inform the police of the damage in advance and obtain a crime reference number. However, some insurers exclude this.

For example, major car insurer Admiral will not pay for damage caused by riots or other acts of violence such as terrorism and war.

Allianz insurers cover damage caused by riots on their home insurance policy as standard, but not if the insured lives in Northern Ireland, where this is excluded.

If you are affected by the riots, it is worth checking your policies to see if you can make a claim with your insurer.

A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers, a trade body, said: “People, homeowners and businesses affected by the recent unrest are understandably incredibly worried and distressed.

‘Physical damage to homes or businesses is covered as standard by most home and business insurance policies. Most comprehensive auto insurance also includes coverage for damage to your car.

‘Insurers understand that this is an incredibly stressful time and will be on hand to do everything they can to help customers as quickly as possible.’

What happens if my insurer doesn’t pay for damages caused by riots?

If your insurer won’t pay out a riot claim due to exclusions in your policy, you can potentially make a compensation claim to your local police and crime commissioner, but not yet.

The same applies if you do not have home insurance or if you have third-party car insurance that does not cover damage to your vehicle.

There are 14 PCCs in England and Wales, and their job is to oversee policing in their region. In London, the PCC equivalent is the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime.

However, before this type of riot compensation can be paid, the individual PCC must officially declare that the civil disturbance is a “riot” under the terms of the Riot Compensation Act.

This involves the PCC applying a series of tests, such as whether there were “people gathered in a tumultuous and disorderly manner.”

If a PCC accepts that a disturbance occurred, then claims can be made within 43 days of the disturbance ending.

This requirement is different for insurers, who do not need civil disturbances to be officially called “riots” and will consider each case on its own merits.

Currently, no PCC has declared any UK civil disturbances to be riots, according to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, meaning this compensation cannot yet be claimed.