Does car insurance cover hitting a pole?

If your car insurance policy includes collision coverage, you should be covered for repairing your vehicle after hitting a pole. Collision covers physical damage to your vehicle caused by an accident involving another vehicle or a stationary object. Your liability coverage may also cover the damage to the pole, depending on the circumstances of the accident.

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What should I do after hitting a pole?

Follow these steps after you hit a pole with your vehicle:

Check for injuries
Take a breath and remain calm while checking for injuries to yourself or your passengers.
Move your vehicle out of the way
If your car is drivable, move it out of the roadway, turn on your hazard lights, and set up road flares.
Call the police
In many areas, you're required to notify the police if you have caused property damage. File a police report, which you'll need for an insurance claim.
Document the crash
Take pictures of the scene, including the damage to your vehicle and the stationary object you struck. Note the date, time, and location of the crash and any other essential details.
Contact your insurance company
Call your insurance company from the scene to report the accident and start the claims process. Share the pictures and other documentation from the crash.

Pro tip:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 8,697 people died in fixed-object crashes in 2022, which is 2% less than in the previous year. Trees, utility poles, and traffic barriers are the fixed objects that people hit most commonly and most often at night, with alcohol as a common contributing factor, per the IIHS.

If I hit a pole, do I call the police?

If you hit a pole with your car, you should call the police as soon as possible to report the incident to law enforcement. Also, your insurance company is likely to request a copy of the police report when they begin to investigate your claim.

What happens if you hit a pole and leave?

If you hit a pole and drive off, even if it's just a pole located in a parking lot, it could be considered an illegal hit-and-run. Rather than fleeing the scene, it's best to report the damage immediately.

Your insurance claim could also be in jeopardy if you flee the scene without filing a police report. Insurance companies often refer to police reports as evidence when processing claims, so it's best to report the incident immediately to the police and your insurance company to ensure that they can process your claim without an issue.

What happens if you hit a power pole?

Hitting a telephone or utility pole with your car can be a safety hazard — if the pole is a power line, there's an immediate risk of electrocution if you leave your car and step on the ground. It's important to call 911 and wait inside the car so trained professionals can help when they arrive on the scene.

If I hit a telephone pole, do I have to pay for it?

The city, county, or other local government that maintains the telephone pole may seek compensation from you for the cost to repair the pole. In general, your liability coverage may cover the cost to repair or replace the pole, so you don't have to pay for the damage entirely out of pocket.

How much does it cost if you hit a telephone pole?

If you hit any type of pole, you may have to pay for the damage to your vehicle, the pole, and any other property damaged in the accident, and any tickets you receive. If you have collision coverage, your insurance should pay to repair or replace your vehicle. If you damage the pole, generally speaking, your liability coverage should pay for the damage up to your policy's limit.

Will my insurance go up if I hit a pole?

Insurance companies typically view single-vehicle accidents, such as a car hitting a pole, as being the fault of the driver. So, there's a chance that your rate will increase after hitting a pole. This is especially true if you receive a citation for a moving violation, such as speeding or driving under the influence. Luckily, these rate increases don't usually stick around forever. According to the Insurance Information Institute, pricing increases after an accident vary by carrier but generally apply to your rate for three years after a claim.