Up here in the delightful PNW, weather can do cute mists, angry rain, and everyone’s favorite, “SURPRISE SLEET STORM” all in the same week. One day, you’re thinking about a car wash. The next day, your wipers are screaming and a pothole is trying to eat your front tire.
PNW auto insurance helps you deal with those spicy winter claims in Washington this time of the year. February isn’t always dangerous. It’s just unpredictable. And unpredictable months are when you may (but hopefully not) learn what your auto insurance actually covers.
This guide from Vern Fonk will help you understand exactly what to keep in mind during the winter months up here.
February is when winter gets bored and starts improvising. The roads pay the price. And bad roads, bad drivers, and everyone looking to just get through the darkness and gloom lead to some unique situations for claims adjusters during this month. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Potholes are basically a freeze/thaw magic trick. Water gets into cracks, freezes and expands, then thaws and leaves gaps. Now your car comes along and decides to get caught in one of those big gaps, and now you’ve busted up your transmission pan and are late for work. Might be one of those things where you want to have some on-call roadside assistance in your policy (especially if it is sleeting).
Rain in the PNW isn’t rare. But February loves the pop-up storm, the kind where the sky goes dark at 2 p.m. and the road turns shiny. Add standing water, fog, and early darkness, and you get the classic slick road + low visibility + people still driving like it’s July when it’s clearly not, because the sky doesn’t even have the concept of sunshine. If you want truly practical rainy season driving tips, start with the boring stuff: more space between cars, slower turns, lights on, and fewer last-second lane changes. That’s how you survive winter driving in Washington without becoming someone else’s dashcam content.
Vern Fonk sees its fair share of claims every February. They fall along a lot of the same lines noted above — pothole damage to transmissions, wrecks from forgetting what to do when you’re on a slick road, that sort of thing. If you’re wondering how to avoid these calamities, this section can help you sort it out.
A pothole hit can mess up more than a tire. Wheels, alignment, steering, suspension … yeeeeep. All of the above! Usually, you’ll handle this type of damage with collision coverage, surprisingly. That’s because insurers see this as hitting an object.
Without getting back into your old physics class from high school, the basic idea here is that slick roads mean you have less traction. And less traction means it takes longer to come to a stop, even if you slam on your brake pedal. Now up here in the PNW, people sometimes forget this simple fact of life, and maybe you have too once or twice. That’s how a fender bender typically happens. Unfortunately, some of these accidents can be more serious and cause significant bodily damage.
The Washington State Department of Transportation recommends that you slow down on slick roads and leave more room for braking if you have to, and to be particularly careful when you’re at an off-ramp for the highway.
The biggest thing to worry about when it comes to ice in February in the PNW is “black ice.” That’s just ice that you have trouble seeing on the roadway because water is clear, even when it’s in solid form. It often pops up on bridges, intersections, and off-ramps. The key is to just slow it down.
One question a lot of drivers have for us is this: Are slide-offs “at-fault” type accidents? Well, it depends, and the answer is a dissatisfying “sometimes.” Insurers usually look at whether you drove safely for the conditions. Ice isn’t an automatic free pass. It’s a reason to drive like you’re carrying a soup pot with no lid.
February is a great time to check your policy BEFORE it checks you. Luckily, we’ve prepared a quick checklist of things you should take a look at on your own Vern Fonk auto coverage (if you already have it; if you don’t, it might be time to get a quote!).
Collision and comprehensive sound like the same thing to some drivers. But they are definitely different. The basics:
Collision pays for damage to your car from a collision with another car or an object (including potholes), or a rollover.
Comprehensive pays for non-collision damage like theft, fire, windstorm, flood, falling objects, or hitting an animal. It can also cover windshield damage.
Unfortunately, February brings both: potholes (collisions) and weather chaos (often comprehensive). If you’re not sure what you have, this is the month to find out or ask an agent for more help.
Dead battery. Flat tire. Locked keys. A tow because you slid into a ditch at 6 mph, and now you’re stuck. Sometimes winter doesn’t crash your car, but just makes your day as annoying as possible. A good roadside assistance plan can help you get back up and running — a friendly employee can come jump your battery, bring a spare tire, or get you back into your car if you’ve locked yourself out!
February storms don’t stop at your driveway. Roof leaks, fallen branches, and water problems can show up, too. It might make sense to bundle your homeowners insurance with your auto policy. Or, if you rent, you can bundle that policy too. Be sure to talk to your agent!
So take five minutes and review your February car insurance in the PNW. Do you have collision? Comprehensive? Roadside? A deductible you can actually handle? If the answer is “uhhh,” go grab a quote for auto insurance today. You can get a quote from Vern Fonk Insurance online, give us a call at (800) 455-8276, or visit one of our PNW offices today near you.
Usually, yes, if you have collision coverage. Pothole damage, insurance-wise, is commonly treated like hitting an object, so collision may help (minus your deductible).
Sometimes. Insurers often look at whether you drove safely for conditions. Slowing down and being careful on bridges/ramps matters.
It can. Flooding or falling objects are often comprehensive situations, while a crash caused by hydroplaning is usually collision.
Collision, comprehensive, and roadside/towing tend to do the most heavy lifting in winter.
If your current policy would leave you sweating after a winter surprise, it’s worth reviewing. The right answer depends on your car, budget, and how much you could pay out of pocket if something happens.
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