Riot damage: Would your home or car insurance pay out?

The UK has been gripped by rioting in the past week, mostly targeted at buildings linked to immigration – but what are your compensation rights if your home or car gets damaged too?

Violence has broken out across the country after three children were murdered in a stabbing in Southport on 29 July.

Many shops, mosques and immigration centres have been targeted with looting, arson and violence towards police and minorities.

Some cars and private homes have been damaged by the rioting, too.

Up in flames: Several cars and homes have been damaged by the recent rioting in the UK

But drivers and homeowners are not guaranteed payouts for any riot damage, as this can be a touchy subject for insurers.

Although most policies do cover rioting, some insurers specifically state that they will not pay claims for any harm coming from riots.

The good news is that if insurance does not pay out, claimants can still seek compensation from their local police and crime commissioner, but even this is not guaranteed.

Here is everything you need to know about compensation for riot damage to vehicles and properties.

Will insurers pay out for rioting?

Riot damage is normally covered by car and home insurance policies.

These typically require claimants to tell the police about the damage beforehand and to get a crime reference number. However, some insurers will exclude it. 

For example, major car insurer Admiral will not pay out for damage from rioting, as well as from other violence such as terrorism and war.

Odd ones out: Some insurers will not pay for riot damage claims, although most now do

Insurer Allianz covers rioting damage claims in its home insurance policy as standard – but not if the policyholder lives in Northern Ireland, where this is excluded.

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

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers trade body said: ‘Individuals, homeowners and businesses affected by the recent unrest will understandably be incredibly worried and distressed.

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

‘Insurers appreciate 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 won’t pay for riot damage? 

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

This is also the case if you have no home insurance, or if you have third-party car insurance which will not pay for 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 Policing and Crime.

However, before this sort of riot compensation can be paid then an individual PCC needs to officially state that civil unrest is a ‘riot’ under the terms of the Riot Compensation Act.

This involves the PCC applying a number of tests, such as whether there have been ‘persons riotously and tumultuously assembled together’.

If a PCC accepts that rioting has happened, then claims can be made within 43 days of the riot ending.

This requirement is different for insurers, which do not need civil unrest to officially be called a ‘riot’, and will take each case on its own merits.

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

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