Wall Charger Coverage

Wall charger coverage is a clause in an auto insurance policy that reimburses you for certain damage or loss to the wall charger that powers up your electric vehicle.

What is wall charger coverage?

If you drive an electric car like a Prius or Tesla, you’ll need a wall charger. In some cases you can use an adapter with a dryer or A/C plug, but a properly installed electric vehicle charging station is your safest bet. 

But that electrical power charger isn’t cheap! If it’s damaged, you’d better hope your insurance coverage helps fix or replace it. As more and more Tesla cars and electric vehicles get out on the road, insurance providers have started offering Tesla insurance, or insurance programs specifically to meet the needs of electric car owners. 

Wall charger insurance coverage reimburses you for certain types of loss or damage to a wall charger as long as:

• You own the charger
• It’s used to charge your covered car
• The wall charger is installed at the address where you park your car

FYI: While optional in some states, California and Oregon require home and condo owners to carry liability insurance coverage for electric vehicle charging stations. That might protect your charger against certain perils, up to certain limits.   

When does wall charger coverage pay out a claim? 

After you file a claim with your car insurance company, they’ll investigate the damage or theft. If they find it’s a covered event relating to a wall charger for an electric vehicle listed on your auto insurance policy, they’ll pay out up to the limit defined in your policy contract. 

While you won’t have to pay your deductible, your car insurance rates could go up after filing a claim. As you’ll discover, pricing on insurance policies for plug-in cars is already typically higher than they are for a standard automobile.

What does wall charter coverage exclude?

All car insurance policies have exclusions, or things they won’t cover, to protect the insurer from fraud or negligence. If you file a claim under wall charger coverage it could be denied under the following circumstances: 

• Manufacturer’s negligence, a manufacturing defect or liability, or faulty workmanship
• Damage caused by using the power charger in ways not intended by the manufacturer
• Any intentional damage or loss caused by you or someone you told to damage your charger
• Wear and tear from freezing, as well as mechanical or electrical breakdown

Tesla owners should carefully read their owner’s manual for maintenance and repair suggestions. Make sure you use a manufacturer-approved lightning cable or connector with your wall charger or you could void your insurance coverage. You’re responsible for properly installing your electric vehicle charging station and maintaining it.