Does Car Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer?

Hitting a deer is covered by comprehensive car insurance, not collision. If you swerve and hit a tree, that’s a collision claim.

By the Home & Dime Editorial Team · Last updated 2026

Why comprehensive

Animal strikes are non-crash events under comprehensive.

Deer vs swerving

Hit the deer → comprehensive. Swerve into a tree → collision.

Frequently asked questions

Does it raise rates?

Less likely than at-fault crashes.

Police report?

Helpful for larger claims.

The bottom line

Hitting a deer is comprehensive; swerving into something is collision.

Related guides

• Comprehensive vs. Collision Coverage, Explained

Sources: Insurance Information Institute (iii.org); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; FEMA; state Departments of Insurance. General information, not insurance advice.