Does car insurance cover accidents in snow and ice?
Every winter, insurers see a jump in claims for low-speed bumps, slides into kerbs and cars that could not stop at the bottom of a hill. If it happens to you, two questions come up straight away: am I covered, and will it count as my fault?
The short answers are that your insurance works in snow and ice just as it does at any other time, but the weather rarely gets anyone off the hook. Here is how it works.
Last updated 9 November 2026. This is general information, not advice on your own policy, so always check your policy documents.
Key takeaways
- Snow and ice do not stop your policy from working. Your cover depends on your level of insurance, as usual.
- Bad weather is not usually accepted as an excuse. Drivers are expected to slow down and leave more space.
- If you slide into the back of another car, you will almost always be held at fault.
- Driving during a Met Office weather warning does not automatically invalidate your insurance.
- Damage to your own car is only covered if you have comprehensive insurance.
In this guide
- Am I covered for accidents in snow and ice?
- Who is at fault in a snow or ice accident?
- Can I blame the council for not gritting?
- Do weather warnings affect my insurance?
- Do winter tyres affect my insurance?
- Will a claim affect my no claims bonus?
- How to claim after an accident in snow or ice
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources and further reading
Am I covered for accidents in snow and ice?
Yes, as long as your policy is valid and you are driving within its terms (the right drivers, the right use, and so on). What you are covered for depends on your type of policy:
| Policy type | Damage to other people’s cars and property | Damage to your own car |
|---|---|---|
| Third party only | Yes | No |
| Third party, fire and theft | Yes | No (unless fire or theft) |
| Comprehensive | Yes | Yes |
So if you slide into a wall on an icy lane, the repairs to your own car are only covered if you are fully comprehensive. Any claim will also mean paying your excess. See our guide to third-party vs comprehensive car insurance.
Who is at fault in a snow or ice accident?
This is where many drivers get a surprise. Insurers and courts expect every driver to adjust to the conditions. The Highway Code warns that stopping distances can be up to ten times longer on ice, and says you should drive slowly and leave much more room.
That means:
- Rear-end collisions: if you hit the car in front, you will usually be found at fault, because you should have left enough space to stop.
- Sliding across a junction or roundabout: if you could not stop and went into another car’s path, the fault will usually be yours.
- Losing control on a bend: if you hit another car or property, it will normally count as an at-fault claim.
- Being hit while parked or stationary: if another driver slides into your parked or stationary car, the fault is theirs.
Fault can sometimes be shared, for example if both drivers were going too fast for the conditions. For more detail, read who is at fault in a car accident.
Can I blame the council for not gritting?
In England and Wales, councils and National Highways have a duty to make sure, as far as reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a road is not endangered by snow or ice. That is not a duty to grit every road. Claims against a highway authority are possible but difficult, and you would usually need evidence that it ignored its own gritting plan or a known hazard.
Our guide has my road been gritted? explains how this works.
Do weather warnings affect my insurance?
A common myth is that driving during an amber or red weather warning voids your insurance. It does not. Your policy still applies.
However, if police have told people not to travel and you crash, an insurer or court could take that into account when deciding whether you were driving carelessly. Your breakdown provider may also take longer to reach you. If a warning says to avoid travel, the safest choice is to stay put.
Do winter tyres affect my insurance?
Most insurers have signed up to the ABI’s Winter Tyres Motor Insurance Commitment, and do not charge extra for winter tyres. Some ask to be told. Non-standard wheels can count as a modification, so check with your insurer if you use a second set of wheels. Our winter tyres guide has more.
Will a claim affect my no claims bonus?
An at-fault claim will normally reduce your no claims bonus unless you have protected it, and it may increase your premium at renewal. A non-fault claim, where your insurer recovers all its costs from the other driver’s insurer, usually will not affect your no claims bonus, although your premium can still be affected.
For small bumps, it can be worth comparing the repair cost with your excess and the likely increase in your premium before you claim. You must still tell your insurer about the incident, even if you do not claim.
How to claim after an accident in snow or ice
- Stop, put your hazard lights on and check whether anyone is injured. Call 999 if they are, or if the road is blocked.
- Swap names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance details and registrations with the other driver.
- Take photos of the cars, the scene and the road surface, including any snow or ice.
- Note the time, weather, whether the road was gritted and any witnesses.
- Call your insurer as soon as you can.
Our step-by-step guide on how to make a car insurance claim covers the process in full.
Frequently asked questions
If my car slides into a parked car, is it my fault?
Usually, yes. Even though the ice caused the slide, insurers expect drivers to drive at a speed that lets them stay in control.
Is a tree or wall I hit on ice covered?
Damage to someone else’s property is covered under all policy types. Damage to your own car is only covered on a comprehensive policy.
Does Rooster cover winter driving?
Yes. Your cover works the same in winter as at any other time. With Rooster, how you drive counts, so slowing down and braking smoothly in bad weather helps your score as well as your safety.