Does Car Insurance Cover Hitting an Animal?
Yes, if you have comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive policies cover accidental damage from hitting any animal, whether wild or domestic.
Third-party, fire and theft and third-party only policies do not cover damage to your own vehicle from any type of animal collision.
Your legal obligations after hitting an animal depend on the species. Some animals must be reported to the police under the Road Traffic Act 1988, while others do not.
Yes, on comprehensive — for wild and domestic animals alike. Two things catch people out. The law names specific animals you must report to the police, and a dog is on that list while a cat is not. And because there is rarely anyone to recover from, insurers tend to log it as at-fault, so your no-claims discount takes the hit unless it is protected.
Compare comprehensive car insurance and check your cover.
Which animals must you report hitting?
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 lists specific animals that must be reported if hit on a public road. You must stop at the scene and report to the police within 24 hours if you cannot find the owner.
Which animals are on the list?
| Animal | Must report? | Legal requirement |
| Dogs | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Horses | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Cattle | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Sheep | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Pigs | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Goats | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Donkeys and mules | Yes | Stop, find owner, or report to police within 24 hours |
| Deer | No | No legal obligation, but report if blocking the road |
| Cats | No | No legal obligation under the Road Traffic Act |
| Foxes, badgers, rabbits | No | No legal obligation under the Road Traffic Act |
What happens if you fail to stop?
Failing to stop after hitting a reportable animal is a criminal offence. You can receive up to six penalty points, a fine of up to £5,000, and in serious cases, a driving disqualification.
Even if the animal appears uninjured and walks away, you are still required to stop. The legal obligation applies to the collision itself, not the severity of the outcome.
How much damage can an animal collision cause?
The severity depends entirely on the size of the animal. A badger or fox causes moderate front-end damage, while a horse or cow can destroy the entire vehicle and injure occupants.
What are typical costs by animal size?
Small animals like foxes and badgers typically cause £300 to £1,500 in bumper and grille damage. Medium animals like deer cause £2,000 to £6,000 or more, often resulting in a write-off for older vehicles.
Large animals like horses and cattle regularly cause £10,000 or more in damage and are a serious risk to the occupants. At speed, a horse collision can crush the roof and windscreen.
When is the car likely to be written off?
When the repair cost exceeds the car’s market value. Your insurer pays the pre-accident market value minus your policy excess.
Most deer and livestock collisions write off older or lower-value vehicles. Category N is the most common write-off classification, meaning non-structural damage that reduces resale value by 20% to 40%.
Is an animal collision claim at-fault?
Usually, yes. Insurers treat animal collisions as at-fault because there is no third party to recover costs from.
Can it ever be non-fault?
Yes, if someone else’s animal caused the collision because of their negligence. If livestock escaped through a broken fence, or a dog ran into the road because its owner failed to control it, the animal’s owner may be liable.
Your insurer can pursue the owner’s public liability or household insurance on your behalf. If successful, the claim is reclassified as non-fault and your NCD is restored.
When is it worth claiming?
Only when the repair cost is well above your excess plus the likely premium increase over the next two to three years. For minor damage under £1,000, paying out of pocket is usually cheaper than losing your NCD.
Our car insurance costs guide explains how claims history affects renewal quotes across different insurers.
What should you do if you hit an animal?
Pull over safely, turn on your hazard lights, and check everyone in the vehicle for injuries before dealing with the animal.
What are the immediate steps?
Do not approach a large injured animal. Deer, horses, and cattle can kick or charge when wounded, causing serious injury to anyone nearby.
For injured wild animals, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 in England and Wales, or the SSPCA on 03000 999 999 in Scotland.
How should you document the incident?
Photograph the damage to your vehicle and the scene from multiple angles. Note the date, time, exact location, weather conditions, and any witnesses.
If you have a dashcam, save the footage immediately. Most dashcams overwrite within hours, and the footage is strong evidence that the collision was unavoidable.
Should you swerve to avoid an animal?
No. Brake firmly in a straight line rather than swerving.
Swerving at speed risks losing control, hitting oncoming traffic, or leaving the road, all of which are far more dangerous than hitting the animal.
Are you liable if swerving causes a crash?
Yes. If you swerve to avoid an animal and hit another vehicle, a tree, or a pedestrian, you are liable for the resulting damage and injuries.
Your insurer treats this as an at-fault collision, which is worse for your record than an animal strike claim.
Our tips to lower your premium cover how to manage costs after any at-fault claim.
How can you reduce the risk of animal collisions?
Most animal collisions happen at dawn, dusk, and after dark on rural roads. Slowing down during these times is the single most effective prevention step.
What practical steps help?
Watch for diamond-shaped animal warning signs. These are placed on roads with a known history of animal crossings.
Use full-beam headlights at night when no oncoming traffic is present. This gives you more time to spot animals at the roadside before they step into the road.
When are collisions most common?
Deer collisions peak during the autumn rutting season from October to December and again in late spring from May to June. Most happen at dawn and dusk when deer cross roads to reach feeding grounds.
Livestock incidents are more common during lambing season in spring and when farmers move animals between fields in summer and autumn. Dog incidents happen year-round, mainly in urban and suburban areas.
Comprehensive cover is the only policy type that pays for animal collision damage, making it worth the investment if you regularly drive in rural areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, because TPFT only adds fire and theft to third-party liability. Animal collision damage is classified as accidental damage, which requires comprehensive insurance.
Yes. Dogs are listed under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, so you must stop at the scene and report to the police within 24 hours if you cannot find the owner.
There is no legal requirement to stop or report hitting a cat under the Road Traffic Act. However, most drivers choose to stop and try to contact the owner if the cat has a collar or tag.
Potentially, if the owner was negligent. If livestock escaped through a broken fence, or a dog ran into the road because its owner lost control, you may be able to claim against their liability insurance.
Yes, in most cases. Insurers classify animal collisions as at-fault because there is no third party to recover costs from, unless the animal’s owner was negligent.
No, because swerving risks losing control or hitting another vehicle. Brake firmly in a straight line instead.