Which of the following would NOT be covered when the insured drives intoxicated and causes an accident?

• A. Collision damage to his automobile
• B. Damage to a telephone pole
• C. Damage to another automobile
• D. Medical and surgical expenses required as a result of injuries he sustains

Answer: (A)

When a driver is intoxicated, many auto policies include an exclusion that denies coverage for losses that occur while the insured is under the influence, particularly affecting the insured’s own vehicle. That means collision coverage would not pay for damage to the insured’s car in an alcohol-related crash. Other types of coverage can still apply: damage to a third party’s property (like a telephone pole) would typically be handled by liability coverage up to policy limits, damage to another vehicle would also be covered by liability, and medical payments (or PIP) would usually cover the insured’s injuries regardless of fault, within policy limits. So the item that would not be covered in this scenario is the damage to the insured’s own automobile.