We’ve just recovered from Storm Arwen and now Storm Barra is on the way, and with thousands of cars likely damaged by falling debris and the unexpectedly icy roads, there are many worrying that they might not get paid by their insurer.

The concern comes as the Met Office issue a range of different weather warnings from yellow, amber and red, and in some areas of the UK the storm was categorised as red, which means ‘extreme weather’.

According to the Met Office, red means widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk to life is likely, which in some cases might be deemed dangerous for motorists to be out in their vehicles.

However, Kevin Pratt, consumer affairs expert at MoneySuperMarket believes that insurers should not immediately try to take advantage of this grey area.

"Your insurance cover should remain valid whatever the weather, but don’t take that as a green flag to drive without giving heed to the red alert for snow,” he told The Scottish Sun.

"Simply knowing you’re going to get a pay-out shouldn’t mean you take undue risks.

“If your insurance company can prove contributory negligence on your part, your claim might be questioned, and any pay-out reduced.

"For example, if you drove into a swollen ford where there was a warning in place and your car stalled and was ruined by water, your claim might not be paid.

"You might not even be entitled to recovery by your roadside rescue policy because you had recklessly got yourself into trouble.

“Same would apply if you went down a road in contravention of official road closure signs and were subsequently involved in an accident.

"Your home buildings insurance should cover you for the ravages of the storm, whatever its intensity.”

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