Does car insurance cover hail damage?

Depending on your car insurance policy, you may have coverage for damage caused by hail. We'll look at what hail damage is, how it can affect different parts of your car, and how your insurance may or may not handle your hail damage auto claim.

What is hail damage?

Hail is a form of solid rain that can fall during any season and consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice pellets called hailstones. Hail can range from smaller than a pea to as big as a golf or baseball.

Hail is particularly damaging to cars, from minor cosmetic damage to more serious issues. Common hail damage includes dents in a vehicle's roof, hood, and sides. Hail can also damage your car's paint, as well creating cracks and chips in windows, or shattering your windshield.

Does car insurance cover hail damage?

If your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, you'll likely have protection for hail damage - minus your deductible. Please note, liability coverage doesn't cover hail damage repair. Therefore, if you have liability only, your insurance company won't pay for hail damage.

Worried about hail damage? Live in a state where hailstorms are common? If you said yes to either you may want to think about adding comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive coverage will slightly increase what you pay for your car insurance but when you consider that repairing hail damage can cost thousands of dollars, it's worth thinking about.

When should I file a hail damage claim?

If you have comprehensive coverage and your vehicle experiences hail damage, you should file a claim with your insurer as soon as possible.

If you wait and are in an accident, it may be hard for your insurance company to distinguish the damage caused by hail or other pre-existing damage. This may cause issues as to what's considered hail damage under your auto insurance policy.

Can hail damage be repaired?

In most cases, hail damage is repairable. However, the ability to repair a hail damaged vehicle to its former condition depends on the extent of the damage.

In general, pea-sized hail damage can cause moderate to medium levels of damage that most autobody repair shops can fix. On the other hand, golf or baseball-sized hail can damage a vehicle beyond repair.

If your vehicle is damaged to the point where the cost to repair it is more than its value, your insurance company may deem it a total loss.

How much does it cost to fix hail damage on a car?

The cost to repair your hail damaged car depends on the amount of damage it has. On avereage, the cost of repairs for a private passenger automobile with moderate hail damage is around $2,500.¹

Will my insurance go up after submitting a claim for hail damage?

In general, no. Because a hail damage claim is covered by comprehensive coverage, filing a claim normally won't cause your auto insurance premiums to go up.

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