What Your Car Insurance Covers When Hail Damages Your Vehicle

Hail damage is covered by comprehensive coverage, not by collision or liability insurance

Whether your car insurance covers hail damage depends on which type of coverage you have. Comprehensive coverage is the part of your policy that pays for hail damage. If you have comprehensive coverage, hail is covered. If you do not have it, your insurer will not pay for hail damage, even if you have other types of coverage.

Comprehensive coverage is optional — your state does not require it. If you financed or leased your car, your lender or leasing company almost always requires you to carry it. If you own your car outright, you can choose whether to buy comprehensive coverage or skip it.

When hail hits your car, comprehensive coverage pays for the repair or replacement of the damaged parts, minus your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Common deductibles are $250, $500, or $1,000, though you can choose a different amount when you buy the policy.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive coverage is the only part of your car insurance that covers hail damage; collision and liability do not.
• If you financed or leased your car, your lender requires comprehensive coverage, so you already have hail protection.
• You pay your deductible first, then comprehensive coverage pays the rest of the repair bill up to your car's actual cash value.
• If hail damage happens in a severe weather event, your insurer may waive the deductible in some states or allow you to file a claim without it affecting your rates.

How comprehensive coverage pays for hail damage

When you file a hail damage claim, your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the car or asks you to get repair estimates. The adjuster determines the cost to repair the damage. Comprehensive coverage then pays that amount minus your deductible.

If your car is worth $10,000 and hail damage costs $4,000 to repair, and your deductible is $500, comprehensive coverage pays $3,500. You pay the $500 deductible to the repair shop. The insurer pays the remaining $3,500 directly to the shop or to you, depending on how your claim is set up.

If the damage is so severe that repair costs exceed what your car is worth (called being "totaled"), your insurer pays the actual cash value of the car minus your deductible. You then own the damaged car, and the insurer may sell it for scrap or parts.

What happens if you do not have comprehensive coverage

If you do not have comprehensive coverage, your car insurance will not pay for hail damage. You will have to pay for repairs out of pocket. This is true even if you have collision coverage or liability coverage — those parts of your policy do not cover hail.

If you own your car outright and do not have comprehensive coverage, you have no insurance protection against hail, theft, fire, falling objects, or other non-collision events. You can add comprehensive coverage at any time by contacting your insurer or agent, though there is usually a waiting period of a few days before it takes effect.

Deductibles and waived deductibles during severe weather

Your deductible is what you pay when you file a hail claim. If you chose a $500 deductible, you pay $500 and insurance pays the rest. If you chose $1,000, you pay $1,000.

Some insurers and some states allow you to waive the deductible for hail damage during declared severe weather events. This means you pay $0 out of pocket and insurance covers the full repair cost. Not all insurers offer this, and rules vary by state. A few states require insurers to offer a waived deductible option for hail claims. Ask your insurer whether this option is available to you.

Even if your deductible is not waived, filing a hail claim typically does not raise your rates. Most insurers treat weather damage as not your fault, so your premium usually stays the same.

Choosing a deductible that fits your situation

When you buy or renew comprehensive coverage, you choose your deductible. A higher deductible ($1,000 or more) lowers your monthly premium. A lower deductible ($250 or $500) raises your monthly premium but means you pay less when you file a claim.

If you live in an area where hail is common — parts of Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas see hail frequently — a lower deductible may save you money over time. If hail is rare where you live, a higher deductible keeps your premium lower and you may never file a claim.

You can change your deductible when you renew your policy or sometimes between renewals. If a hail storm is forecast for your area, you cannot lower your deductible after the storm starts — the change must take effect before the damage occurs.

How to file a hail damage claim

Contact your insurer as soon as possible after hail damage occurs. You can call the number on your insurance card, use your insurer's mobile app, or go online to their website. Have your policy number and photos of the damage ready.

Your insurer will ask you where and when the damage happened and whether anyone was injured. They will then schedule an inspection or ask you to get repair estimates from a body shop. Some insurers have preferred repair shops; others let you choose any shop.

Once the adjuster approves the claim, the repair shop will contact you about scheduling the work. The insurer pays the shop directly in most cases, and you pay your deductible to the shop when you pick up the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does filing a hail damage claim raise my insurance rates?

No, in most cases. Hail damage is considered an act of nature, not your fault, so insurers typically do not raise your rates after a hail claim. However, if you file multiple claims in a short time, your rates may increase. Check with your insurer about their specific policy.

What if my car is parked in a garage when hail hits — is it still covered?

Yes. Comprehensive coverage covers hail damage regardless of where your car is parked. If hail damages your car in a garage, driveway, or parking lot, the claim is covered the same way.

Can I choose to repair my car at a shop my insurer does not recommend?

Yes. You have the right to use any repair shop you choose. Your insurer may have preferred shops that they work with regularly, but you are not required to use them. If you use a non-preferred shop, the insurer still pays based on the repair estimate, though there may be small differences in how they calculate the cost.

What if the repair estimate is higher than my car's actual cash value?

If repairs cost more than your car is worth, the insurer will declare it a total loss and pay you the actual cash value minus your deductible. You then own the damaged car and can sell it for scrap or parts, or the insurer may handle the sale.

Can I add comprehensive coverage after hail is forecast?

No. Comprehensive coverage must be in effect before the damage occurs. If you add it after a storm is forecast, the insurer will not cover damage from that storm. You can add comprehensive coverage at any other time, though there is usually a waiting period of a few days before it becomes active.