Depending on where you live, hail damage to your home, vehicle, and other property may be a major concern. An unexpected hailstorm could leave you with thousands of dollars in repairs if you lack the proper coverage. That's why it's critical to be aware of how your car insurance policy can cover your vehicle against hail damage.
A local independent insurance agent can help ensure you're set up with the right kind of auto insurance. They'll help you equip your vehicle with all the coverage it needs against hail and other potential threats. But first, here's a closer look at when and how car insurance covers hail damage.
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Does car insurance cover hail damage?
How do I know if my car insurance covers hail?
How much hail damage is covered by my car insurance?
Does liability insurance cover hail damage?
Does a hail damage claim raise car insurance rates?
If basic car insurance doesn't cover hail, what will?
Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple as just asking, "Is hail damage covered by car insurance?" Really, it depends on what kind of car insurance you have.
There are multiple types of car insurance coverage available. The type of auto insurance that covers hail damage insurance claims and other natural disasters is known as comprehensive insurance. If you have comprehensive car insurance, you’re covered against physical damage to your vehicle caused by hail, vandalism, and many other perils.
How Do I Know If My Car Insurance Covers Hail?
First, it's helpful to understand that there are three main car insurance coverage types. Each category of auto insurance covers different situations.
- Liability coverage: Covers the cost of damage and injuries you cause to other people, vehicles, or property with your vehicle.
- Collision coverage: Pays for damage to your car from a collision with another object, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damage to your car due to a non-collision event, such as a flood or theft.
If you have car insurance, you most likely have liability insurance, since it’s the legally required minimum coverage in most states. But collision and comprehensive coverage are optional, so your policy might not include these protections unless you specifically added them. Your independent insurance agent can review your coverage details with you.
If you have comprehensive coverage, your auto insurance covers your vehicle against hail damage. If not, it’s easy to work with an independent insurance agent to add that coverage to your policy if you want it.
How Much Hail Damage Is Covered by My Car Insurance?
The extent to which your auto insurance covers hail damage depends on the size of the deductible and the limit of your car insurance policy. The deductible is the amount the insurance company requires you to pay before coverage kicks in. If the hail damage totals $1,000 and your deductible is $500, then you'd pay $500 out of your own pocket, and your insurance policy would pay the other $500 if the full amount was approved.
The limit of your coverage is the total amount the insurance company will pay for a covered incident. For comprehensive policies that cover hail, the limit is almost always the actual cash value of your car.
Actual cash value isn’t what you paid for your car, but the replacement cost minus depreciation (i.e., the amount of value your car loses each year due to age and wear and tear). It’s unlikely that repairs for hail damage to your car’s body and windshield would cost more than the actual cash value of your car, but it's good to be aware that the limit exists.
Does Liability Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
No, auto liability insurance does not cover hail damage. Liability coverage under car insurance covers physical damage and injuries you cause to others and their property with your vehicle.
This can include paying for medical bills or repairs to their car or other property, like fences. It also covers the costs of lawsuits if you are sued for the accident. Hail damage to your own vehicle would be covered under your policy's comprehensive insurance if you added this coverage option.
Does a Hail Damage Claim Raise Car Insurance Rates?
It's possible that filing a hail damage claim could raise your car insurance rates. It depends on your insurance provider and your personal claims history, but sometimes you can expect your comprehensive car insurance rates to go up after filing just one claim, even for hail. An independent insurance agent could help answer this question more in-depth after reviewing your personal auto policy.
If Basic Car Insurance Doesn't Cover Hail, What Will?
If you want your insurance to cover hail and other natural disasters, you need to buy comprehensive coverage. Liability insurance, the most basic type of car insurance, won’t cover it. Adding comprehensive coverage usually costs only a few hundred dollars per year. Discounts can bring that cost down even more.
Hopefully, you’ll never have to use your comprehensive coverage, but it can be a good idea to consider it just in case. If you ever get caught in a hailstorm, you’ll be glad you took the time to get your car covered.
Here's How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help
Luckily, dealing with an insurance adjuster on hail damage claims and coverage can be easy. A quick call or email to an independent insurance agent can get the ball rolling. They can help you fill out paperwork, find discounts, and generally make the process as painless as possible.
Your agent can also shop and compare car insurance rates from multiple carriers to help you find the best and most affordable coverage. They'll help you make sure your vehicle is protected against hail damage and other threats.
