Hail not only leads to dings and dents in aluminum siding, but bad bouts of it can also cause leaks in the home, broken windows, and destroyed plants or landscaping. Not to mention, large hail can seriously damage or destroy your vehicle. That's why it's critical to ensure your home is covered against these costly and destructive disasters.
Fortunately, an independent insurance agent can help you protect your property against hail damage with the right types of coverage. They'll get you covered before a storm ever hits. But first, here's a deep dive into how and when insurance covers hail damage.
Does Homeowners Insurance Always Cover Hail Damage?
Although many homeowners ask about rain and hail insurance or wind and hail insurance, what they really need is the right coverage under a typical home policy. Some states allow wind and hail damage to be excluded by endorsements to a homeowners insurance policy.
Further, hail damage from hurricanes may be included in separate coverage, but not your home insurance. In other cases still, some insurance policies include a separate deductible for windstorms and hail damage.
Regardless of where you live, be sure to review your specific home insurance policy together with your independent insurance agent. They'll be able to tell you if and when your homeowners insurance covers hail damage claims, and whether there's a separate deductible required by your policy. If you're in need of hail coverage and don't already have it under your home insurance, your independent insurance agent can help you add this crucial protection.
How Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Damage from Hail?
Homeowners insurance provides coverage for damage to the home's dwelling or structure, including its roof, and damage from listed perils, such as falling objects, fire, lightning strikes, and more. If your homeowners policy covers hail damage to the dwelling, then damage to your roof caused by hail should be covered. However, it's important to note that certain home insurance policies have "cosmetic exclusions."
An increasing number of home insurance companies, especially those with customers in hail-prone regions, are adding cosmetic exclusions to hail coverage. This means that if hail damage only affects the aesthetics rather than the function of the home, a claim may be denied or limited. Make sure to talk with your independent insurance agent about your concerns regarding hail damage roof insurance, specifically concerning cosmetic exclusions, and find out if your policy lists them or not.
How Common Is Hail Damage Where You Live?
Hail costs the U.S. just over $1 billion in annual property damage losses. Just one dent on a vehicle caused by hail can cost anywhere between $30 and $300 to repair.
Fortunately, most car insurance policies cover hail damage as long as you have comprehensive coverage. This coverage is especially critical if you live in one of last year's top ten states for major hail events.
Top Ten States by Number of Major Hail Events 2024
| Rank | State | Number of Hail Events |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 529 |
| 2 | Kansas | 250 |
| 3 | Illinois | 225 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 201 |
| 5 | Missouri | 160 |
| 6 | Ohio | 115 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 113 |
| 8 | Iowa | 112 |
| 9 | Indiana | 76 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 75 |
In the first third of 2024 alone, hail damage in Texas caused more than an estimated $28 billion in property damage. If you live in one of these states, make sure to work with a local independent insurance agent to get the protection you need for your home, vehicle, and other property.
If My Home Gets Damaged by Hail, How Much Do I Have to Pay?
The average insurance payout for hail damage varies. When you file an insurance claim for hail damage, you'll have to pay your policy's deductible amount out of your own pocket before receiving reimbursement from your insurance company. If your home insurance deductible is $1,000 and the extent of damage from hail to your home costs $5,000, you'd pay the $1,000 yourself and receive up to $4,000 in reimbursement if your claim is approved.
Keep in mind that home insurance policies in high-risk hail regions might have a separate deductible, meaning that claims will be subject to a separate, often higher, deductible. This separate deductible would likely be a percentage of your policy's total property coverage, but it can also be a whole number. So if you have $200,000 worth of property coverage, you may have a flat deductible of $1,000 that you'd pay out of pocket, or it may be 1%, meaning you'd pay $2,000.
However, hail damage repair costs without insurance can be much more expensive than paying a deductible. Having homeowners insurance is worth it for many individuals to avoid paying for the full cost of repairs or rebuilding their property. Even if you have to pay a deductible for hail damage, it's likely to be much less than the cost of repairing or rebuilding a large section of your home if it's badly damaged by hail.
Will My Home Insurance Rates Increase After Filing a Hail Claim?
It is possible that your home insurance rates will increase after filing a claim. This includes claims that result from incidents outside of your control, including acts of nature. If you're concerned about how much your premiums might increase after a hail event, talk with your independent insurance agent.
Why You Should Consider Increasing Your Home Coverage Early
It's important to be aware that you can't just increase your home insurance limits for an upcoming storm that's already been detected by meteorologists. Many insurance policies have a waiting period for requested changes to go into effect to dissuade customers from adding coverage right before they need it. This means that you may not have the additional coverage in effect by the time the storm hits your area.
Add as much hail protection as you might need to your home insurance before winter rolls around. That way, you'll be prepared with the right coverage already at the exact moment the unexpected happens. Your independent insurance agent can help you increase your hail damage coverage long before the winter season.
Is My Car Covered by My Home Insurance If It Was Damaged in the Driveway?
You'd go through your car insurance policy to cover damage to your vehicle from a hail event or other disaster. As long as you have comprehensive coverage in your car insurance policy, hail damage should be covered. Comprehensive coverage covers incidents "other than collision," including storm damage, theft, windshield breakage, and collisions with large animals.
Without comprehensive car insurance, however, you'd have to pay for hail damage to your vehicle out of your own pocket. That's also why it's a great idea to work together with an independent insurance agent to get this coverage added to your auto policy ASAP. Again, don't wait until a storm warning shows up on the news.
Precautions to Take to Minimize Hail Damage
Having a professional inspect your home's roof at least once a year can help minimize hail damage. A roof that is aging, worn, or has missing shingles before a hailstorm can suffer more extensive damage from hail and other weather events. That can result in more frequent or larger insurance claims, as well.
Minimize Possible Hail Damage to Your Property by:
- Having rubber or metal roofing installed
- Parking your car in a garage, carport, or under another covering
- Installing storm shutters on your windows
- Covering patio furniture
- Bringing outdoor property indoors before a storm hits
- Covering delicate plants
Taking these steps to minimize hail damage to your property can help prevent the need to file insurance claims. But it's also critical to understand what's covered and what's not, in terms of hail and everything else, by your home insurance and car insurance. Be sure to review both of these policies with your independent insurance agent long before a severe weather event.
Here's How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help
An independent insurance agent can simplify the process by shopping and comparing insurance quotes for you. Independent insurance agents have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best car insurance and home insurance coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing.
Your agent will find you the right policy that includes all the hail damage protection you need. And down the road, your agent will still be there to help file insurance claims for you or update your coverage as necessary.
Sources
https://insurify.com/car-insurance/insights/states-most-vulnerable-to-hail-damage/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-homeowners-and-renters-insurance
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-hail
https://www.honestroof.com/your-homeowners-insurance-may-have-a-problem-with-your-old-roof/
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/monthly/2021_annual_summary.html
https://www.aon.com/weather-climate-catastrophe-insight-2019/index.jsp
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-hail
