Question

Does car insurance cover hail damage?  

Car insurance covers hail damage if your insurance has comprehensive coverage. 

A comprehensive coverage for your car has built-in protection against liability due to hail damage. All the same, if you have opted for liability-only insurance for your car, you cannot claim for hail damage.   

Do you need to make an insurance claim for hail damage?

Claiming hail damage depends on the cost of repair. If the total cost for repairs is below the deductible, then you can avoid the claim. In certain cases, the cost rises above your expectations. Hence, it is best to make an insurance claim in such situations.   

What are the hail damages that require insurance claims?  

There are two types of common hail damage:  

• Cosmetic damages: These are mostly minor damages that require paintless dent repairs and hail falls that may cause chipping of the paint on your car without dents. Such damages are mostly covered under your deductible, and an insurance claim is not required.  
• Structural damages: Damages to the structure are more serious and require immediate attention. This includes cracks in the windshield, car body, etc. With much force, the hail can damage the car’s frame or even cause damage. Such severe damage might require an insurance claim, as the repairs to the structure are more expensive.  

Will insurance go up after a hail claim?  

Necessarily not. Since a hailstorm is categorized as an Act of God, the damages don’t showcase your driving behavior. Hence, the insurers do not raise premiums for hail damage. Under certain special circumstances, hail damage might affect your insurance cost, such as:

• Multiple claims under comprehensive coverage in the same year  
• Claims due to hail damage more than once in the same year  
• Widespread losses due to hailstorms, based on location and zip code  

What is the average cost of hail damage repair?  

The cost to repair the hail damage to your car can vary from a couple of hundred to thousands of dollars. As in any damage, intensity, price of OEM parts, and the car’s actual cash value are deciding factors. Based on the severity of the damage, the cost can be as follows:  

• Minor damage: $250 – $750  
• Moderate damage: $1,000 – $2,500  
• Severe damage: $3,000 – $7,000