If you live in Hail Alley—the pocket of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming that sees more hail storms than any other part of the country—then you might have suffered a small part of the $1 billion in damage that hail causes every year to people, animals, property, and cars.
How Hail Can Damage Cars
If you’re lucky, your car will emerge from a hailstorm with a few scratches. If you aren’t so fortunate, your vehicle could have thousands of dollars in damage. Hail damage to your car can include:
- Dents
- Scratches
- Broken windshield
- Holes in the roof
- Damaged engine
- Punctured tires
- And more.
And if your car was damaged in a recent hail storm, your first question might be, “does my auto insurance cover hail damage repairs?”
Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage? Find Out How.
Everyone has different car insurance, so there’s no on-size-fits-all answer to that question. But luckily, most comprehensive auto insurance policies do cover hail damage. This is because comprehensive coverage generally covers everything from car accidents, to theft, to falling objects (like hailstones!). Unfortunately, if you only have a basic liability package, your car’s damage might not be covered.
The quickest and easiest way to find out if your car insurance covers hail damage is to check your policy online or call your agent. And if you live in a place where hail storms are frequent, like Colorado, it is a good idea to check if you are covered for hail damage before disaster strikes.
WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR VEHICLE IS DAMAGED BY HAIL
As soon as it is safe to do so, inspect your vehicle visually for any damage. If your car insurance covers hail damage, you should file a claim as soon as possible. That way, you can get the necessary repairs done quickly.
And don’t worry—unlike if you were in a collision, filing a claim due to hail damage will not increase your premium! However, you may have to pay a deductible; this depends on your particular insurance policy. Usually, comprehensive car insurance does not require a deductible for hail damage, meaning that you do not have to pay anything for your repairs.
Getting Hail Damage Repaired
If you were lucky and your car survived the hail storm with minimal damage, you may be wondering if you even need to get the damage repaired. It is important to keep in mind, however, that hail damage can greatly depreciate the resale value fo your car. If you are planning to sell your car eventually, it is crucial to get all hail damage fixed in order to get top dollar for your vehicle.
Paintless Dent Repair
Unless your car has catastrophic damage, you can probably have an expert fix your car with paintless dent repair. Paintless dent repair is the preferred method for fixing hail damage because it is fast, affordable, and returns your car to factory conditions. Your paintless dent repair technician will gently and meticulously work your car’s panels back to their original shape—no incisions or new paint needed!
If you need paintless dent repair because of hail damage in Denver or Colorado Springs, call or email Hail Free Solutions today.