How hail damage claims are handled can depend on many factors, such as hail severity and the car owners insurance policy. Although there are standard hail damage claim procedures, hail claim handling is not regulated by law. This flexibility allows hail victims to file hail damage claims with various insurance companies.

Although hail damage claim procedures are not the same for all hail insurance cases, hail insurance companies can adjust their hail claim handling to accommodate each hail company’s specific practices.

It is good to learn about hail damage claims procedures for every hail insurance company with which you are interested in doing business. These are the most frequently asked questions about hail damage insurance claims.

Is My Car Covered for Hail Damage?

You are covered for hail damage if you have the right coverage? If the repair costs for minor hail damage are not more than the deductible, it is often not worth making a claim. Significant hail damage can total a car.

Comprehensive Insurance

You are likely to be covered for hail damage if you have comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive coverage pays to replace or repair your vehicle in the event of damage caused by a collision. It covers hail, wind damage, storm damage, and animal damage. Severe hail damage can cause damage to your car’s body and interior, including cracks or shattered windows and damage to the glass.

Report hailstorm damage to your car to your insurance company as soon as you can. Your insurance company will walk you through how to get an estimate for your vehicle and repair it.

Auto Liability Insurance

Hail damage is not covered by auto liability insurance, but it’s required in most states. It helps pay for property damage or medical bills of the other driver if you cause an accident. Your vehicle or medical bills are not covered by liability insurance.

Do I Have to Pay a Deductible for Hail Damage?

If hailstorms are more frequent in your area, you might want to consider whether you can afford an out-of-pocket insurance deductible. A deductible is an amount you will have to pay out of pocket to get comprehensive coverage. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), a higher deductible may lower your premium.

In certain circumstances, you may also find it helpful to know that your insurer may waive your deductible for the glass section of your comprehensive coverage. Your insurer might waive your deductible if the glass is replaced or repaired.

How Does Hail Damage Insurance Work?

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), policyholders must file a claim after hail damages their vehicle in order to have hail damage repairs approved.  You might want to document the hail damaged car with photos of the damage.  Be sure to keep record of the date and time of the hail storm.

To file a claim for hail damage, you must have comprehensive coverage. Here’s how it works.

  1. Keep a record of the damage.
  2. You can get an estimate from a local body shop, but you don’t have to pay anything or sign any contracts.
  3. To ensure that repair costs are significantly higher than your deductible, compare the estimate with the deductible amount.
  4. Complete and submit an insurance claim.
  5. An insurance adjuster will evaluate the extent of the damage to determine if your insurer will cover the repair or total the car.
  6. You may have to pay the deductible if your car needs to be fixed.
  7. Your insurer will pay you the actual cash value of your vehicle if it is totaled. You can use it to buy another car.

After a hail storm damages your home or car, most standard policies require that you file an insurance claim within 12 months of discovering the damage.

You should ensure that the insurance payout amount does not exceed your deductible before deciding whether to file a claim. Filing a hail claim does not increase your insurance rates as a hail storm is considered an act of nature and there is no fault.

Can I Fix Hail Damage on A Car?

To get an estimate for hail damage to your car, you’ll need to work with your claim adjuster and a body shop. Your insurer will decide if you will be covered for repairs or complete your vehicle.

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