Hail Damage: To Claim or Not to Claim?

Is it Worth Claiming Hail Damage on Your Car?

Peas, nickels, teacups, and grapefruits – these aren't ingredients for a peculiar fruit salad, but rather common descriptors for hail size, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. While most hailstorms consist of various sizes, a severe thunderstorm can unleash hail ranging from 1 to 1.75 inches in diameter, falling at speeds of 25 to 40 miles per hour. The potential for damage to your vehicle is significant. Fortunately, if you have the right coverage, you can file a claim for hail damage.

Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?

While quarter-sized hail might only cause minor cosmetic issues like dings, dents, and cracked windows, larger hailstones falling at greater speeds can lead to more substantial problems. The good news is that there's a specific type of coverage designed to protect your car from such weather-related incidents. To ensure your car insurance covers hail damage, you'll need to opt for comprehensive insurance. This coverage is designed to pay for repairs to your car when it's damaged by severe weather, including hail. It also extends to a range of other perils such as fire, floods, vandalism, theft, collisions with animals, and damage from falling objects, like tree branches.

It's important to understand that comprehensive insurance is an optional add-on to your policy. This means you'll incur an additional cost for this protection. If your car sustains hail damage and you don't have comprehensive coverage, you'll be responsible for the repair costs yourself or will have to live with the damage.

Is Making a Hail Damage Claim Worthwhile?

Comprehensive insurance policies come with a deductible, which is the amount you'll pay out of pocket before your insurance company starts covering the costs. Whether it's financially sensible to file a hail damage claim often depends on the total cost of repairs and the amount of your deductible.

Consider this scenario: your car has minor hail damage estimated to cost $600 to repair. If your deductible is $1,000, your insurance provider will pay nothing towards the repairs, making a claim unnecessary. However, if your deductible is $500, you would receive a $100 payout from your insurer. In this case, it becomes a personal decision whether the small payout and a claim on your record are worth it.

On the other hand, if your car suffers severe hail damage requiring $5,000 in repairs and you have a $500 deductible, you would receive $4,500 from your insurance company. This type of claim is undoubtedly worth making, given the substantial amount you would otherwise have to pay out of pocket.

Generally, making a single comprehensive claim is unlikely to significantly increase your auto insurance rates. However, if you find yourself needing to make multiple claims within a short period, the cumulative effect of these claims on your record could lead to higher premiums.

How to File an Insurance Claim for Hail Damage

If your vehicle has been damaged by hail and you have comprehensive insurance, your first step is to contact your insurance company to initiate a claim. If the hail has caused a shattered windshield or broken windows, your car may be unsafe to drive. In such situations, if you have roadside assistance coverage, you can arrange for your vehicle to be towed to a repair facility.

Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to assess the hail damage and provide an estimate for the repair costs. Once the assessment is complete, your insurer will issue a check for the repairs, less your deductible. For instance, with a $500 deductible and a $1,500 repair bill, you would receive a $1,000 insurance check.

Methods for Repairing Hail Damage

Auto body shops typically employ two primary methods for repairing hail damage:

1. Conventional Vehicle Repair: This method involves pulling out dents and then using body filler to smooth irregularities before priming and repainting the affected panels.
2. Paintless Dent Removal (PDR): PDR utilises specialised tools to carefully push out dents from the underside of the vehicle panels. This technique preserves the original paintwork. However, PDR may not be effective for very large dents or extensive, complex hail damage.

Will a Hail Damage Claim Affect My Car Insurance Rates?

While a single hail damage claim is unlikely to cause an immediate surge in your car insurance rates, insurance companies do consider your claims history when determining premiums. A hail damage claim will be recorded in a database of past insurance claims. A history of multiple claims could potentially lead to higher premiums over time.

Furthermore, areas prone to frequent hailstorms can see a general increase in insurance rates for all drivers. If your region experiences severe weather regularly, insurance providers may adjust premiums upwards due to the anticipated frequency of claims. Therefore, your geographical location can influence your car insurance rates, irrespective of whether you personally file a claim.

The Cost of Repairing Hail Damage

The expense of repairing hail damage to your car is directly proportional to the severity of the damage. Minor dents might cost a few hundred pounds to fix, whereas significant hail damage can run into thousands.

According to a report by State Farm on 2021 hail claims, the average cost of a vehicle hail claim was approximately $5,000, representing a 16% increase from 2020, when average auto hail claims were around $4,300. The cost of repairs will escalate if the car's paint is compromised, necessitating conventional repair methods. Conventional repair is generally more expensive than paintless dent removal due to the increased labour involved.

Factors Influencing Repair Costs:

• The number of dents on your car.
• The size of the hail that caused the dents.
• The location of the dents and how easily they can be accessed for repair.
• The material of the affected panels – for example, repairing dents on panels made of high-strength steel or aluminium can incur additional costs.

How Much Does Comprehensive Insurance Cost?

Based on the most recent data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average cost of comprehensive insurance is approximately $170. However, this figure can vary significantly by state. It is advisable to check the average cost of comprehensive insurance in your specific region.

Protecting Your Car from Hail Damage

Taking proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of your car sustaining hail damage:

• Covered Parking: Whenever possible, park your car in a garage or under a carport. This offers the most reliable protection.
• Car Covers: If a garage or carport isn't an option, invest in a car cover specifically designed to withstand hail. In a pinch, you could use thick blankets, but ensure they are securely fastened to prevent them from being blown away by strong winds.
• Temporary Shelter: If you lack permanent covered parking and a hail-specific cover, consider utilising paid parking garages in your area until the storm subsides.

If you find yourself caught driving during a hailstorm, it's crucial to find a safe place to pull over. If feasible, seek shelter under a sturdy structure like an overpass. To protect yourself from potential flying glass, cover your face with clothing.

Top 10 States for Hail Insurance Claims

Texas frequently tops the list for hail activity and insurance claims, a statistic that drivers in the Lone Star State would rather not celebrate. The following table highlights the states with the highest number of hail insurance claims:

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau ForeCAST Report, 2021

Car Hail Damage FAQ

What type of car insurance do I need for hail damage?

The comprehensive coverage portion of your auto insurance policy is what covers hail damage. This coverage also extends to other incidents like fires, floods, falling objects, vandalism, car theft, and collisions with animals. If you have a car loan, you are likely already required to carry comprehensive coverage by your lender.

Will my homeowners insurance cover my car for hail damage?

No, your homeowners insurance will not cover hail damage to your car. However, it will cover hail damage to your home itself, including the roof, siding, windows, and other structures like decks.

What if I can’t drive my car because of hail damage?

Severe hail can render a car undriveable, particularly if it results in cracked or shattered windshields or broken windows. If your car is in such a condition, and you have roadside assistance insurance, contact your provider to arrange for your vehicle to be towed to an auto body shop for repairs.

It's worth noting that State Farm's analysis of its internal data for auto and home claims revealed a significant increase in Texas hail claim costs, rising from $474.6 million in 2020 to $710 million in 2021. This highlights the substantial financial impact of severe weather events.

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