Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage? (2023)

Save up to $717 by comparing quotes from the top 70+ insurance companies

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Advertiser Disclosure


At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: As an independent agent and insurance comparison website, Insurify makes money through commissions from insurance companies. However, our expert insurance writers and editors operate independently of our insurance partners. Learn more.

Hailstorms are common in the United States. The country saw more than 4,600 major hailstorms in 2020 alone, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.[1]

Fortunately, most home insurance policies cover hail damage. With auto insurance, though, it depends on the type of policy you have. If you just have the bare-minimum liability coverage, your insurer probably won’t pay for damage from hail. Comprehensive policies, on the other hand, usually will.

If you live in a hail-prone area, here’s what to know about hail and car insurance coverage.

When does car insurance cover hail damage?

Car insurance usually only covers hail damage if you have comprehensive coverage — a type of add-on coverage that covers non-collision related damage to your vehicle, like damage from natural disasters, hail, animals, falling objects, and more. State laws don’t require drivers to have comprehensive coverage — only liability insurance, which doesn’t cover hail damage.

“You need a comprehensive policy for hail damage coverage,” says Zach Lazzari, owner of Crossborder Coverage. “Liability won’t cover you in any state for hail damage or other naturally occurring events.”

Other types of insurance — including collision, medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage — won’t extend to hail damage either. Comprehensive insurance coverage is the only type of auto policy that covers hail damage.

How much does comprehensive coverage cost?

The cost of comprehensive insurance depends on a lot of factors, including the amount of coverage you get, the type of car you have, your location, your car’s value, your credit score (in most areas), and your driving history.[2]

The insurance company you choose will also play a role in how much you’ll pay for comprehensive coverage. See below for a look at the average cost for some of the most popular insurers.

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Cost
State Farm$120
USAA$124
Travelers$146
GEICO$150
Farmers/21st Century$151
Mile Auto$107
Erie$127
Certainly$131
Kemper Preferred$132
Root$134
Amigo USA$161
Metromile$164
Nationwide$169
Elephant$173
Safeco$178
Traders$184
Sun Coast$185
Apparent$190
Anchor$193
National General$195
Clearcover$196
Allstate$201
Progressive$205
Foremost Signature$206
Plymouth Rock$211
Midvale Home & Auto$216
Direct Auto$226
Mercury$236
State Auto$236
Stillwater$240
Novo$249
Farmers$251
Kemper Specialty$251
Liberty Mutual$252
InsureMax$256
AssuranceAmerica$258
Esurance$260
MAPFRE$275
Workmen’s$279
Kemper$287
Commonwealth Casualty$300
Dairyland$306
The General$309
SafeAuto$330
Aggressive$340
Aspen$344
Hallmark$348
Pronto$350
21st Century$353
Amigo America$355
Bristol West$357
Freedom National$358
Quantum$365
ALG$367
Alinsco$373
Casa$380
Infinity$399
Amica Mutual$512
Arrowhead$567
USA Underwriters$666
Everest National$746
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Average Cost of Car Insurance (With Quotes, 2022)

Average Cost of Car Insurance (With Quotes, 2022)

How much does it cost to repair hail damage to a car?

The repair costs for hail damage largely depend on the number of dents on the vehicle and where the dents are located. You can expect to pay $30 to $325 per dent. In some cases, a car can be totaled by hail — meaning the cost of the repairs outweighs its value.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Is it worth filing a hail damage claim for a car?

It depends on the amount of damage and your deductible, as well as other factors. If your deductible is $500 and your car sustains a few dents that cost less than $500 to repair, it might not be worth filing a claim. In this scenario, the damage would likely cost less than your deductible to repair, so your insurer wouldn’t chip in at all.

Additionally, filing a hail damage claim can, in many cases, increase your policy’s premiums, says Lazzari.

If higher premiums would pose a financial challenge, then filing a claim — particularly if the damage is minimal — may not be worth it.

Auto Body Repair Costs & Car Insurance Coverage (2022)

Auto Body Repair Costs & Car Insurance Coverage (2022)

How to file an auto insurance claim for hail damage

If you have comprehensive coverage and a hailstorm damages your car, you can file a claim with your insurer for the repairs.

Here’s what that process looks like:

  1. File the claim. The exact process depends on your car insurance company, but you can usually call your agent, file a claim online, or use your insurer’s mobile app to get started.

  2. Have the damage assessed. Your insurer will send out an assessor (if the car is undrivable) or recommend an approved auto body shop where you can have the damage evaluated. When the assessment is done, the assessor or shop should give you an estimate of the total repair cost.

  3. Get the car repaired. In some cases, your insurer may write you a check you can cash and then put toward the repairs. In others, you may need to get the car repaired and then wait for reimbursement.

If your car suffers too much hail damage, it may be considered a total loss.

“When damage will cost more to repair than the vehicle value, the value is compensated [to the policyholder], minus the deductible,” Lazzari says. “The vehicle receives a salvage title and is often scrapped altogether.”

How is hail damage assessed on your car?

An insurance adjuster or approved auto body shop will assess the hail damage to your car. Once the insurance company has the estimate for your repairs, it’ll issue a check — minus your deductible — which you can cash and use to cover your repairs. Sometimes, the insurer may reimburse you after the repairs are complete.

If you think your insurance company is offering you too little to repair the car (or too little if it’s totaled), you may be able to negotiate. This would require getting extra estimates for the repair (or the car’s value) and negotiating with your insurer directly. You can also file a complaint with your state’s insurance department if you feel the insurer has mishandled your claim.

How to protect your car from hail damage

With hail damage, the cost of repairs can add up quickly. Even with comprehensive coverage, you’d still owe your deductible.

To avoid these costs, it’s best to protect your car from hail damage from the start. You can:

  • Park your car in a covered area before storms. You can move it to your garage, under an awning, or into a carport — anywhere that will protect it from falling hail.

  • Cover your car. Car covers, also called hail protection blankets, can protect your car from damage in a storm. You can buy these online or at car supply stores. If you’re short on funds, you can use your car’s floor mats or blankets from your home to protect the vehicle.

  • Stay on top of weather alerts. Download a weather app to your phone, and make sure you’re aware of any brewing storms. The more proactive you can be, the better.

You should also know how prone your area is to hailstorms. If hail is common, think ahead and have a plan. Where could you move your car if a storm is coming? Talk to neighbors, friends, and family members if you don’t have a covered garage or carport.

What to Do If You Can’t Pay Your Car Insurance Deductible

What to Do If You Can’t Pay Your Car Insurance Deductible

Hail damage car insurance FAQs

Have more concerns about how hail damage is insured? Here are answers to five frequently asked questions.

  • Which states have the most hailstorms?

    Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas have the most hailstorms in the nation. In 2020, Texas had more than 600 major hail events.

    Insurance giant State Farm paid out a whopping $710 million in hail-related car and home claims across Texas in 2021. Minnesota had $253 million in claims, while Oklahoma came in third, with $202 million, according to State Farm data.

  • Will a hail damage claim raise your insurance rates?

    Hail damage claims can increase your car insurance premium, but not always. Every insurance company handles its premiums (and how claims affect them) differently. If it doesn’t increase your premium immediately, it may be added to your claims history. As your claims history grows, your chances of higher premiums may increase, too.

  • Will your homeowners insurance cover hail damage to your car?

    Homeowners insurance covers hail damage to your home — including its roof, siding, and windows — but not to vehicles parked on your property. If you want to ensure your car is covered in case of hail damage, you need comprehensive car insurance coverage.

  • Will you have to pay a deductible to get your hail damage repaired?

    All car insurance policies come with a deductible, which you must pay before your car insurance will kick in and cover a hail damage claim. Most insurers have several deductible tiers you can choose from. So if you want to avoid high costs in case of a claim, choose a lower-deductible plan with higher premiums.[3]

  • Can hail damage total your car?

    Yes, hail damage can total your car. If your vehicle sustains significant damage, there’s a chance the repair cost will outweigh the car’s value. When this happens, your insurer will declare the car totaled and reimburse you for the cash value of your vehicle minus your deductible.[3]

  • Can hail damage be repaired?

    In many cases, hail damage can be repaired. The body shop may push dents back to their original shape, fill dents, or replace damaged car panels. They can also use a strategy called “paintless dent repair.” The exact method will depend on the placement and extent of the damage.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes Instantly

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Methodology

Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

Sources

  1. NOAA. "Storm Prediction Center." Accessed December 13, 2022
  2. Insurance Information Institute . "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?." Accessed December 13, 2022
  3. American Family Insurance. "Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage to Cars?." Accessed December 13, 2022
Aly J. Yale
Aly J. Yale

Aly J. Yale is a freelance writer and reporter covering real estate, mortgages, and personal finance. Her work has been published in Forbes, Business Insider, Money, CBS News, US News & World Report, and The Miami Herald. She has a bachelor’s degree in radio-TV-film and news-editorial journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU and is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors.