Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage to Cars?

Severe weather can damage your car, and when hail strikes, you may wonder what to do next. We’re here to help clear up the confusion and show you how your insurance can help protect you. 

The good news is that if your auto policy includes comprehensive coverage, your insurance company will likely cover the cost of repairing your car's hail damages. Comprehensive coverage can even help you if your car is declared a total loss due to hail.

Coverage for hail damage is easy with American Family Insurance. By adding comprehensive coverage, your policy can handle the various stages of hail damage. And you’ll get the focused protection you need to get on the road to recovery quickly. Like car accidents, hail damage can vary from one car to the next. That’s why we recommend several coverages to best protect you from costly out-of-pocket hail damage repairs.

Comprehensive Coverage

Is hail damage covered in a standard car insurance policy? Not usually. So, what insurance covers hail damage to cars? As the name suggests, comprehensive coverage can help protect you from a variety of losses, including hail damage.

With it, you’ll have coverage from falling objects like hail events or tree branches that damage your car. It’s called comprehensive because it covers your car in a number of important ways that aren’t included in a standard auto policy:

• Theft
• Collisions with birds or animals
• Vandalism
• Fires or explosions
• Hail or natural disasters
• Certain falling objects
• Floods

Gap/Lease and Loan Coverage

You may already have this important coverage on your car, especially if you still owe money on it. Many financing agreements require it to help reconcile costs in the event of a covered total loss.

Here’s how it works: when your car’s declared a total loss, your insurance company will pay out its actual cash value. But some payment plans don’t pay off the car as quickly as it’s depreciating. That can result in you owing more on your car than it’s worth. Gap/lease and loan coverage can help pay for that difference after a major hailstorm.

Rental Car Reimbursement

Whether your car suffered minor dings or major dents from hail, rental car reimbursement coverage can come to the rescue after a storm. It's designed to help cover the costs of car renting after a covered loss. It’s coverage that can help you when your car’s in the shop.

And if it’s been totaled, you’ll have time to shop around and keep your life on track between vehicles. It can also help to cover other transportation-related expenses too:

• Rental car costs
• Rideshare services
• Taxis
• City busses
• Light rail
• Commuter trains

What happens if your car gets hail damage?

After a hailstorm, car insurance is key. But it’s even more important to pick up comprehensive insurance when selecting coverage. After a hail event, it’s time to act quickly. Here are a few steps to take to evaluate the extent of hail damage done to your car and get your life back to normal quickly:

Assess the damage. Sometimes, hairline cracks can appear in the windows, but they can be hard to see. Most hail damage that prevents you from driving involves windows being destroyed or shattered. So, look carefully at your windshield. 

Make a determination. If your car’s damage prevents it from being driven, contact your insurance agent and have it towed to a qualified repair shop. If it’s drivable, proceed carefully after talking to your agent about the next steps.

File a claim. By filing your claim quickly, you’ll minimize the downtime between getting your car to the shop and getting it back.

Steps to Claiming Insurance and Filing a Claim for Hail Damage on Cars

After a hail event, the first thing you’ll need to do is contact your insurance agency. With American Family Insurance, filing a claim is easy.

One of the best ways to report a claim is to log into My Account or use the MyAmFam app. By initiating your claim with one of these options, you’ll also experience additional benefits, including:

• Filing anywhere, any time
• Tracking the status of your claim
• Easily communicating with your claims representative by email or phone

You can always call us at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) to speak directly with a claims representative or contact your American Family Insurance agent.

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

Hail damage repair costs are usually priced on a per-dent basis. In most cases, you can expect to pay $30-$40 per impact for small or minute dents. Larger dents can be a bigger challenge for hail specialists and can boost that price anywhere from $50-$100+ per dent.

Do I have to pay a deductible for hail damage to my car?

Yes. When you take your car to the shop, you’ll need to pay your comprehensive coverage deductible. In some cases, your insurance company will subtract the deductible from the total due and pay that directly to the repair shop. Contact your agent to learn about hail coverage and how your insurance group handles deductibles.

Can I claim hail damage on my car twice?

If you own your car outright, you may decide not to get it repaired after a hailstorm. That choice is yours to make. However, insurance claims on a hail-damaged car should probably be a priority, even if you own your car. But you should be aware that if your car gets hit by hail again and you decide to then get it repaired, your insurance company may likely deny your claim.

Can you insure a car with hail damage?

When hail pummels your car, these dents can cause extensive aesthetic damage. If you don't get your car repaired, its resale value can quickly decline. If you’re looking for comprehensive coverage on a car that’s been dinged up and dented from hail, you may not be able to find it.

Insurance companies may reject your car because prior damage can be hard to distinguish from new damage. When physical damage happens to your car, it’s best to get it repaired quickly so that your car can continue to benefit from an insurance policy.

How to Save Your Car from Hail Damage

Prevention is all about protection. If you can safely get your car out of harm’s way before the weather turns, do so. Here are some suggestions to help you get ahead of the hail and help keep your car safe:

Download a weather app. User-friendly apps that reference multiple weather sources are key for getting the forecast right and can make a big difference when the wind begins to howl. Consider apps like Dark Sky and Carrot Weather for early warning and real-time radar.

Have a plan. When you know that severe weather is on the horizon, take a few minutes and plan for cover before you need it. Find a space to store your car under shelter or in a garage to minimize or avoid damage.

Get Hail Damage Coverage Before the Storm

If you want more information on filing a storm-related car insurance claim, check with your American Family Insurance agent. Look into comprehensive gap/lease and loan and rental car reimbursement coverages. By staying ahead of storm season and updating your auto insurance policies before the weather turns, you’ll have great coverage and the comfort that comes with it.

This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.

*Customers who bundle home and auto insurance policies may save up to 23% on both policies together (as of December 2023). Discounts may vary by state, property, policy form and company underwriting the home and/or auto policy. Discounts may not apply to all coverages on a home or auto policy.