Hail can come suddenly and cause surprising amounts of damage to your vehicle. Does car insurance cover hail damage? Here’s what you need to know about hail damage, what coverage you need and how to prevent it in the first place.
Identifying hail damage
Hail is a form of precipitation made of ice pellets. It can form during thunderstorms, where raindrops freeze into ice. Hail can range in size, but even small hailstones can cause significant damage to a car.
Hail can dent, ding and scratch the body panels of your car. Larger hailstones can even crack windshields. It’s not uncommon for numerous small dents to occur as a result of a storm. In some extreme cases, hail can damage a car to the point of a total loss.
Comprehensive coverage and hail damage
Your insurance will cover hail damage if you carry comprehensive coverage. This is an optional insurance coverage that pays for damage to your car not related to a collision.
- Natural disasters and storms
- Fires
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Damage caused by animals
Having collision and comprehensive coverage is known as having “full coverage” on a vehicle. Full coverage is not typically required for auto insurance policies. If you owe money on your car, you may be required to carry full coverage as a term of loan or lease.
Full Coverage
Collision and comprehensive coverage are not typically required coverage. Check with your insurance company or agent to see if you have full coverage on your vehicle.
Should you file a claim for hail damage?
You should file a claim for hail damage if there are numerous dents on your vehicle, or if any glass is broken. However, if there are only a few small dents it may not be worth going through your insurance and paying your deductible. It may be cheaper repair those few dents by going to a licensed paintless dent repair specialist. This process can repair most kinds of small dents, like in the case of hail damage.
If there are many dents, the repair bill can quickly add up. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible if there is extensive hail damage to your car.
Filing a claim for hail damage
We know that filing any kind of car insurance claim can be stressful. Our unique claims services will simplify the process, getting you back on the road in no time.
- File Your Claim
Please have your policy number ready. You can file a claim online or by contacting us or your agent directly. - Assignment and Tracking of the Claim
After you report your claim, you’ll receive a claim number to help track its progress. We’ll also assign you a friendly representative to answer any questions you may have. - Damage Evaluation
If your vehicle has damage and the applicable coverage applies, we offer these convenient options to get you back on the road as soon as possible:- CarPicsSM Photo Appraisals: Eliminate the need to schedule a claims inspection and receive your estimate within hours. You may even get paid that same day.*
- Crashbusters® Mobile Claim Service: Have a representative meet you to appraise the damage at a time and place that’s convenient for you, often issuing you a check on the spot.
- Door to Door Valet Claim Service®: Let us pick up your car and handle the repair process from start to finish. If you have rental coverage, we’ll even coordinate a rental car.
- Receive Your Claim Settlement
Based on your situation, Plymouth Rock may pay your claim to the repair shop or we may reimburse you directly. Your claim payment will be based on the terms and coverage in your car insurance policy.
Deductibles and hail damage Coverage
Hail damage is covered under comprehensive coverage. This means that you need to pay your deductible when you file a claim. A deductible is your share of the cost for an insurance claim. A deductible is not the same as your insurance premium, which is what you pay to maintain your policy. It’s what you pay before your insurance starts paying for expenses.
For example, say your comprehensive deductible is $500 and it costs $1,000 to fix the hail damage on your car. In this case, you would pay $500 and your insurance will cover the remaining cost.
The exact terms of your insurance policy may be different, so read your insurance agreement or talk to your company or agent to find out about your specific limits and exclusions.
How to protect your car from hail damage
The best way to be prepared for hail is to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If you’re expecting hail, take these preventative measures to protect your car from costly damage.
Park indoors or in a covered parking lot if possible. A car port can also provide protection.
If you can’t park somewhere protected from the elements, consider using a hail blanket or cover. These heavy duty padded covers help absorb the impact of hailstones to protect your car.
In a pinch, you can used thick quilted pads like moving blankets. Make sure to secure them with ratchet straps, or under a normal car cover so they won’t fly off during the storm.
If you’re driving and a hailstorm develops, immediately find a covered place to park. Not only is the hail potentially damaging to your car, the slick conditions from ice on the road are dangerous. Pull into the nearest covered lot if possible and remain in your vehicle.
FAQ
Each instance of hail damage should be reported to your insurance company as soon as possible. Damage may be more difficult and expensive to repair if you wait to repair it.
Your car’s factory warranty typically only covers defects in craftsmanship or manufacturing. It won’t cover external damage to the body as a result of hail.
Severe hail can cause enough damage to total your car. If your car is older, mild damage may be enough to total it.
Conclusion: Does car insurance cover hail damage?
Hail damage can quickly cause extensive damage to your car. It’s smart to not only take preventative measures like sheltering your car during a hailstorm, but also to have the right insurance coverage from Plymouth Rock on it. You can rest assured knowing you’ll get top notch coverage and even better service with Plymouth Rock.
Now let’s talk about you
Do you have the right coverage for your vehicle? We’d love to chat with you about it. Call us at 800-516-9242 or speak to a local agent.
If you’d rather not talk, you can get a quote quickly and easily online. Just enter your ZIP code to get started and see how much you could save!
* Certain restrictions apply.
