Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
Car insurance and hail
Depending on the size of the storm, hail damage can range from a few dents on the hood to a total loss. Rest assured: if your vehicle is damaged by hail, your comprehensive coverage will cover the damages. This policy feature — usually paired with collision coverage — is designed to protect against weather-related threats. Let’s explore the ins and outs of hail damage and car insurance as well as how to ensure you have the best rate after filing a claim.
Key Takeaways:
- Comprehensive insurance coverage will cover costs from things like weather events, animal damage or vandalism
- Rates depend on the value of your vehicle and the deductible you have on your policy - the higher the deductible, the lower the rate
- Before filing a claim for hail damage, consider if the cost to repair is more than your deductible or if you have lease requirements
- Rates will generally rise after an insurance claim, but a comprehensive claim will be a smaller increase than a collision or liability claim
Hail and comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage will cover costs from hail damage, as long as the policy was valid prior to the damage occurring. Comprehensive coverage is designed to fill the coverage gaps left by collision coverage. While liability insurance protects other people and property from damage you cause, and collision protects your vehicle, comprehensive covers damage that occurs outside of a collision, including:
- Damage caused by animals
- Lightning
- Weather-related events such as flooding and fire
- Hail
These rules don't vary much by car insurance company or by state. If you carry an insurance policy with GEICO in California and your cousin has Allstate in Texas, you both would have the same coverage against hail (as long as you both have comprehensive coverage).
Like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage has a deductible. The deductible amount may depend on your individual circumstances.
How much does car insurance for hail cost?
The price of comprehensive coverage will depend on the value of your vehicle, as that is what your insurance company would need to pay to replace it. We created estimates based on generic insurance rates to provide some directional guidance when shopping for hail coverage. The tables below show average rates from top companies for full coverage auto insurance with both a $500 deductible, as well as a $1,000 deductible.Â
| Company | Avg. Annual Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,365 | $114 |
| Nationwide | $1,476 | $123 |
| GEICO | $1,542 | $129 |
| State Farm | $1,569 | $131 |
| Farmers | $1,786 | $149 |
| Progressive | $1,886 | $157 |
| Allstate | $2,413 | $201 |
| Company | Avg. Annual Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,189 | $99 |
| Nationwide | $1,343 | $112 |
| GEICO | $1,348 | $112 |
| State Farm | $1,457 | $121 |
| Farmers | $1,616 | $135 |
| Progressive | $1,668 | $139 |
| Allstate | $2,118 | $177 |
Dynamic auto insurance data methodology
Methodology: The auto insurance rates displayed above and throughout this page are dynamic, meaning the data will refresh when the most recent information is made available. Rates are based on a sample driver profile — a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord and full coverage. This profile was adjusted based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies, like age, coverage level, driving record and others.
With a standard $500 deductible and looking at these seven companies, comprehensive coverage would set you back an average of $1,719 annually. If you qualify, USAA offers the cheapest premium for our user profile. With a $1,000 deductible, your average would be around $1,534 annually. Remember, the higher your deductible, the lower your rate - the two numbers are inversely related. If you're looking for a fairly simple way to lower your rates then consider raising your deductible.Â
Compare rates from different companies and save on comprehensive auto insurance.
Should you file a car insurance claim for hail damage?
This can be a tricky question to answer. Before taking this step, ask yourself the following questions.
This one is pretty straightforward. In order to file a claim for hail damage, the damage must be greater than your deductible. Sometimes, it will be quite obvious but if you’re unsure, get an estimate for the repairs at a body shop.
If you own your vehicle and are planning to resell it down the line in order to purchase another vehicle, it might be in your interest to repair the hail damage.
If you’re leasing the vehicle, you’re absolutely going to have to get the damage repaired. A lease is basically a long-term rental agreement, in which you’re required by your lease to return the vehicle in near-perfect condition. If you’re financing the car, you also might be required to keep the vehicle in good condition. Check your financing agreement to be sure.
Will a hail claim increase your insurance rates?
Most insurance companies tend to treat weather incidents such as hail as not-at-fault accidents. While a collision claim is generally seen as the fault of the driver and can be very costly, a comprehensive claim probably won't be as expensive.
A comprehensive claim will increase car insurance premiums by an average of $98 per year.
| Accident/Violation | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| None | $147 | $1,759 |
| One comp claim | $154 | $1,849 |
| Two comp claims | $161 | $1,936 |
A car insurance company will typically raise rates for a three-year period following a violation or claim.
It's also worth considering rate revisions. Rate revisions occur when an insurance company uses the previous year’s loss report to price its future premiums. If the previous year had a substantial number of claims payouts — common after storms — you can expect future premiums to be higher to account for the loss.
If you experience an unusually high rate spike after filing a hail car insurance claim, consider that a good opportunity to assess other insurance options. If you didn’t file a hail claim but are experiencing the negative effects of a rate revision, this is another good time to shop around. While nearly every insurance company does rate revisions, the amount varies. Enter your zip code below to see how much you could be saving.
Find affordable comprehensive coverage today.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.