Hail can damage your vehicle when you’re least expecting it, since storms and other extreme weather events are notoriously difficult to predict. Luckily, some insurance policies cover body shop repairs for hail damage to your car. Even if your policy doesn’t provide coverage, you can take several steps to protect your vehicle from damage. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about hail damage, your auto insurance policy, and how you can get hail damage repaired.
Which Insurance Policies Cover Hail Damage?
Hail damage to your car is covered by policies with comprehensive insurance. This optional add-on to most insurance policies is sometimes referred to as comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive insurance is designed to pay out the costs of damage to your vehicle that doesn’t occur during a car crash or accident. As a result of the additional protection it offers, you usually have to pay higher premiums to obtain comprehensive coverage.
If you’re driving a rented vehicle when a hail storm strikes, the damage will likely be covered. Most rental companies have comprehensive insurance for their vehicles.
Which Policies Do Not Cover Hail Damage?
Collision insurance policies won’t cover hail damage to your vehicle. That’s because this type of insurance only covers damage caused during a collision with another vehicle or a road accident. Liability insurance also doesn’t cover hail damage. A liability policy protects you from being financially responsible for any damage you cause to another person’s property, like their vehicle, during an accident. Liability insurance can also pay for another person’s medical bills if they suffer an injury as a result of an accident caused by you.
How Do You Know If Making a Claim Is Worthwhile?
If a hail storm has damaged your car, the first thing you should try to do is get the damage assessed by an auto technician so you know how much the repairs are likely to cost. Most insurance policies include a deductible, which is an amount of money you must pay when you make a claim. For example, if you have a deductible of $500, this means that the first $500 of any costs related to your claim is paid by you.
If the cost to repair your vehicle is less than your deductible, it won’t be worth your while to make a claim. Even if the cost is slightly above your deductible, you may decide not to pursue a claim through your comprehensive coverage. This is because claims are registered on your insurance record and can result in your premiums increasing.
Some insurance policies may offer a very low deductible or no deductible at all, which can be helpful if you experience regular hail storms. However, you’ll probably need to pay higher premiums to get such a policy. Another point to keep in mind is that some policies may waive the deductible for glass damage. For instance, if your windshield is cracked in a hail storm and it can be repaired, the repair may be covered by your policy without any requirement for you to pay a deductible. If you’re unsure whether your policy contains this provision, try talking to your insurance agent to find out.
Is It Worth Repairing Cosmetic Damage?
If the cost to repair cosmetic damage is less than your deductible or you don’t have comprehensive coverage, you may be considering not getting it repaired in order to save money. You’re free to make this choice, but remember that it could affect the resale price for your vehicle if you plan to trade it in at a later date. Additionally, if you lease a car or took out an auto loan to pay for it, the company you’re leasing from or your lender may require you to keep your vehicle in good condition. This may mean that you have to pay for the repairs to stay in compliance with the terms of your agreement.
What Happens If a Car Is Totaled?
Your vehicle is considered totaled if the cost to repair the damage is higher than the vehicle’s value. This can occur due to hail, which in a worst-case scenario can damage your car across its entire bodywork.
After an insurer decides that your vehicle is totaled, they will usually send you a check minus your deductible. You can then put the money towards buying a new car.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Car From Hail Damage?
The first thing to do is to ensure that you have comprehensive coverage. Remember that you need to request this type of coverage in advance of bad weather. Many insurers put a stop on new requests for comprehensive coverage if a storm warning has been issued for your area. This is done to stop consumers from only purchasing comprehensive insurance for short periods.
If you decide not to purchase comprehensive insurance due to the additional cost or other factors, you can still safeguard your vehicle from hail. Consider buying a hail protection blanket, which is a soft covering you can place over your vehicle to protect it from the elements when it’s parked.
You can also try to park your car in a garage or other indoor location during a storm. If you’re on the road during a hail storm, try to pull over under an overpass or other sheltered area until it passes.
If you don’t have access to a garage at home, you can set up a carport in your driveway instead. This is a structure that covers your vehicle to prevent harsh weather conditions from causing damage.
Schedule Hail Damage Repair in Grand Forks
Now you know a little bit more about how insurance policies respond to hail damage and how you can protect your vehicle from storms. We hope we’ve been able to answer all of your questions. But if you’re still unsure about anything, feel free to contact us, or arrange an appointment at our body shop in Grand Forks to get your hail damage assessed.
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