
If you're a State Farm policyholder and your car is damaged in a hail storm, you're probably wondering if your insurance covers the damage. State Farm considers hail damage a covered peril under most of its policies.
Most State Farm policies include comprehensive coverage, which specifically covers damage from hail, wind, and other non-collision events. This means that if your car is damaged in a hail storm, you can file a claim with State Farm to get it repaired.
Hail damage can be costly to repair, but with comprehensive coverage, you can rely on State Farm to help you cover the costs.
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Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
If you have comprehensive insurance, your car will be protected from hail damage after paying a deductible. Comprehensive coverage is a must-have if you want to be protected from hail damage.
Comprehensive coverage is designed to help cover damage to your car for reasons other than collision or rolling over. This means it covers damage from hail, vandalism, theft, and falling debris.
No state requires drivers to carry comprehensive insurance, but it's a good idea if your car is worth more than $3,000 or is less than 10 years old. If you're not concerned about something like hail damage, comprehensive coverage is still a good idea.
To have coverage for hail damage, you need comprehensive coverage on your car policy. Liability-only policies won't cover damage from hail.
Here are some examples of what comprehensive coverage covers:
- Theft
- Vandalism and damage from civil disturbances
- Damage from falling objects, like trees
- Fire damage
Some insurers may even waive the deductible for glass repair, making it easier to get your windshield fixed after hail damage.
Filing an Insurance Claim
Filing an insurance claim for hail damage is a relatively straightforward process. You should contact your insurer as soon as possible after the storm passes, either online or by phone.
Filing a claim for hail damage follows the same process as other types of car insurance claims. You'll need to document the damage and get an estimate from a trusted body shop for the repairs.
To file a claim, you'll need to have comprehensive insurance coverage. This type of coverage is designed to help cover damage to your car for reasons other than collision or rolling over.
If you have comprehensive insurance, your car will be protected from hail damage after paying a deductible. The deductible typically ranges from $50 to $2,000.
Here are the steps to take if you have to file a hail damage claim:
- Document the damage.
- Get an estimate from a trusted body shop for the repairs, but don’t initiate repairs if you’re going to make a claim.
- Compare the estimate to the amount of your deductible to be sure repair costs significantly exceed the deductible.
- File a comprehensive insurance claim.
- An insurance adjuster will assess the extent of the damage and determine if your insurance company will pay to repair the damage or if your car is totaled.
In most states, you have at least a year to file a car insurance claim. However, it's best to file your claim as quickly as is convenient to get your car repaired sooner.
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Understanding Car Insurance Coverage
Car insurance coverage can be confusing, but it's essential to understand what's included. Comprehensive coverage is what you need to have hail damage covered, and it's not required by law in any state.
Comprehensive coverage pays to repair damage that doesn't involve a crash, including vandalism, theft, and falling debris. This type of coverage is a good idea if your car is worth more than $3,000 or is less than 10 years old.
If you have comprehensive coverage, you'll typically pay a deductible, which usually ranges from $50 to $2,000. Make sure to review your policy to understand what's covered and what your deductible is.
Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know:
- Comprehensive coverage is required for hail damage coverage.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for damage not caused by a crash, including hail, vandalism, theft, and falling debris.
- The deductible for comprehensive coverage usually ranges from $50 to $2,000.
When Does Car Insurance Cover Hail?
Car insurance covers hail damage if you have comprehensive insurance, which protects your car from damage caused by things other than a crash. Comprehensive coverage is not required by law, but it's a good idea if your car is worth more than $3,000 or is less than 10 years old.
If you have comprehensive insurance, you'll typically pay a deductible, which can range from $50 to $2,000. However, if the repair cost is notably higher than your deductible, it's usually worth making a claim.
Comprehensive coverage also pays to repair damage from vandalism, theft, and falling debris, in addition to hail damage. This coverage is designed to help cover damage to your car for reasons other than collision or rolling over.
To have coverage for hail damage, you need comprehensive coverage on your car policy. You can also consider adding full glass coverage separately from your comprehensive coverage, which can cover a hail-damaged windshield.
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Affects Car Title?

Hail damage can indeed affect your car's title, but it's not a straightforward process. The insurance company has to declare it a total loss for the damage to be noted on the title.
If your state allows it, the title will be marked as "salvage" or have a specific hail designation, distinguishing it from other types of damage. But if the car is not declared salvage, the title will remain clean.
However, even if the title is clean, the damage may still appear on electronic notification systems like Carfax. This can affect the car's resale value and potentially impact your insurance rates.
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Repair and Replacement
Paintless dent repair, also known as PDR, is a recognized process for removing hail dents without disturbing the vehicle's finish. This procedure involves using specialized tools to apply pressure to the backside of the panel.
Hail damage repair costs can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the extent of the damage. This can be a significant expense, especially if you're not prepared.
In some cases, paintless dent repair may not be possible, and the damaged panel may need to be replaced entirely. This is usually the case for larger or more complex damage.
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Repair Required?
If you own your car outright, the choice to repair a hail-damaged car is yours.
However, if you have a loan outstanding on the car, you must fix it, and any settlement will be made out to you and your lienholder.
You can still claim for new hail damage, but the previous hail damage you did not repair will be considered, and you won't be paid twice for the same hail damage.
The insurance adjuster will determine how much damage your vehicle is from the new hailstorm and how much pre-existing damage you failed to repair.
Your insurance adjuster and agent should be able to explain how your car insurance company will handle this new comprehensive claim for hail damage.
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Repair
Repair can be a complex process, especially after a hail storm.
The most common method of hail damage repair is paintless dent repair (PDR), which involves using specialized tools to remove surface imperfections from metal exterior surface panels without disturbing the vehicle's finish.
Hail damage repair costs can vary greatly, ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.
In some cases, PDR may not be feasible, and other techniques may be used to repair damage from the topside of the panel.
Prevention and Safety
Prevention is key to minimizing the financial impact of hail damage.
If you live in an area prone to hail storms, consider parking your car in a garage or covered parking structure to protect it from damage.
The cost of repairing or replacing a damaged vehicle can be substantial, with the average cost of a new car roof being around $3,000 to $4,000.
Regularly inspecting your vehicle for signs of hail damage, such as dented or cracked paint, can help you catch issues early on.
State Farm offers a variety of coverage options to help protect your vehicle from hail damage, including comprehensive coverage that can be added to your existing policy.
To prevent hail damage, consider investing in a car cover or hail protection film that can be applied to your vehicle's paint.
If you do experience hail damage, be sure to document the damage with photos and contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to initiate the claims process.
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US Storms and Insurance
Certain parts of the country are more prone to hailstorms, so you should be prepared if hail is a common occurrence in your area.
If you live in Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas, or another state in the Midwest, hailstorms are more likely to damage your car.
Paying out of pocket for hail damage can end up costing you a lot more than paying for comprehensive insurance.
In 2022, hail did more than $600 million in damage to vehicles of State Farm customers alone.
Claim Process and Timeframe
You have at least a year to file a car insurance claim for hail damage, but it's best to file as quickly as possible to get your car repaired sooner.
The claim process for hail damage is relatively straightforward, but it's essential to have comprehensive insurance to file a claim. You'll need to document the damage, get an estimate from a trusted body shop, and compare it to your deductible to ensure the repair costs significantly exceed it.
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To file a claim, you'll need to follow these steps:
- Document the damage.
- Get an estimate from a trusted body shop for the repairs, but don’t initiate repairs if you’re going to make a claim.
- Compare the estimate to the amount of your deductible to be sure repair costs significantly exceed the deductible.
- File a comprehensive insurance claim.
An insurance adjuster will assess the extent of the damage and determine if your insurance company will pay to repair the damage or if your car is totaled. If your car is repairable, your insurance company will pay for repairs minus the deductible, which can be a significant amount – payouts for hail damage can regularly reach $5,000.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is State Farm denying hail damage claims?
State Farm denies hail damage claims when the damage is deemed caused by normal wear and tear or aging, which is not covered by homeowners insurance. This is often the case if the adjuster determines the damage was not caused by a covered cause of loss.
Sources
- https://www.valuepenguin.com/does-car-insurance-cover-hail-damage
- https://www.carinsurance.com/hail-damage-claims.aspx
- https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/hail-damage-car
- https://wallethub.com/answers/ci/state-farm-hail-damage-1000055-2140730790/
- https://www.fox6now.com/news/dispute-hail-damage-claim-jackson
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