If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know it can be costly. Whether it’s the deductible or just being out of a vehicle for an extended period of time, there are lots of expenses that come along with a collision.
But what about when something bad happens and it’s not from another car? What if there is storm damage to your vehicle? Do you have to worry about having enough coverage on your auto insurance policy for these types of weather-related damages?
In this article, we’ll discuss what type of car insurance coverage you need to be protected from weather-related damages.
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Does insurance cover weather damage to cars?
The first thing to know is that there are different types of coverage on a policy and not all of them cover weather-related damages.
Most car insurance policies offer comprehensive coverage, which includes protection against natural disasters like hail or water damage caused by storms.
If you want additional protection from these events happening to your vehicle (not just in the event of a collision), you may want to get an endorsement on your auto insurance policy that will provide additional protection.
If your car is not insured, the costs of any damages can be very expensive. It’s important that if you have an unprotected vehicle or are looking for coverage, consider purchasing comprehensive and/or storm damage coverage as soon as possible in order to protect yourself from the financial burden of these types of disasters.
How do storm damage insurance claims work?
Generally, if you’re able to file a claim with your insurer for hail damage or water-related damages caused by the storm, they will payout based on the actual cash value of that type of coverage.
The benefit is not limited in time like some types of car insurance policies are; there’s no limit on how long an insured vehicle can be repaired, up to the cost of its actual cash value.
The catch is that most types of storm damage coverage will only cover one event per year for a specific type of incident. Many policies don’t offer this additional protection and you’ll have to purchase it separately if you want your car insured against hail or water-related damages caused by storms.
If your car is not insured, the costs of any damages can be very expensive. It’s important that if you have an unprotected vehicle or are looking for coverage, consider purchasing comprehensive and/or storm damage coverage as soon as possible in order to protect yourself from the financial burden of these types of disasters.
Types of storm damage covered by comprehensive policies
The most common types of damage that are covered by your insurance provider are:
Hail: Hail storms are a common weather event in many parts of the country. Whether it’s happening where you live or not, there are some types of comprehensive coverage that protect you from hail damage to your vehicle (depending on the policy).
Water Damage: Water can get into your car and cause all sorts of problems if there’s no protection against these types of damages. Comprehensive coverage often includes protection against water damage to your vehicle caused by things like flooding, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
Wind Damage: Wind is another type of natural disaster that can cause all sorts of problems for vehicles, especially in parts of the country with high winds or wind storms (which are more common). If you want to be covered for wind-related damages, comprehensive coverage may be what you need.
Hurricane: Hurricanes and tropical storms are large weather events that can produce heavy rainfall, high winds, strong waves. A comprehensive insurance policy often includes coverage for car damage caused by hurricanes.
Tornado: If you live in an area with a lot of tornadoes (or if there’s been one recently), this type of natural disaster can cause a lot of damage to vehicles. Comprehensive coverage often includes protection against water damage caused by things like flooding or tornadoes.
How to file a claim for storm damage
If you think your car may have sustained damage from a storm, it’s important to file a claim with your insurance provider to see if you are covered by insurance. If there are any witnesses who can attest to the incident, it will help when filing your claim with your insurer.
In order to file an insurance claim for hail damage, wind storms, or water-related damages caused by the storm, your car insurance policy needs to have comprehensive car insurance coverage.
The process is the same as a typical insurance claim – you’ll need to fill out the claim information either online or over the phone. Your insurance provider will ask you to provide:
- Driver’s licence number, name, and address
- Your insurance policy number
- The details of the accident (date & time)
- Any other information requested by the insurance company
In order to speed up the claims process and ensure you have a better chance of receiving reimbursement, you should consider documenting the damage. You can take pictures of the vehicle, or if you’re able to safely move your vehicle, document any damages by taking a quick video.
Does insurance cover hail damage?
Yes, comprehensive coverage usually includes protection from hail damage as well.
What if hail damage is not included in my policy?
If you want to protect your vehicle from hail storm damage, be sure that comprehensive coverage and/or a separate endorsement for protection against weather-related disasters are part of your car insurance policy. If these types of events happen and you have no additional coverage, you could be responsible for the repairs all on your own.
How is hail damage assessed?
Because hail damage can vary in degree, some car insurance companies may require you to have your vehicle inspected before they will authorize payment for the damages. It can help to take pictures of the damaged areas before repairs are done so you have a record of what was affected. This way, in case there are any discrepancies in the repairs, you can make a claim.
How much does hail damage cost?
If you need to replace a windshield, it can be around $500-$600. If you have more extensive damage (like replacing an entire door), that will depend on how old and what type of vehicle you are driving as well as where you live.
The average cost to repair hail damage is around $3,000 – $4,000 for a small sedan, but it can be as high as $8,000 – $10,000 if you need major body work done on your car after a hailstorm.
Is it worth claiming hail damage to my car?
If your car is insured, it’s worth it to file a claim because you are entitled to the benefits of being fully protected from weather-related damages.
However, if you don’t have comprehensive coverage or an endorsement that will cover hail damage as well, then filing a claim might not be the best option for you. You may end up paying for the damages out of pocket, which can be expensive.
Do hail damage claims raise insurance rates?
If your car has hail damage and you file a claim, it won’t necessarily raise your insurance rates. However, if the hailstorm is severe enough that there are other damages besides just hail on your car (like electrical or structural damage), then filing a claim may increase your premiums for being at higher risk of an accident in the future.
Does my car insurance cover water damage?
Comprehensive car insurance often includes protection against water-related damages like rain or flooding.
What if my car insurance doesn't cover water damage?
You may want to consider purchasing a separate endorsement for protection against natural disasters from your insurance company. If you don’t have this type of coverage, there is the possibility that any damages as a result of floods or rain will not be covered by your policy.
