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Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?

Last Updated on December 7, 2025

Hailstorms can cause serious and expensive damage to vehicles. If your car is dented, cracked, or totaled by hail, you’ll want your insurance to step in—so does car insurance cover hail damage? The answer depends on which type of coverage you have. Below, we explain exactly when hail damage is covered, when it’s not, and what steps to take if a storm hits your vehicle.

Key Takeaways

Hail damage is only covered by comprehensive insurance, not liability or collision.
If your car is damaged by hail, you pay your deductible and insurance covers the rest.
Hail damage can be extremely expensive—often totaling vehicles in severe storms.
Drivers in hail-prone states should strongly consider comprehensive coverage for financial protection.

Table Of Contents

Hail Coverage Depends on Your Insurance Policy
How Much Hail Damage Will My Insurance Cover?
If You Live in a Hail-Prone Area, Consider Getting Comprehensive Coverage
FAQ's
Conclusion – Auto Insurance and Hail Damage

Hail Coverage Depends on Your Insurance Policy

Whether hail damage is covered depends entirely on the type of auto insurance you carry.

Liability insurance only: If you have liability insurance only, hail damage is not covered. Liability insurance protects other people and property—not your own car.

Collision insurance: Collision coverage also does not cover hail. It only pays for damage from hitting another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive insurance: To get hail coverage, you need comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive covers damage from non-collision events, including:

Hailstorms
Theft
Vandalism
Falling objects
Floods and storms
Vehicle theft

If you have comprehensive coverage, hail damage is almost always included.

How Much Hail Damage Will My Insurance Cover?

If you carry comprehensive coverage, your insurer will pay for hail damage minus your deductible. For example:

Repair cost: $1,500
Your deductible: $500
Your insurer pays: $1,000

Some insurers offer deductible waivers for certain repairs. For example, if you repair (rather than replace) damaged auto glass, your deductible may be waived.

Here’s how the claims process typically works:

An adjuster examines the damage
You receive a repair estimate
Your insurer pays the body shop or sends you a check

If your car is financed or leased, the lender may require you to complete the repairs—even if you’d rather keep the payout.

If You Live in a Hail-Prone Area, Consider Getting Comprehensive Coverage

Hail damage can be extremely expensive—sometimes totaling a vehicle. Drivers in hail-heavy states should strongly consider carrying comprehensive coverage, as a single storm can cost thousands.

State Farm reports that hail causes more than $2.4 billion in damage annually among its policyholders.

Here are the top 10 states with the highest number of hail damage claims:

FAQ’s

Does car insurance cover hail damage?

Yes. Hail damage is covered under comprehensive insurance. Liability and collision insurance do not cover hail damage or other weather-related losses.

Do I need comprehensive coverage to file a hail damage claim?

Yes. Only comprehensive coverage pays for hail damage. If you only carry liability or collision insurance, hail damage will not be covered.

How much will insurance pay for hail damage?

Your insurer will pay the total repair cost minus your comprehensive deductible. For example, if repairs cost $1,500 and your deductible is $500, insurance pays the remaining $1,000.

Can hail damage total my car?

Yes. Severe hail can cause thousands of dollars in damage and may exceed your vehicle’s actual cash value, leading insurers to declare it a total loss.

Will a hail damage claim raise my insurance rates?

In most cases, no. Hail damage is a weather-related event outside your control. Many insurers do not raise rates for comprehensive-only claims such as hail, theft, or animal collisions.

Do I have to fix my hail-damaged car after filing a claim?

If you own your car outright, you may keep the payout without repairing it. If your vehicle is financed or leased, your lender will usually require repairs.

Which states have the most hail damage claims?

Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas experience the most hail-related auto insurance claims each year.

Conclusion – Auto Insurance and Hail Damage

Basic liability insurance does not cover hail damage. If you only carry the minimum state-required coverage, hail repairs will be out-of-pocket.

To protect your vehicle from hail, you need comprehensive insurance. With comprehensive, your insurer pays for hail damage above your deductible—whether that’s minor dents or a full vehicle total loss.

If you live in a hail-prone state, carrying comprehensive insurance is one of the smartest and most cost-effective decisions you can make.