Will Insurance Cover Hail Damage to a Car?
2 Answers
Insurance will cover hail damage to a car, as it falls under the coverage of the vehicle damage insurance. Below are the detailed explanations: Coverage of Vehicle Damage Insurance: The coverage of vehicle damage insurance includes losses caused by natural disasters. This encompasses external factors such as lightning, storms, tornadoes, heavy rain, floods, tsunamis, ground collapse, ice collapse, cliff collapse, avalanches, hail disasters, mudslides, and landslides. Claims Process: The car owner must report the damage to the insurance company within 48 hours of the incident. The insurance company will then send someone to inspect and assess the damage, review and approve the claim documents, calculate the compensation amount based on the submitted accident materials, and finally settle the claim and close the case.
My car got hit by hail once when I was parked at a summer park when it suddenly hailed, leaving the body full of dents. I quickly took photos to document the damage and then filed a claim with my insurance company. Fortunately, I had comprehensive coverage, and they sent someone to assess the damage. They eventually covered the repair costs, but I had to pay a $500 deductible first. That experience taught me that it's best to park in an underground garage or use a thick car cover when hail is forecasted. Whether insurance covers it depends on your policy type. If you have collision coverage (also called comprehensive insurance), which includes natural disasters, it will be covered. If you don't have full coverage and only have third-party liability, your own car may not be protected. I recommend car owners check their policy details during every maintenance visit to avoid regretting not having natural disaster coverage when something happens.
