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- Comprehensive coverage pays for hail damage. Liability-only policies don’t. If you dropped comprehensive to save money, you’ll pay out of pocket.
- The average auto hail claim runs $4,000 to $5,000, according to State Farm data. Severe storms with large hailstones can push repair bills past $10,000.
- Filing a hail claim typically won’t raise your rates. Comprehensive claims for weather events are generally not counted against you since they are outside your control — but check with your insurer.
- Minor damage often isn’t worth claiming. If the repair estimate is close to or below your deductible, pay out of pocket and protect your claims history.
- Texas leads the country in hail events. NOAA recorded 902 hail events in Texas in 2025 alone — nearly 2.5 times more than second-place Kansas.
Hail damage presents a real dilemma. The dents are usually cosmetic but visible, and repair costs can catch drivers off guard. Some people live with the dings. Others file comprehensive claims and discover the repair cost doesn’t clear their deductible.
“The time to prepare is now,” says Gina Wilken, State Farm public affairs specialist. “Call your insurance agent and review your coverage. After a hailstorm is not the time to find out your coverage is outdated.”
Does auto insurance cover hail damage?
Yes, if you have comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive is sometimes called “other than collision” coverage because it covers damage that isn’t caused by a crash — including hail, falling objects, animal strikes, vandalism, flooding and theft. Keep in mind: you must pay your comprehensive deductible when you file a claim.
Liability-only policies do not cover hail damage, so if you carry only the state minimum, you’re responsible for the full repair cost.
Minor hail damage is often not worth claiming. If the repair estimate is close to or below your deductible, you’ll get little to nothing back — and you’ll still have a claim on your record. Major hail damage is a different story: a severe storm can push repair costs high enough to total a car.
How much does a hail damage claim typically cost?
The average auto hail damage claim runs $4,000 to $5,000, according to State Farm data. That’s 10X the annual cost of comprehensive coverage — $451 per year.
Actual repair costs vary widely based on storm severity, hailstone size, the number of panels affected and whether glass or ADAS sensors need replacement or recalibration. Vehicles with aluminum body panels or advanced driver-assistance systems can run well past $10,000 even in moderate hail events.
| Claim type | Estimated average cost |
|---|---|
| Auto hail damage claim | $4,000-$5,000 |
| Annual collision coverage | $1,018 |
| Average comprehensive coverage | $451 |
Sources: State Farm hail claim data; Quadrant Information Services
Which states see the most hail damage?
Hail Alley — the corridor running from northern Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska — accounts for a disproportionate share of U.S. hail events every year. Texas consistently leads the country by a wide margin – in 2025, it had 1,453 hail events compared to Oklahoma, the next-closest state, with 836.
The table below shows which states had the most hail events in 2025.
| Rank | State | Hail events (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,453 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 836 |
| 3 | Kansas | 555 |
| 4 | Missouri | 497 |
| 5 | Colorado | 492 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 474 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 383 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 359 |
| 9 | Illinois | 350 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 329 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center
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How do you file a hail damage claim?
You must have comprehensive coverage to file a hail damage claim. Before you call your insurer, get a repair estimate. If the damage doesn’t clearly exceed your deductible, weigh whether filing is worth it.
- Document all damage immediately after the storm. Photograph every dented panel, cracked glass surface and damaged trim. Use a coin or ruler in the frame to show scale.
- Get a written estimate from a reputable body shop. Don’t start repairs before filing — your insurer needs to inspect the vehicle.
- Compare the estimate to your deductible. If the repair cost barely clears it, consider paying out of pocket.
- File a comprehensive claim with your insurer. Provide photos, the repair estimate and any storm records.
- An adjuster will inspect the vehicle and determine whether the car will be repaired or declared a total loss.
- If repairable, your insurer pays repair costs minus your deductible. If totaled, you receive the car’s actual cash value minus your deductible.
Sophie’s Tip
Don’t initiate repairs before your insurer inspects the vehicle. If you do, you could complicate or reduce your payout. Take photos immediately after the storm while damage is fresh and keep a record of the date and storm details — your insurer may ask for them.
Will a hail claim raise my car insurance rates?
In most cases, no. Comprehensive claims for weather events — hail, flooding, falling objects — are not rated against you the way an at-fault accident would be, because the damage is outside your control. Most states and most insurers treat these as non-chargeable events.
That said, your overall claims history matters. If you’ve filed several claims recently, adding another — even a weather claim — can flag you as higher risk in some insurers’ systems. Check with your insurer before filing if you’ve had recent claims.
Does hail damage go on a car’s title?
Hail damage affects a car’s title only if two things are both true: the insurer declares it a total loss, and your state allows hail damage alone as grounds for a salvage title.
Many states use a specific hail designation to distinguish hail-totaled vehicles from wrecked or flood-damaged ones. Others simply mark the title salvage. If the car is not declared a total loss, the title stays clean — though damage history may show up in vehicle history reports like Carfax.
Does hail damage affect my windshield?
Yes, and it’s covered under comprehensive. If your insurer is repairing the windshield rather than replacing it, many carriers waive the deductible for glass repair only. Replacement typically still carries a deductible.
A handful of states allow drivers to buy separate full glass coverage that covers windshield replacement with no deductible regardless of comprehensive terms. Check your state’s rules and your policy language.
Frequently Asked Questions: hail damage and car insurance
Do I have to repair hail damage after filing a claim?
It depends on whether you own your car outright. If you do, the repair decision is yours — your insurer has paid the claim, and what you do with the check is up to you. If you have an outstanding auto loan, your lender typically requires repairs, and your settlement check will be issued jointly to you and the lienholder.
What if I didn’t fix damage from a previous hail claim?
You can still file a claim for new hail damage, but your insurer will deduct the cost of pre-existing unrepaired damage from the new settlement. You won’t be paid twice for the same dents. The adjuster will document what’s new and what was there before.
Can I file a hail damage claim after switching insurance companies?
No. Hail damage is covered by the policy that was active when the storm occurred. If the damage happened while you were with your previous insurer, that insurer is responsible — not your new one. Some policies have short grace periods; check with both carriers if the timing is close.
What if the hail damage totals my car?
If the cost to repair your car exceeds your state’s total loss threshold as a percentage of the vehicle’s actual cash value, the insurer declares it a total loss and pays you the ACV minus your deductible. You can use that payout toward a replacement vehicle. If you owe more on your loan than the ACV, gap insurance covers the difference — without it, you pay that balance out of pocket.
Is hail damage covered if my car was parked in a garage?
If your car was in a garage when the storm hit and suffered no hail damage, there’s nothing to claim. If it were partially exposed or damage occurred before you could move it, document everything and file normally. Comprehensive covers hail damage regardless of where the car was parked — garage, street or driveway.
Your next steps after a hailstorm
- Photograph all damage before moving the car or making any repairs. More documentation is better.
- Get a written repair estimate from a certified body shop and compare it to your deductible before deciding whether to file.
- Contact your insurer to start the claims process. Ask whether your deductible is waived for glass repair if the windshield is the primary damage.
- If your car is declared a total loss, ask how the ACV was calculated — you have the right to dispute a low valuation with comparable vehicle data.
- If you live in a high-hail state and carry only liability coverage, review whether adding comprehensive makes sense before next storm season.
Want to see what comprehensive coverage adds to your premium? Use the CarInsurance.com calculator to estimate full-coverage rates for your ZIP code.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. “Facts + Statistics: Hail.” Accessed June 2026.
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center. “Annual Severe Weather Report Summary.” Accessed June 2026.
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