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Which Car Insurance Coverages Does Hail Damage Fall Under?
Published: 05/03/2011 by Kevin Mulligan
With the recent bout of devastating storms hitting the southeast, many individuals sustained damage to their homes and vehicles. Many cars left without cover received an onslaught of hail ranging from pea sized (no damage) to tennis ball and baseball sized hail (lots of damage). Hail of this size can easily destroy a vehicle's windows and leave the hood, roof, and trunk looking more like a golf ball and less like a sleek automobile. With enough extensive damage your insurance company will be forced to simply total your vehicle rather than pay for the cost of replacing every sky facing panel plus your front and rear window glass.
When you purchase car insurance you have two options: liability only coverage and what is commonly called “full coverage” with collision and comprehensive coverages. Liability insurance only covers your liability if you run into something or someone with your vehicle. Your hail damage would not be covered if you have liability-only insurance. Collision and comprehensive coverage are different.
What is collision coverage?
Collision coverage, aptly named, covers your vehicle as a result of a collision. That can be a collision with another vehicle or another object.
So does hail falling from the sky fall under the “another object” label? No. The key is the word collision, which relates to an accident. Your collision coverage only covers your vehicle. It only comes into play when you run into another vehicle or an object. Your liability insurance that comes with full coverage insurance takes care of the other damaged ve hicle or property.
What is comprehensive coverage?
Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle not caused by an accident. Things like floods, fire, and yes, hail damage from a bad storm. This is sometimes called coverage for “acts of God” or “acts of nature”. Everything ranging from a truck kicking a rock up on the road to crack your windshield to an old tree falling on top of (and destroying) your car would fall under comprehensive insurance coverage.
Should you file a claim?
Whether or not you should file a claim under the comprehensive coverage on your insurance depends on a few factors:
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the extent of damage caused to your vehicle
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the cost to repair that damage
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your comprehensive insurance deductible
If your car only has a dent or two and your deductible is $1,000 you would probably be better served by paying for the repair on your own. The cost to take out a few dings shouldn't come close to $1,000, and you avoid taking a hit on your insurance claims report. (The fewer claims, the better.
On the other hand if your front windshield is completely destroyed (and sitting in pieces inside the cabin of the vehicle) and the rest of the car looks like a golf ball, then it is not road worthy and the situation must be remedied quickly. Even if your deductible was $1,000, if you're in this situation your car is going to be totaled and you'll need that insurance check to buy a new car.
