Depending on what your geographical location is, you may be subject to a lot of hails storms or you may rarely see them. Hail can cause damage to your vehicle from small to large dents and chipped paint. If you do not have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, chances are, the insurance company will not cover the damage. If you live in an area that sees frequent hails storms, and you are not required to purchase comprehensive insurance, you should consider purchasing it anyway.
Why Won’t My Insurance Company Cover Hail Damage?
Unless you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance may not cover hail damage, unless the policy covers “acts of nature.” Most comprehensive insurance policies cover acts of nature, including hail, but before you purchase the insurance, ask to be sure that it does cover hail damage.
I Have Third Party, Fire and Theft Coverage: Does This Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
This is a lower level of comprehensive insurance and is usually limited to someone damaging your vehicle – for example, in a parking lot – or to fire or theft. This lower level of comprehensive insurance does not cover acts of nature, including hail damage.
My Insurance Company Told Me I Had to Work With the Body Shop and Would Not Send an Adjuster: How Do I Know I Won’t Have to Pay Out More Than The Insurance Would Pay?
If your insurance company agrees to cover the hail damage, take the vehicle to three different body shops. Have the body shops give you an estimate. Submit all three estimates to the insurance company. The insurance company will cut the body shop a check, or it will cut you a check to take to the body shop.
What Happens if the Body Shop Finds More Damage Than Originally Estimated?
The body shop will call the insurance company and put in a claim for additional funds, or may have you call the insurance company. The insurance company will require documentation from the body shop, and, in most cases, will pay for the additional damage that wasn’t seen on initial inspection.
My Insurance Adjuster Sent Me to a Paintless Dent Removal Company, But the Body Shop Found Cracked and Chipped Paint From Hail Damage: What Do I Do To Get This Repaired?
Paintless dent removal companies do not paint cars or repair damaged paint jobs. They use special tools to pull the dents out without damaging the paint. Upon closer inspection, if the shop finds cracked or chipped paint caused by hail damage, have the shop contact the insurance company to explain the issue. The insurance company will advise you to take the vehicle to a body shop for an estimate to repair the paint.