Does car insurance cover hail damage

Picture: does car insurance cover hail damage

When you take out car insurance, you don't necessarily think about the damage that hail can cause. And yet, if the case arises, what are your rights?

What does your car insurance cover in the event of hail?

A hailstorm can damage your bodywork and break your windshield and windows. If you have third-party insurance, you will not be compensated following the impact of hail, and you will be forced to assume all repair costs.

However, certain options of your third-party insurance may allow you to be compensated. The glass breakage guarantee, for example, will cover the cost of repairing the windshield and windows. The climatic events guarantee is the ideal option to allow you to be compensated for damage to the bodywork.

It is useful to know that the hail guarantee exists as an option with certain insurance companies. All-risk insurance will compensate you for damage caused by hailstorms, without subscribing to a special option.

Procedures in the event of hail damage to your car

The declaration of the claim to your insurer must be made within a maximum of 5 days. While waiting for the expert, prepare a bad weather certificate or newspaper clippings evoking the disaster.

Once the damage has been assessed, you can proceed with the repairs, in agreement with your insurer.

Indeed, you can take your car to the repairer of your choice, and get reimbursed afterwards. If you go to a garage approved by your insurer, you just have to pay the deductible, the insurer will pay the repair bill.

Hailstorm is one of the climates that do a lot of damage to the car. It often happens between spring and summer. It causes several bumps to the bodywork, as some balls can reach a large size. The repair of a vehicle damaged by hail can be very expensive. But fortunately, the insurance offers guarantees on this one.

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What car insurance coverage and guarantees protect users against hail?

If hail causes damage to a vehicle, then it is normal for the owner of the said vehicle to wonder whether his vehicle will be protected and whether he will receive compensation allowing him to cover the repair costs following the hailstorm in question.

The payment or not of compensation following an episode of hail will then depend on the coverage that the user will have chosen when signing his car insurance contract.

Hail and third-party car insurance

If a motorist has only taken out civil liability cover, he will only be protected against damage that his vehicle and himself could inflict on other users.

The user and his car will therefore not be protected against damage suffered following a responsible accident or a claim caused by a climatic event such as a hailstorm.

Hail and “glass breakage” guarantee

In the event of hail, the “glass breakage” guarantee will protect the vehicle against damage to the various windows and glazed elements associated with the vehicle.

Motorists who have only chosen “glass breakage” coverage will not be covered against damage caused to the bodywork, but will be compensated if their windshield, side windows, rear window or mirrors are damaged or broken by hailstones.

Hail and “all accidents” or “all risks” guarantee

Motorists who have taken out “all risks” car insurance or “all accidents” guarantee will be protected against all damage that a hailstorm could cause to a car.

Regardless of the extent of the damage suffered by the car, if the driver has taken out “all risks” insurance, then he will be compensated by his insurer.

Hail and “natural disaster” guarantee

Motorists who have not chosen “all-risk” insurance may be compensated for damage suffered following hailstorms if they have chosen “natural disaster” cover in their car insurance contract.

If an interministerial order recognizes the climatic event including the hailstorm that caused the damage to the car as being a natural disaster, then the user will receive compensation equivalent to the damage observed against the car if he has subscribed to this cover or one of the “damage” guarantees including the “natural disaster” guarantee (such as protection against glass breakage, fire, all accidents, etc.).

Declaration of damage caused by hail to your insurer

A motorist whose automobile has been damaged by hail will have up to 5 days to report the occurrence of this incident to his auto insurance company, as for other claims declarations such as in the event of flooding.

The insurer will then be able to appoint an expert who will have to define the cost of repairing the vehicle. Once the car has received all the necessary repairs, then the insurance company will pay all the costs except for the deductible indicated in the auto insurance contract.(*)