Even with today’s weather technology, it is often hard to predict how severe a summer storm might be. Among the phenomena that a storm might bring is hail. When hail does occur, then it might prove damaging, particularly to outdoor items. If your car is among the items damaged by summer hail, then you might have help from your car insurance.
Hail Damage to Vehicles 
It’s easy to understand why hail can damage your car. Even the smallest hail might cause dents. Large hail can cause significant damage, including glass breakage and internal damage. Some hail damage proves so extensive that the car is beyond repair. Not only can the hail itself cause damage, but it can also cause branches or other items to fall onto the vehicle.
If hail does damage your car, then you shouldn’t hesitate to call your car insurer. Most car insurance companies do offer coverage for hail damage. However, there might be a few conditions attached to your policy that can limit coverage.
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To cover hail damage, your policy must contain comprehensive damage coverage. Coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from hazards like weather, fire, theft or vandalism. Often, comprehensive coverage doesn’t automatically come on a basic policy. However, you can usually add it during the enrollment process.
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Coverage for your hail damage will likely include a deductible. Your insurer will subtract this deductible from the total cost of the settlement they will pay for the damage. If the cost of your deductible is more than the cost of the hail damage, then your policy won’t pay.
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If hail totals your car, then your insurer will compensate you per the terms of your policy. Often, the policy will pay only for the car’s cash value at the time of the hail damage. This is not the same as the cost of a new car, since cars depreciate over time.
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Should you still have a loan on your car, and you worry that hail could total it, then you might need gap insurance. Gap insurance can settle the costs of your outstanding loan with the help of this coverage.
Of course, there are many ways that you can protect your car from hail damage. It is as easy as parking in a garage or under a cover when storms threaten. Additionally, there are some vehicle covers that owners can place over their cars when hail threatens. Still, if your vehicle does sustain hail damage, then don’t hesitate to call your auto insurer.