Does Car Insurance Cover Storm Damage?

Did Mother Nature take your car for a ride? If you’ve discovered that your vehicle didn’t weather a storm very well, it’s time to file an insurance claim and repair the damage. Whether your car was dinged by hail or hit by falling debris, we’ll help you determine if you’re eligible and walk you through filing your claim.

Are You Covered for Storm Damage?

Storm related damage to your car is typically covered under comprehensive car insurance. Not all states require you carry comprehensive coverage on your car, so this is optional coverage. If you didn’t select this type of coverage, you’ll probably have to pay the repair costs out of pocket. To find out what type of coverage you have, connect with your American Family Insurance agent. (Opens in a new tab) They’ll be happy to walk you through your coverages.

Is hail damage covered?

If your car is damaged by hail, your insurance company will likely cover the cost to repair damages if your auto policy includes comprehensive coverage. This coverage can even help you if your car’s declared a total loss due to hail too.

Is damage from road debris covered?

Damage to your windshield caused by rocks is covered under comprehensive coverage. Flying road debris like gravel and tar is not covered under comprehensive coverage. Debris that falls off another vehicle and hits your car may be covered by collision insurance instead.

What to Do When You Discover Storm Damage to Your Car

Safety comes first when your vehicle has been damaged. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Downed power lines can be a concern and you don’t want to tangle with electricity
• Approach the car with caution and walk around to assess the damage
• Take pictures as you go so you can document the car from top to bottom before any storm clean-up begins
• Don’t forget to take pictures from the inside if the interior has been damaged, too

If your car is seriously damaged you shouldn’t drive or get into it. It’s not safe, and you may actually cause more harm. However, if the storm damage is relatively small or cosmetic, like light hail damage, you might be able to safely drive your car. But, in both situations, the best course of action is to connect with your insurance agent, send them pictures of the damaged vehicle and ask what your car insurance policy suggests.

Whether your vehicle has minor or major damage, don’t authorize any repairs until your insurance agent has given you the go-ahead.

Options for Reporting Your Car Insurance Claim

The quickest and easiest way to file weather related car insurance claims is with the MyAmFam app or by texting STORM to 26326 (Opens in a new tab). You can also file a claim by logging in to My Account, connecting with your agent or calling our claims center at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326 (Opens in a new tab)).

Filing claims online is super convenient, but you’ll want to have some information handy so you can answer all the questions:

• The date and time of the event
• A brief description of what happened
• Any photos of damage done to your vehicle

What Happens After I File My Insurance Claim?

One of our experienced claims representatives will connect with you after you file your claim to let you know what is covered and what the next steps are. If your vehicle isn’t running and your comprehensive or collision coverage covers the accident, you can get a tow to the nearest shop for repairs. If you have rental reimbursement coverage and your vehicle will be in the shop for a while, you’ll still have wheels to keep you on the road!

With our auto insurance, you can go to a Dreams Restored repair shop and the bill will be sent directly to American Family Insurance. You’ll be notified if there is any deductible for you pay. It’s that easy!

If you decide to go with another repair shop, American Family Insurance will work with the shop to coordinate damages and charges to get you back on the road as soon as possible. Your American Family Insurance policy will take care of covered charges, minus your deductible.

If you want more information on how to file a storm-related claim on your car insurance, check with your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab). It’s also a great idea to stay ahead of storm season and review your auto insurance policies, just to be sure you have all the coverage you need.