In Texas, can your insurance company consider your car a total loss from hail damage?
Some parts of North Texas saw baseball-sized hail on Thursday as severe thunderstorms rolled through the region.
The largest hailstones ranged from 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter across Denton and Collin counties, according to the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office. Tornado warnings were also issued for the same counties Thursday night.
Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover hail damage, but what about on vehicles? Here’s what we know:
⚡ More trending stories:
→ There’s no ‘better place’ to see April 8 total solar eclipse than in this tiny Texas town.
→ How a six-pack of beer, $100 got rescuers to pull pig out of thorns.
→When do tornadoes occur the most in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Can your insurance company consider your car a total loss from hail damage?
Yes, if the insurance company determines the vehicle is totaled.
The first move a company will make is to evaluate the extent of the damage and estimate the cost to repair the vehicle, according to Express Auto Hail Repair.
Here’s a few things the insurance evaluators will be looking for:
Age of the vehicle.
Condition of vehicle.
Type of vehicle, as classic or collector vehicles could be treated differently.
Contributory negligence, which means if the damage was partially the fault of the driver.
The total amount of damage threshold varies among companies, but typically, if the number reaches 70 to 75% of the vehicle’s value than its deemed a “total loss”.
A “total loss” is another way for companies to say that they won’t cover repairs, according to Express Auto Hail Repair.
How do you report hail vehicle damage to your insurance company?
Insurance companies should pay for hail damage if your auto policy has comprehensive coverage, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
Here’s a few tips on filing an insurance claim:
Take pictures and video of the damage: Make a list of the damage both inside and outside of the vehicle.
Prevent more damage: Cover broken windows or holes, remove standing water, save receipts and don’t throw away damaged items until your insurance company says to.
Be available for the adjuster: Make sure when the insurance adjuster visits, to be ready to show them everything.
Keep a log list: Keep a list of everyone you spoke to at the insurance company and be ready to answer questions.
During this process, you could be approached by fraudulent parties. Here’s how to avoid fraud:
Get more than one bid or estimate: This will offer a better explanation on if the offers are too high or too good to be true.
Check with Better Business Bureau: Reference the BBB to see if the body shop has any complaints.
Don’t pay the bill in full yet: Wait until all the work is done to submit any final payments.
How long do you have to report hail damage on vehicles in Texas?
The statute of limitations on hail damage in Texas has leeway, but its better to file sooner rather than later.
It may depend on the severity of the storm and location, but generally, Texans have two years from the date of the event to file a hail damage insurance claim, according to Dax F. Garza, P.C.
