Storms are an all too common occurrence, and when there are hailstones, the chance of damage to your vehicle can be high. Very large and powerful hailstones can dent the body of a car or shatter its windshield. While all body shops charge different prices for repairs, it won’t be cheap to rectify the damage caused by hail. That’s why it’s important to know how to claim hail damage with your auto insurer.
Who Covers Damage to a Car in Case of Hail?
Not every car owner will be able to file a claim for hail damage to their vehicle. However, those who have invested in fully comprehensive insurance will usually be able to make a claim for this type of damage. Comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by events which the insured cannot control. This will include storm damage. Of course, the car owner will have a deductible to pay which is determined by the deductible amount they selected when they originally purchased their car insurance policy.
Car Insurance Coverage for Hail Damage
There are several different types of car insurance coverage for drivers to choose from. Not all will cover hail damage. Therefore, if drivers think their vehicle may be especially at risk because of a prevalence of hailstorms in the area where they live, they should look into purchasing Comprehensive Coverage.
Car owners who have full coverage can file a claim with their insurer in order to get their car repaired quickly after it has been damaged by hail.
First, inspect the vehicle for visible damage as soon as possible after the hail storm. The next thing you should do is report the damage to your insurer as soon as you can. MAPFRE policyholders can do so by submitting the claim online or by calling MAPFRE directly at 1-800-221-1605.
It’s important to provide your insurer all of the details regarding the situation. MAPFRE customers may then be given the option of using ePICS® which is a service designed to assess damage when your vehicle is still considered drivable and the overall damage is minor. This may expedite your claim if you don’t need to wait for an appraiser to inspect your vehicle in person. If the damage is considered more severe by the claims representative, an appraiser will be sent out to examine the vehicle and to identify how severe the damage is. The policyholder should be with the adjuster when they examine the vehicle. Once it has been confirmed that the insurer will take responsibility for some of the repair costs, a body shop must be chosen. It’s important to arrange the repair to be carried out as quickly as possible since dings and dents on the exterior of a vehicle could cause rust to spread, resulting in further issues.
One option available to MAPFRE policyholders is the CAR EZ® Program. The CAR EZ® Program is an expedited service which relieves a bit of stress when you need auto repairs done because MAPFRE has selectively partnered with trusted local repair shops who adhere to high professional standards. CAR EZ shops also share in our desire to bring you convenient and hassle-free service to get your life back to normal faster following an accident.
Since hailstorms are unpredictable, it’s wise to take out adequate insurance coverage just in case a claim has to be made to repair the damage. If only liability coverage has been arranged for the vehicle, no damage caused by hail will likely be covered, and the driver will need to arrange the repair and pay for it themselves out of pocket.
Make sure you have the correct coverage on your auto insurance with MAPFRE by contacting your local independent agent. And if you are a MAPFRE Customer and do need to make repairs after a weather event or accident, don’t forget about MAPFRE’s CAR EZ® Program which makes repairs to your vehicle, quick, easy and stress-free.
