Hail, flood and hurricane damage: what car insurance pays and what it doesn't

Does car insurance cover hail, flood and hurricane damage?

Yes, if you have comprehensive coverage. State regulators describe it the same way:

• The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says that if you have comprehensive auto coverage, you are covered for flood damage to your car, and that comprehensive pays for flooding, hail, fire and wind.
• The California Department of Insurance says cars damaged by flood or fallen trees are generally covered under the "comprehensive or other than collision" part of the policy.
• The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) says comprehensive pays for fire, severe weather, vandalism, flood and theft, and that no law requires you to carry it.
• Florida's Department of Financial Services lists windstorm, flood and falling objects under comprehensive.

Comprehensive is one of the coverages that make up what people call full coverage car insurance. The glossary entry for comprehensive coverage gives the short definition.

What storm coverage does not pay for

• Your car, if you have no comprehensive. LDI warns that with only liability, or liability and collision, flood damage is highly unlikely to be covered.
• Your car under a home or flood policy. Most home insurance does not cover flooding, and NFIP flood policies list cars and most self-propelled vehicles, including their parts, among the things they never cover.
• Belongings inside the car. TDI notes that personal items such as a laptop are usually a home or renters insurance matter.
• Equipment not permanently installed. The NAIC and TDI say most auto policies exclude it. Custom parts may need an endorsement; our post on modified car insurance explains.
• Wear, tear and breakdowns. California's regulator notes comprehensive does not cover mechanical breakdown, normal wear and tear or maintenance.
• Damage before coverage starts. A policy pays only for losses after its effective date, so coverage added once the water is rising will not reach damage already done.

Hail damage claims and your deductible

Hail is a comprehensive claim, so your comprehensive deductible decides how much you pay. Example: a hailstorm leaves $2,500 of dents on a car. These are hypothetical figures to show the arithmetic.

If you live where hail is common, a lower comprehensive deductible costs more each year but less on claim day. The deductible chooser helps you compare.

Will a weather claim raise your premium?

Weather claims are not your fault, and several states limit how insurers can use them:

• Texas. TDI says an insurer cannot refuse to renew your policy because you had claims for weather damage, hitting an animal, or accidents that cannot reasonably be blamed on you, unless you have more than one of these claims in 12 months.
• New York. The Department of Financial Services says surcharges are not permitted for claims under comprehensive or towing coverages.
• Massachusetts. Comprehensive claims add surcharge points only after 4 or more claims totaling $2,000 or more, and acts of God are excluded.

Rules elsewhere vary. Our guide to rate increases after a claim covers the details.

Flooded cars: total loss and title branding

When a flooded car is totaled

The insurer compares the cost of repairs with the car's actual cash value. If fixing it would cost more than it is worth, the car is a total loss. TDI points out that the old rule of thumb about water reaching the dashboard no longer holds: modern cars carry so many electronics that a car can be totaled even if water never reached the engine.

A total-loss payment is the car's value minus your deductible, not what you owe on it. If your loan is larger, gap insurance pays the difference; without it, TDI notes, you pay off the rest of the loan yourself.

What happens to the title

A total loss with a branded title is recorded as a salvage title or a similar brand, and that history follows the car.

Buying a used car after a storm

Flooded cars do not always leave the market. NICB warns that some are cleaned up, moved to another state and retitled with no sign of the damage, a crime known as title washing. TDI says some sellers buy salvage cars at auction and resell them to unsuspecting buyers across the state and nation.

Before you buy:

• Look and smell. TDI lists stains, mildew, rust and discoloration as signs of water damage, along with dirt under the mats, carpet or spare tire. A strong smell of cleaner can be covering a musty odor.
• Check the title and history report. A total-loss car should carry a salvage or nonrepairable title.
• Run the VIN. NICB's free VINCheck shows whether the car was reported stolen and not recovered, or reported as salvage by cooperating insurers. You can run up to 5 searches every 24 hours. In 2017, NICB said insurers supplying this data wrote about 88% of the personal auto insurance market, so a clean result is not a guarantee.
• Get an inspection. NICB and TDI both advise having a trusted mechanic inspect the car before you pay.

Storm prep: protect your car and your claim

Before hurricane or hail season:

1. Open your declarations page and confirm that comprehensive is listed for every car, with a deductible you can afford.
2. Copy the declarations page and your ID cards and email them to yourself, as TDI suggests, so you can reach them if you evacuate.
3. Save your agent's and insurer's phone numbers in your phone.
4. Take dated photos of each car, inside and out, so you can show its condition before the storm.
5. Keep the title, loan papers and receipts for custom parts somewhere dry or scanned.
6. Plan where the car can go: a garage, a parking deck or higher ground away from trees, if you can get there safely.
7. If you need flood insurance for your home, buy it early. NFIP policies usually take effect 30 days after purchase.

How to file a storm damage claim for your car

1. Stay safe. Do not drive into flooded roads, and do not try to start a car that sat in water. TDI says experts recommend a mechanic look at a flooded car first to avoid more damage.
2. Document everything. Photograph the damage and, if possible, the car while it is still in the water, as TDI advises.
3. Call your insurer as soon as you can. Have your policy number ready. LDI and TDI both say to contact your agent or company right away.
4. Limit further damage. Cover broken windows if it is safe, and keep receipts for towing, storage or emergency repairs.
5. Expect delays after big storms. TDI notes that claim deadlines in Texas law can be extended for disasters.
6. Keep records. LDI suggests keeping copies of all letters and writing down the date, name and title of everyone you speak with.
7. Check the settlement. If your car is totaled and you think it was worth more, gather prices for similar cars. Our guide to filing a claim walks through each stage.
8. Ask your regulator for help if you cannot resolve a problem with your insurer.

State hurricane and storm help lines

The Florida, Louisiana and Texas guides cover each state's other car insurance rules.