Hail dented my car. How do I file a claim, and will my insurance pay?

Car insuranceHow to fileNew JerseyTexasChecked Nov 7, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-07 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · What does my policy cover? View original ↗

In short

Hail damage to your car is paid by comprehensive coverage.
Take photos and tell your insurer soon. Do not fix it first.
If you disagree on the amount, you may ask for an appraisal.

What this means

Hail is a comprehensive claim. In Texas, most policies cover hail damage to your car if you have comprehensive coverage [1]. New Jersey also says comprehensive covers hail, wind, fire, flood and glass breakage [2]. You will pay your deductible [3].

Tell your company as soon as you can, because most companies have deadlines for filing claims [4]. Keep the car safe from more damage. New Jersey says if you do not, your insurer could refuse to pay for later damage [5]. Let the insurer see the car before you have it repaired [6].

An adjuster will look at the damage and estimate the cost of repairs [7]. If the damage is worse than the adjuster thought, you or the shop can ask the adjuster to raise the estimate [8]. In New Jersey, if you and the insurer cannot agree on the amount, either one of you may ask for an appraisal as your policy explains [9]. These sources come from Texas and New Jersey, so rules in your state may differ.

Your next step

Take photos of the dents today and call your insurer. Do not repair the car until the insurer has seen it [6]. Most companies have deadlines for filing claims [4] — check the deadline in your policy.

Check it yourself

Look at your declarations page to see if you have comprehensive coverage and what your deductible is. Find the appraisal part of your policy. These sources are from Texas and New Jersey only, so rules in your state may differ. The sources do not give a claim deadline for your state — "Don't know yet".

Where this comes from (9)

[1] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · What does my policy cover? · checked 2026-11-07
Damage to your car because of fire, hail, theft, flood, flying gravel, or hitting an animal (if you have comprehensive coverage)
[2] New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance · Filing an Auto Damage Claim with Your Own Insurer · page text · checked 2026-11-07
It also covers your vehicle for glass breakage, fire, wind, hail, and flood damage.
[3] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Deductibles and dollar limits · checked 2026-11-07
You must pay a deductible for collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist claims.
[4] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · Auto claims · checked 2026-11-07
Most companies have deadlines for filing claims.
[5] New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance · Filing an Auto Damage Claim with Your Own Insurer · FAQ 2 · checked 2026-11-07
Protect your vehicle from further damage. If you don't do this, your insurer could refuse to pay for any subsequent damage.
[6] New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance · Filing an Auto Damage Claim with Your Own Insurer · FAQ 2 · checked 2026-11-07
You must make the damaged vehicle available for inspection by the insurance company before you have it repaired.
[7] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · After I file my claim, what happens? · checked 2026-11-07
Have an adjuster look at your damage. The adjuster will estimate the cost of repairs.
[8] Texas Department of Insurance · Auto insurance guide · After I file my claim, what happens? · checked 2026-11-07
If the damage turns out to be worse than the adjuster originally thought, you or the repair shop can talk to the adjuster about raising the estimate.
[9] New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance · Filing an Auto Damage Claim with Your Own Insurer · FAQ 20 · checked 2026-11-07
If you and your insurer can't agree on the amount of your physical damage loss either one of you may request an appraisal as explained in your policy.

How we found this

We matched your question to 9 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-07.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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