Hail claim guide
Should you file a hail claim? A worked decision table
When the estimate barely clears the deductible, what you net in common cases, and what to gather first.
The question is what you would net after the deductible (and, on ACV policies, depreciation), and whether that is worth a claim on your record. These cases use the same math as the calculator:
| Case | Estimate | Deductible | Insurance pays | You pay | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small repair, flat $1,000 | $1,800 | $1,000 | $800 | $1,000 | Marginal |
| Small repair, 1% of $300k | $1,800 | $3,000 | $0 | $1,800 | Under the deductible |
| Partial roof, 1% of $300k | $6,500 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $3,000 | Likely worth filing |
| Partial roof, 2% of $300k | $6,500 | $6,000 | $500 | $6,000 | Marginal |
| Full roof, 2% of $300k, RCV | $16,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $6,000 | Likely worth filing |
| Full roof, 2% of $300k, ACV, 15-yr roof | $16,000 | $6,000 | $400 | $15,600 | Marginal |
Before you decide
- Get the damage documented first. A roofer's inspection and written estimate tell you whether you are near the deductible before anything goes on file.
- Pin down the date of loss. Your insurer will ask when the hail fell. Look up your city's hail history for the NOAA report dates and sizes near you.
- Check your policy's deadline. Most policies require prompt notice and many set a limit of one or two years from the storm; it is on your policy, not in this guide.
- Ask about your record. Claims are shared between insurers through loss-history databases, and some insurers count even claims that paid nothing. Ask your agent how they treat a claim under the deductible.
Not insurance advice. Examples are arithmetic on stated assumptions. Your policy's terms decide what is paid; ask your agent or a licensed public adjuster.