Homeowners insurance policies covers hail damage. Hail is a named peril on your policy, which means damage to your home, roof, and personal belongings caused by a hailstorm is covered. If hail damages your roof and the resulting leak ruins your furniture or laptop, you’re covered for both the repairs and the replacements.
That said, coverage has limits. Pre-existing damage, poorly maintained roofs, and certain hail-prone areas can affect what your policy will and won’t pay for. Here’s what you need to know.
TL;DR
- Hail is a named peril on a Lemonade homeowners policy, so damage to your home and belongings is covered
- Pre-existing hail damage, neglected roofs, and properties in certain hail-prone areas may not be covered
- Car hail damage is not covered by homeowners insurance, but is covered under a comprehensive auto policy
- Regular roof maintenance, impact-resistant shingles, and trimmed trees are your best defenses against hail damage
How hail damages your home
Hail doesn’t just leave a dent. Depending on the size and velocity of the ice, it can cause a range of damage that isn’t always visible from the ground.
- Shingle bruising and granule loss: The most common form of hail damage. When hail strikes asphalt shingles, it knocks off the protective granule coating, leaving the underlying material exposed to UV rays and moisture. This accelerates deterioration and can shorten your roof’s lifespan significantly.
- Cracks and splits: Larger hailstones can crack or split shingles outright, creating direct entry points for water.
- Punctures: In severe storms, hail can punch through older or already weakened shingles entirely.
- Flashing damage: The metal strips that seal joints around chimneys, skylights, and vents can dent or loosen under heavy hail, compromising their ability to keep water out.
- Leaks and interior water damage: Any of the above can lead to water intrusion, which can damage ceilings, walls, insulation, and personal belongings inside the home.
The tricky part is that some of this damage is not immediately obvious. A bruised shingle looks fine from the street but may be failing quietly. That’s why a professional inspection after a significant storm is always worth doing.
Is damage caused by hail covered on a home insurance policy?
Hail is grouped with windstorms, tornadoes and storm damage on a Lemonade homeowners policy as a named peril: an insurance-covered event that could cause damage to your home or your property. In 2020 alone, 6.2 million American households experienced hail damage at least once. Hail is no joke, wracking up billions of dollars in property damage every single year.
So, let’s say hail damages your roof, causing a leak. Water soaks through your ceiling, damaging your clothes, furniture, and laptop. Luckily, you’d be covered for the repairs to your roof, and we’d also help repair or replace your ruined stuff.
Some fine print: If you live in a hail-prone area, Lemonade might ask you to add a separate windstorm deductible to your policy. If relevant, this deductible would be between 1–5% of your total dwelling coverage, and would be applied on any approved windstorm or hail claims.
What’s covered
Hail coverage on a homeowners policy isn’t limited to just your roof. Here’s a breakdown of what’s typically covered:
- Coverage A: Dwelling. This covers the structure of your home itself, including your roof, walls, windows, and attached structures like a garage. If hail damages your roof or breaks a window, this is the coverage that applies.
- Coverage B: Other structures. This covers detached structures on your property, such as a standalone garage, shed, fence, or pergola. If a hailstorm flattens your garden shed, you’re covered here.
- Coverage C: Personal property. This covers your belongings inside the home. If a hail-driven leak ruins your furniture, electronics, or clothing, personal property coverage steps in to repair or replace them.
It’s worth reviewing your policy to understand the coverage limits on each of these categories, since they can vary depending on your plan.
When is hail damage not covered?
There are a few situations where your policy may not cover hail damage:
- Windstorm and hail exclusions: In certain areas that are especially prone to hail, your homeowners policy might include a windstorm and hail exclusion, meaning damage from these perils is not covered at all. As always, read your policy closely, and ask questions if anything is unclear.
- Pre-existing damage: If your roof was already damaged before your policy started, we won’t be able to cover repairs to it. Damage must occur after your Lemonade policy is effective to be eligible for a claim.
- Poor maintenance: If your roof showed signs of wear and tear, mold, or general neglect, it’s more likely to get damaged by hail and less likely to be fully covered. The more you can show your insurer that you maintained your roof, the better your chances of a successful claim.
- Old roofs: If your roof is over 15-20 years old, depending on the material, it might be time to replace your roof altogether. An aging roof is a liability in a hailstorm.
Cosmetic damage exclusions
This one catches a lot of homeowners off guard.
In high-risk hail areas, some policies include a cosmetic damage exclusion, which means your insurer will only pay for damage that affects the functional performance of your roof, not damage that’s purely aesthetic. A dented but otherwise watertight metal roof, for example, might not qualify for a claim under a policy with this exclusion.
The distinction between cosmetic and functional damage can be genuinely hard to assess, and insurers and homeowners don’t always agree on where the line is. If you live in a hail-prone area, check your policy for this exclusion before you need to file a claim. Knowing it’s there is a lot better than discovering it mid-claim.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value
When your insurer pays out a hail damage claim, how they calculate the payout depends on whether your policy covers replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV).
Actual cash value
ACV pays you what your damaged property was worth at the time of the loss, factoring in depreciation. So if your 12-year-old roof is damaged, you won’t get enough to replace it with a brand new one. You’ll get what a 12-year-old roof is currently worth, which is considerably less.
Replacement cost value
RCV pays you what it actually costs to repair or replace the damaged property with new materials, without deducting for depreciation. This is generally the better coverage if you can get it.
Why roof age matters
Many insurers apply ACV to roofs over a certain age, even if the rest of your policy is RCV. If your roof is older, check whether your policy covers it at replacement cost or actual cash value. The difference can be thousands of dollars on a claim.
Some policies offer extended or upgraded RCV coverage for roofs as an add-on. If you’re in a hail-prone area and your roof is aging, this is worth asking about.
Will filing a hail claim affect my premiums?
It might. Filing a hail damage claim can lead to a rate increase at renewal, depending on a few factors:
- Your claims history. If you’ve filed multiple claims in recent years, a hail claim on top of that is more likely to affect your rate.
- The size of the claim. Larger payouts are more likely to trigger a rate review than smaller ones.
- Your location. In high-risk hail areas, insurers may adjust rates more aggressively after widespread storm events, sometimes regardless of whether you personally filed a claim.
- Your insurer’s policies. Some insurers offer claim forgiveness for first-time or weather-related claims. It’s worth asking what Lemonade’s policy is before you file.
One thing to keep in mind: if the damage is minor and the repair cost is close to or below your deductible, it may not make financial sense to file a claim at all. Paying out of pocket for a small repair and keeping your claims record clean can be the smarter long-term move.
How can I protect my roof from hail damage?
Maintain your roof
When it comes to keeping an intact roof over your head, the best offense is defense. Regularly clearing debris and replacing broken shingles will help your roof stand a chance against hail.
Upgrade your shingles
Next time you replace or repair your roof, consider upgrading to impact-resistant shingles. Class 4 shingles are considered as tough as they come. How tough? Well, in order to get a Class 4 rating, the shingle must withstand having a two-inch steel ball dropped multiple times from a height of 20 feet.
Prune your trees
The weight and force of hail can take down tree branches, causing damage to your roof, your car, and your property. Call in an arborist around once a year to cut back tree branches, so they don’t hang over your home in case they get taken down by a big storm. (This is yet another case where paying a bit of money upfront might save you tons after the fact.)
Before we go…
Hailstorms can feel like they come out of nowhere, but being prepared doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep up with roof maintenance, know your deductible, and understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover before a storm rolls in. That way, if hail does strike, you’re not scrambling to figure out next steps.
Since heavy rain and hail generally go hand-in-hand, it’s also worth reading up on how flooding and roof leaks are handled under your Lemonade policy. Heads up: homeowners policies do not cover flooding, so if your home is in a flood-prone area, a separate flood insurance policy is worth looking into.
Hail damage FAQs
What if my car gets damaged by hail? Am I covered?
Not by your renters or homeowners insurance policies. But if you’ve got comprehensive coverage. This is one reason why it pays to carry more car insurance coverage than what your state might legally mandate.
Does renters or homeowners insurance cover hail damage to my car?
No. Hail damage to your car is not covered by your renters or homeowners insurance policy. You’ll need comprehensive auto insurance coverage for that. If you only carry the minimum coverage required by your state, hail damage to your car would come out of pocket.
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage if my roof is old?
It depends. If your roof is over 15-20 years old or shows signs of wear, mold, or poor maintenance, your insurer may limit or deny coverage for hail damage. The reasoning is that a neglected roof is more vulnerable to damage than a well-maintained one. Keeping up with repairs and documenting your maintenance history gives you the best chance of a successful claim.
What is a windstorm deductible and do I have to pay it?
If you live in a hail-prone area, Lemonade may add a separate windstorm deductible to your policy. This deductible typically falls between 1-5% of your total dwelling coverage and applies to any approved windstorm or hail claims. It’s separate from your standard deductible, so it’s worth checking your policy to understand exactly what applies to you.
Are there situations where hail damage is completely excluded from my policy?
Yes. In certain areas that are particularly prone to hail, homeowners policies may include a windstorm and hail exclusion, meaning damage from those events is not covered at all. If you live in a high-risk area, read your policy carefully and ask your insurer directly whether this exclusion applies to you.
Reddit asked, we answered
How do I understand homeowners insurance coverage for hail in Denver?
Hail damage is covered under standard homeowners policies as windstorm or weather damage. Denver’s hail frequency means insurers have become more specific about hail provisions. Some have separate percentage-based hail deductibles rather than your standard fixed deductible, which can mean more out-of-pocket costs than you expect on a significant hail claim. Know your deductible structure going in. File promptly since hail damage to roofs and siding can worsen quickly if not addressed. Read the full thread on Reddit
What do I need to know about wind and hail insurance?
In most states, wind and hail coverage is included in standard homeowners policies. In high-risk areas like the Texas Gulf Coast or coastal New Jersey, separate wind policies through state programs or specialty insurers may be required. Some policies have percentage-based wind and hail deductibles rather than fixed amounts, which can mean significant out-of-pocket costs in a major storm. Know your deductible structure before something happens. Read the full thread on Reddit
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC. The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.
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