Do I have to fix hail damage with insurance money?

Asked by: Aiden Bechtelar  |  Last update: November 20, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

You may be obligated to make the repair to ensure the car's value remains intact for the lender or dealership that leased you the car. Where Does the Payment Go? If you own your car outright, the insurance company may issue the check directly to you, allowing you to use it however you deem fit.

Do I have to fix hail damage with insurance money well?

What Happens if I Keep the Money? If you choose to keep the money and not use it on hail damage repairs, then you're actually hurting both your car and your wallet. It is very likely that, in the future, your insurance company would deny another claim due to pre-existing damage.

Can I just keep the money from an insurance claim?

You definitely can keep the money and not repair it, but you may have received less than you entitled to. The adjuster only pays the visible damage he sees on the outside, and any internal damage will need to be filed a secondary to get reimbursed.

What happens if you don't repair hail damage?

If you don't treat dents in a timely fashion, you also run the risk of your dents and dings developing cracks in the paintwork. This is because the structural area around them weakens over time. Once cracks develop, the metal becomes exposed to the elements, which can, in turn, lead to rust.

Do I have to use my insurance claim money to repair my car?

While it's technically permissible to use insurance claim money at your discretion, it's prudent to allocate it towards car repairs, especially if you own the vehicle outright. Any leftover funds can serve as a buffer for future incidents. However, it's essential not to overestimate repair costs deliberately.

Do I have to fix hail damage with insurance money?

25 related questions found

What happens if you don t use all the money from an insurance claim?

If you don't use insurance money for repairs, the consequences depend on the terms of your insurance policy and the type of damage involved. For example, if your lender requires repairs on a financed home or vehicle, failing to use the funds as intended could violate your loan agreement.

Is it illegal to use car insurance money for something else?

The short answer is that yes, you can choose to do whatever you want with the insurance money, but you need to ask yourself whether or not this is the best decision.

Is it worth claiming hail damage to car?

Is filing a claim for hail damage worth it? To determine if you should file a hail damage car insurance claim, compare your comprehensive deductible with the estimate to repair your car. If your repair estimate amount is less than your deductible or close to it, you're better off paying for the repairs out of pocket.

Is minor hail damage worth fixing?

One of the most costly mistakes people make when dealing with auto hail damage is thinking that the damage is minor and doesn't need to be fixed right away. However, minor cosmetic hail damage devalues their car by thousands of dollars and increases the risk of losing money every time they drive.

How long after hail damage can I claim?

Hail Claims Are Time Sensitive

The time limits for filing a hail damage claim can vary widely, but most insurance policies require that claims be made promptly once the damage is discovered. Generally, insurers set a window that can range from 30 days to one year to file a claim after a hail event.

What happens if you spend insurance money on something else?

If you use insurance money for other things than paying for repairs caused by a covered claim, it could be considered insurance fraud.

What happens if I don't use my insurance money to fix my roof?

If you don't complete repairs or a replacement, however, your insurance provider will likely just decide to no longer cover your roof. This means if another storm deals further damage, you won't be covered and will have to pay for the replacement out of pocket.

Is it illegal to use homeowners insurance money for something else?

Using Insurance Money For Something Else

If your provider made your claims payment out totally to you, you could use it for something else as long as it's not fraudulent.

Can I keep extra money from an insurance claim?

In general, homeowners can keep leftover money from an insurance claim if there is nothing in their policy saying that unused claim funds must be returned. If you are legally allowed to keep the money, you are free to purchase whatever you like with it.

How does insurance work with hail damage?

If your car was damaged by hail, you may be wondering if your car insurance will cover it. If you have comprehensive coverage, it may help pay to repair auto body, windshield and interior damage caused by hail. If you only have auto liability coverage, the damage to your car is not covered.

How do you negotiate a hail damage claim?

Six Tips for Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster on Hail Damage
  1. Gather evidence of hail damage.
  2. Take proactive measures to keep damage from getting worse.
  3. Be prepared when the claims adjuster assesses your property's damage.
  4. Refuse to give a recorded statement.
  5. Anticipate negotiations.
  6. Seek legal counsel.

What happens if you don't fix hail damage?

Avoid further damage: Hail dents can lead to widespread rust if left untreated, an unsightly issue that's much costlier to fix later. Maintain insurance coverage: Following through with the hail damage claim you filed makes it easier to file other claims in the future.

How much does it cost to fix hail damage?

On average, car owners can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $3,000 for hail damage repair. These numbers are a wide spread, and the actual cost will fall somewhere between the two extremes, but a deeper dive into the particular circumstances can better refine these estimates.

Should I file a claim for minor hail damage?

If you have comprehensive coverage and your vehicle experiences hail damage, you should file a claim with your insurer as soon as possible.

Can hail dents be popped out?

Using a heat gun, each dent can be warmed on a medium/low setting, then quickly treated with a very cold element, such as dry ice. The idea is that the heat will make the metal surface more pliable and the rapid cooling from the ice will cause the metal to contract, pushing the dent out of the car.

How much value does a car lose with hail damage?

Hail damage can devalue your car by more than 100% of what it would cost a potential buyer to get it repaired.

How much does car insurance pay for hail damage?

Should you file a car insurance claim after a hailstorm? Whether you file a claim after a hailstorm depends on the extent of the damage. The average insurance payout for hail damage for a car is around $5,000, according to State Farm, but for minor cases, it may not be greater than the cost of your deductible.

How to get more money out of an insurance claim?

Steps to Argue for More Money on Your Total Loss Claim
  1. Ask for the Valuation Report.
  2. Research the Comparables on the Valuation Report.
  3. Dispute Any Condition Adjustments on the Comparables.
  4. Send Your Own Comparables to the Adjuster.
  5. Consider Hiring an Appraiser.

Who gets the insurance check when a car is totaled?

If you own the car without any loans or liens, you will receive a check for the value assessed by the insurance company. If there is a loan, the check usually goes first to the leasing company or the lender. If you owe money on the vehicle, you should notify the lending company that your car has been totaled.