The Top 3 Tips when filing for insurance claims about auto hail repair
No one likes dealing with car damage, especially when it’s caused by something as unpredictable as a hail storm. But if you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to know what to do in order to file a successful insurance claim for your auto hail repair.
In this article, we’ll share with you the three most important steps to take before filing a hail damage claim with your insurance company..
#1 Know Your Insurance Coverage
To begin, it’s imperative to know what type of insurance coverage you have. There are two main types of insurance coverage that are differentiated in the case of hail damage: comprehensive and collision.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle from events other than a collision, such as weather, theft, or vandalism. This is the type of coverage that will apply in the case of hail damage.
Collision insurance, on the other hand, covers damage to your vehicle from a collision with another object, such as another car. If you only have collision insurance and not comprehensive coverage, then your insurance company will not cover the cost of repairing hail damage to your vehicle.
It’s critical to know what type of coverage you have so that you can file the appropriate claim. If you’re not sure what type of coverage you have, you can check your insurance policy or contact your insurance agent. They will be able to tell you what type of coverage you have and how it applies to hail damage.
#2 Get an Estimate from an Expert
The next step is to get an estimate of the damage from a qualified expert. This can be either a body shop or a mobile repair service that specializes in hail damage.
Getting an estimate is important for two reasons:
- First, it will give you an idea of the scope of the damage and how much it will cost to repair.
- Second, most insurance companies require an estimate before they will process a claim.
If you have a preferred body shop or mobile repair service, you can contact them directly or use a hail damage repair cost calculator to get a rough idea how much the repair costs. If you don’t have a particular vendor in mind, you can ask your insurance company for a list of approved vendors — or you can do your own research regarding reputable repair services in your area.
When getting an estimate, be sure to get it in writing. This will provide documentation of the damage that can be used when filing a claim with your insurance company.
#3 Don’t Wait Until Hail Season Starts to Fix Your Car Dents
One common mistake people make is waiting until hail season starts to repair the damage to their vehicle. This is a mistake because it’s often more difficult to get an appointment with a repair service during hail season because they are so busy.
In addition, and more importantly, most insurance companies have what’s called a “statute of limitations” on filing claims. This means that you have a limited amount of time after the damage occurs to file a claim.
For example, let’s say your car is damaged by hail on May 1st and your insurance company’s statute of limitations for filing a claim is June 1st. If you wait until June 15th to file the claim, your insurance company may deny the claim because it was filed too late.
So, if your car has been damaged by hail, don’t wait to get it fixed. The sooner you have the damage repaired, the better. This will ensure that you can get an appointment with a repair service and that your insurance claim will be processed in a timely manner.
In Conclusion
These are three important tips to keep in mind before filing a hail damage claim with your insurance company. By following these tips, you can be sure that you’re doing everything possible to ensure a smooth and successful claims process.