Hailstorms can strike with little warning, and the aftermath often leaves your car covered in dents, cracked windows, or chipped paint. If you’ve just walked outside to find your vehicle battered, your first thought is probably whether you can make a car insurance claim for hail damage, and how much hassle it’s going to involve. The good news is that if you hold comprehensive car insurance, you’re almost certainly covered.
The process itself is straightforward, but there are a few decisions that can affect your out-of-pocket costs, particularly around excess payments and whether it’s worth claiming at all for minor damage. Understanding these details upfront means you won’t be caught off guard when it matters most, and you’ll be in a stronger position to get your car repaired quickly and affordably.
At National Cover, we help Australian drivers navigate exactly these situations. As motor insurance specialists, we provide comprehensive cover with expert claims support, so when hail hits, you’re not left figuring things out alone. Below, we’ll walk you through the full claims process step by step, from checking your policy to getting your car back on the road.
What to check before you start a hail claim
Before you pick up the phone or log into your insurer’s portal, spend a few minutes reviewing your policy documents and understanding your position. Two drivers can park side by side in the same storm and end up with very different financial outcomes, depending on the type of cover they hold and the excess they’ve agreed to pay. Getting this right first saves you wasted effort later.
Check you hold comprehensive cover
Compulsory third party (CTP) and third party property insurance do not cover hail damage to your own vehicle. Only a comprehensive car insurance policy protects your car against storm-related damage, including hail, flood, and falling objects. If you’re unsure what level of cover you hold, log into your account or look at the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) sent to you when you purchased the policy.
If you don’t hold comprehensive cover, a car insurance claim for hail damage will not be accepted, and you will need to pay for all repairs out of pocket.
Check the PDS for any listed exclusions that could apply, such as damage that occurred while your car was parked in a location specifically noted on a prior insurer warning. These exclusions are uncommon but can affect whether a claim is accepted.
Understand your excess
Your excess is the amount you contribute towards a claim before your insurer covers the rest. For example, if repairs cost $2,500 and your excess is $800, your insurer pays the remaining $1,700. Your exact excess figure appears on your Certificate of Insurance, so locate that document before you go any further.
Some policies carry a separate storm or hail excess on top of your standard excess, so check both sections of your certificate. This combined figure directly shapes whether lodging a claim makes financial sense, which Step 3 covers in full detail.
Confirm any claim time limits
Most Australian insurers require you to notify them of damage within a reasonable timeframe, and some policies specify an exact window, such as 30 days from the date of the event. Check your PDS for the specific requirement attached to your policy, as missing this window can give an insurer grounds to reduce or reject a payout.
Record the date and approximate time of the storm as soon as possible. If you’re in an area that experienced a widespread hail event, your insurer may already be aware of it, but your own notification still needs to happen promptly to protect your right to claim.
Step 1. Make the car safe and stop more damage
Your first priority after a hailstorm is not photographing the damage – it is making sure the car is safe to use and that no further harm occurs. Many drivers overlook this step and inadvertently make their situation worse, either by driving a vehicle with a compromised windscreen or leaving a broken window open to rain. Taking a few practical actions straight after the storm will also satisfy your policy obligation to minimise further loss, which most Australian comprehensive policies require as a condition of cover.
Move the vehicle to cover if possible
If the storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, relocate your car to a sheltered spot such as a garage, carport, or undercover car park. This protects the vehicle from any secondary weather that may follow, including rain entering through cracked windows or a damaged sunroof. Check the surrounding area before you walk out, as hail on the ground can be slippery and hard to see.
Do not drive the car if the windscreen is severely cracked, as this creates a safety risk and may affect how your insurer assesses the damage.
Places to look for quickly:
- A nearby shopping centre with undercover parking
- A service station with a covered forecourt
- A friend or neighbour’s garage or driveway with shade
Protect exposed areas from further damage
When moving the vehicle immediately is not possible, cover any broken windows or a damaged sunroof with a tarpaulin or heavy-duty plastic sheeting to stop rain reaching the interior. Secure the covering with tape or bungee cords, avoiding bare metal clips that could scratch surrounding panels. Rain-soaked upholstery and water-damaged electronics add repair costs that can complicate your car insurance claim for hail damage, so this small step protects your claim value from the start.
Step 2. Record the damage and gather evidence
Once the car is safe and protected, your next job is to document every piece of damage before anything is touched or repaired. Insurers assess claims based on the evidence you provide, and thorough documentation can make the difference between a smooth car insurance claim for hail damage and a drawn-out dispute over what was storm-related versus pre-existing.
Photograph and video the damage
Start with wide shots of the entire vehicle from all four sides, then move in close to capture individual dents, cracks, and chips. Use natural daylight where possible, as artificial lighting can flatten out the depth of dents and make them harder to see in photos. Record a short video walking around the car to give your insurer a clear sense of the full extent of the damage in one continuous view.
Take photos before you move or cover the vehicle, and place a coin next to each dent to give your insurer a clear sense of scale.
Collect supporting information
Gather details that confirm the storm event itself, as this strengthens your claim and speeds up the assessment process. Below is a checklist of what to collect:
- Date, time, and suburb where the storm occurred
- A Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather report for that date and location, available at bom.gov.au
- Any news coverage or council alerts referencing the hail event
- Your policy number and Certificate of Insurance
- Contact details of any witnesses if relevant
Keep everything in a single folder, either digital or physical, so you can hand it over quickly when your insurer requests supporting documentation.
Step 3. Work out if claiming makes sense
Not every hail event warrants a formal car insurance claim for hail damage. Before you lodge anything, run a quick financial check to confirm that claiming actually puts you in a better position than simply paying a panel beater out of your own pocket. This decision comes down to two numbers: your excess and the estimated repair cost.
Compare your excess to the repair estimate
Get a repair quote from a reputable repairer before you contact your insurer. Many panel beaters will inspect hail damage at no charge and give you a written estimate within a day or two. Once you have that figure, compare it directly against the excess shown on your Certificate of Insurance.
If your excess is close to or higher than the repair quote, paying out of pocket is almost always the smarter choice.
Use this simple comparison:
| Repair estimate | Your excess | Should you claim? |
|---|---|---|
| $600 | $800 | No, pay out of pocket |
| $1,500 | $800 | Yes, claim is worthwhile |
| $900 | $900 | Borderline, consider premium impact |
Factor in the effect on your premium
Lodging a claim can affect your claims history, which some insurers use to adjust your premium at renewal. Even a claim that saves you money today may lead to a higher annual premium for one or more years afterward. Ask your insurer directly whether a hail damage claim will affect your rating before you commit.
If the cost difference between claiming and paying out of pocket is small, keeping your claim-free record intact often works out better over a two to three year horizon. Run both scenarios with actual figures before making your final decision.
Step 4. Lodge the claim and manage repairs
Once you’ve decided that lodging a claim makes financial sense, contact your insurer as soon as possible. Have your policy number, Certificate of Insurance, photos, weather report, and repair quote ready before you call or submit online, as providing everything upfront prevents delays and reduces back-and-forth with the claims team.
Contact your insurer and submit your documentation
Most Australian insurers offer three contact options: phone, online portal, or email. Choose the method your insurer lists as primary for claims, since some process email lodgements more slowly than phone or portal submissions. When you make contact, confirm the storm date and location, state that you’re lodging a car insurance claim for hail damage, and ask for a claim reference number immediately. Write it down and keep it somewhere accessible throughout the process.
Once you have a claim reference number, use it in every follow-up communication to avoid your case being misrouted or delayed.
Use the checklist below to confirm you have everything ready before you lodge:
- Claim form completed in full
- Photos and video of all damage
- BOM weather report confirming the hail event
- Repair quote from a licensed panel beater
- Policy number and Certificate of Insurance
Work with your insurer’s approved repairer
Your insurer will likely direct you to one of their preferred repairers, which can reduce your excess in some cases and makes it easier for the insurer to manage the repair assessment and authorisation process directly. If you prefer your own repairer, ask your insurer whether that option is available under your policy and what additional steps it involves. Either way, do not authorise any repair work until your insurer gives written approval, as starting repairs without this confirmation may reduce your payout or void the claim entirely.
What to do next
A car insurance claim for hail damage does not have to be complicated if you work through it in the right order. Check your policy covers you, document the damage thoroughly, compare the repair cost against your excess before you lodge anything, and then follow your insurer’s process with all your evidence ready. Each step builds on the last, and doing them in sequence keeps you in control of the outcome.
If you are reviewing your cover after a hail event and realise your current policy is not giving you what you need, now is a good time to look at your options. Switching providers mid-policy is possible, and you may be entitled to a return premium on the unused portion of your current policy. Get a comprehensive car insurance quote from National Cover and see whether you can get better protection at a more competitive price.
