Car insurance for hail damage
The table below shows car insurance policies from Canstar’s Online Partners which include an option for hail cover.
Product information
Promoted
Outstanding ValueIf written off before the earlier of 24 months old or 40000 kms
- Save 15%^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new Car Insurance policy online.
- 24/7 Phone & Online Claims.
- Budget Direct - Insurance Solved.
Promoted
If written off before 24 months old
- Insurance that's a bit more you-shaped.
- Canstar’s 2025 Most Satisfied Customer Car Insurance – NSW, VIC, SA
- Lodge a Claim 24/7 with our Advisors
Outstanding ValueIf written off before the earlier of 24 months old or 40000 kms
Outstanding ValueIf written off before 14999 kms
Only monthly premiums are offered
If written off before the earlier of 24 months old or 40000 kms
Showing 10 of 46 results
To see more results adjust the filters above
Included
Not Included
Optional
NANot applicable
Canstar Star Rating
Unsure of a term in the above table?
The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low), then Provider Name (Alphabetical). Additional filters may have been applied, see top of table for details.
About car insurance for hail damage
Getting caught on the road during a hailstorm—or knowing your car is parked in the open and about to be hit by hail—can be extremely stressful. With climate change, hailstorms in Australia are expected to become more frequent and severe, making it important to check if your car insurance covers hail damage.
Use the table at the top of this page to compare policies that offer the option of hail insurance. Change the filters to suit your requirements.
Does my car insurance policy cover hail damage?
If you’re looking for hail damage car insurance, you’re most likely to find it with comprehensive car insurance. This is the top-level car cover option in Australia, and though it tends to be more expensive than other types of car insurance, it offers more protection. Comprehensive cover is generally the only type of car insurance that covers hail damage.
Other types of insurance include:
- Compulsory Third Party (CTP), which covers injuries to other people involved in an accident.
- Third Party Property Damage Insurance, which covers damage caused to other people’s property but not your own car.
- Third Party, Fire and Theft Insurance, which adds cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, but usually doesn’t cover hail damage.
These other types of insurance generally won’t cover hail damage. Some insurers may offer optional add-ons or extras, so it may be a good idea to check with your insurer to see what’s included in your policy.
How car insurance for hail damage works
If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, you’re likely to be covered for hail damage. This type of policy typically protects your car against natural events such as hailstorms, floods, and fires—not just accidents or theft. However, make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) carefully to be sure about what’s included in your coverage.
If hail damage is covered, your policy should pay for the cost of repairs as outlined in your cover. This can include dents, smashed windows, or, in severe cases, a total write-off if the damage is beyond repair.
Once you lodge a claim, your insurer may send an assessor to inspect the hail damage. Based on their report, your vehicle may be either repaired or replaced.
Do I need to pay excess for hail damage claims?
Yes, you’ll generally need to pay an excess—this is the amount you agreed to when you took out or last renewed your policy.
Choosing a higher excess can help reduce your premiums, but make sure it’s an amount you could afford to pay out of pocket if needed. If that’s not manageable, you may prefer to pay a slightly higher premium instead.
Are there situations where hail damage may not be covered?
Even if hail damage is included in your policy, your claim could be denied in certain situations, such as:
- You didn’t disclose pre-existing damage
- The damage occurred before your policy started
- You ignored weather alerts and left your vehicle exposed—insurers may view this as avoidable damage due to negligence
Exclusions like these may vary between insurers. That’s why it’s essential to read the fine print carefully, so you know what’s covered and whether the policy suits your needs.
How do I check if my car is insured for hail damage?
The best way to know if your comprehensive car insurance includes hail or storm damage cover, is to check the PDS and the certificate of insurance for your policy.
All insurers are required to provide a PDS, which sets out the terms and conditions of their policies, including what’s covered and any limitations or exclusions. You can usually download a PDS from your car insurance provider’s website. It’s a good idea to read this carefully to double-check that your policy will definitely cover you for hail damage as well as flood and storm damage, as these extreme weather events can go hand-in-hand.
In the PDS, it could be worthwhile to take a look at details such as:
- Whether or not cover for hail, storm and flood damage is automatically included, or if it’s an optional extra (that could cost more to add on to the policy).
- The definitions the insurer uses when considering claims. For example, the term “flood damage” may mean something different to “water damage”.
- What is required of you to be eligible to make a claim, such as not driving into flood waters.
- If any waiting period applies on new policies before making flood, storm or hail damage claims.
Can I insure a car that already has hail damage?
Yes and no—it depends on the insurer. Some insurers may agree to cover a vehicle that has existing hail damage, particularly if the damage isn’t too severe. However, you may only be able to insure the car for its market value, rather than an agreed value. And even if the policy is approved, it may not cover repairs for any hail damage that happened before the insurance started.
Some insurers may refuse cover altogether for vehicles with pre-existing damage, while others might offer comprehensive insurance but exclude cover for that existing damage.
It’s important to disclose any pre-existing damage to your insurer when applying for cover. You’re legally required to be honest about the car’s condition. If the insurer later finds out that damage was not declared, they could deny your claims or cancel the policy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Insurance for hail damage
Canstar Star Ratings and Awards
Looking for an award-winning product or to switch providers or brands? Canstar rates products based on price and features in our Star Ratings and Awards. Our expert Research team shares insights about which products offer 5-Star value and which providers offer outstanding value overall. We also reveal which providers have the most satisfied customers in our dedicated Customer Satisfaction Awards.
About our car insurance experts
Alasdair Duncan is Canstar’s Content Editor, specialising in car insurance and other general insurance topics as well as home loans and broader finance topics. He has written more than 500 articles for Canstar and his work is widely referenced by other publishers and media outlets, including Yahoo Finance, The New Daily, The Motley Fool and Sky News. He has featured as a guest author for property website homely.com.au. In his more than 15 years working in the media, Alasdair has written for a broad range of publications. Before joining Canstar, he was a News Editor at Pedestrian.TV, part of Australia’s leading youth media group. His work has also appeared on ABC News, Junkee, Rolling Stone, Kotaku, the Sydney Star Observer and The Brag. He has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Journalism from the University of Queensland, and has completed a RG146 compliance training course. When he is not writing about car insurance for Canstar, Alasdair can probably be found at the beach with his two dogs or listening to podcasts about pop music. You can follow Alasdair on LinkedIn.
Josh Sale leads the team responsible for developing and delivering Canstar’s Car Insurance Star Ratings and Awards, helping consumers navigate the complex world of insurance with confidence. With a degree in economics and finance, a masters degree in data science, and almost a decade of experience at Canstar, Josh has played a pivotal role in shaping the transparent, data-driven methodologies behind Canstar’s comparisons.
In 2019, he spearheaded the launch of Canstar’s Most Satisfied Customer Awards for Car Insurance, recognising providers that excel in customer satisfaction – a valuable complement to Canstar’s expert-led Star Ratings. Josh sits on the Canstar Star Ratings Committee and collaborates closely with the insurance industry to ensure ratings reflect evolving consumer needs and market dynamics.
A regular media spokesperson, Josh has provided expert commentary to The Australian Financial Review, Money Magazine, news.com.au, and other national outlets. He also holds the RG146 Tier 2 General Insurance qualification, equipping him to offer general advice on insurance products with confidence and accuracy.
Driven by a passion for consumer empowerment, Josh is dedicated to helping Australians make better financial decisions by cutting through the complexity and spotlighting the real differences between providers.
Important Information
For those that love the detail
This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.