Hail Season in Washington County: What Your Auto Policy Actually Covers

Every summer, somewhere between late June and early September, a thunderhead builds over the Pine Valley Mountains and drops golf-ball hail on Washington County. In 2023 a single storm in Washington City produced more than 600 auto claims in 48 hours. If you've lived here more than a couple of years, you've either seen it or filed for it.

Hail is comprehensive, not collision

This trips a lot of people up. Hail damage falls under your comprehensive coverage — the "other than collision" portion of your policy. Comprehensive is optional in Utah, but if you have a financed or leased vehicle, your lender requires it. If you own your vehicle outright and dropped comp to save money, hail damage comes out of your pocket.

• Collision = you hit something (or something hit you while moving).
• Comprehensive = hail, theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, animal strikes, broken windshields.

Will a hail claim raise my rates?

Generally, no. Comprehensive claims are considered non-fault losses by every carrier we write with. They don't surcharge your policy the way an at-fault collision does. The one nuance: if you live in a hail-prone ZIP code (St. George 84790, Washington 84780, Hurricane 84737) and file multiple comp claims in a short period, some carriers may non-renew or move you to a higher tier. We watch for that and re-shop if needed.

What totals a vehicle from hail?

Insurers total a car when repair cost approaches roughly 70–80% of actual cash value. Hail commonly damages dozens to hundreds of panels, plus the windshield and sometimes the sunroof. On a 5–10-year-old vehicle, repair quotes routinely come in over the threshold — and that's how Washington County ended up with hundreds of totaled cars after a single 2023 storm.

Filing the claim the right way

1. Document immediately. Photos from multiple angles, in good light, before you wash or move the vehicle.
2. Call us first, then the carrier. We can talk you through whether to file, what to expect, and which local body shops your carrier prefers.
3. Get a paintless dent repair (PDR) quote. For lighter hail, PDR shops in St. George can restore panels for a fraction of body-shop pricing and your deductible may be all you owe.
4. Don't sign with a chaser. After every storm, out-of-state "roof and dent" crews show up promising free deductibles. They often disappear before the work is done. Use a local shop.

Should you raise your comp deductible?

Maybe. A $1,000 comp deductible instead of $500 typically saves $40–$90 a year per vehicle. If you have an emergency fund, it's usually worth it. We model both options when we quote.

If you're not sure whether you carry comprehensive — or whether your limits make sense for Southern Utah — request a free review. Five minutes now beats a $40,000 surprise after the next storm.