It’s one of the first questions Colorado drivers ask after a hailstorm damages their vehicle — and it’s holding a lot of people back from getting the repair they’re entitled to. Will filing a hail damage claim raise my insurance rates? The short answer is no. But understanding why requires a quick look at how auto insurance claims are categorized in Colorado and what that means for your policy.
Comprehensive vs. Collision: Why the Distinction Matters
Auto insurance claims fall into two primary categories: collision claims and comprehensive claims. A collision claim is filed when your vehicle is damaged as a result of an accident — hitting another car, a guardrail, a pole, or any other object. Because collision damage is often influenced by driver behavior, collision claims can affect your insurance rates depending on your insurer and your policy terms.
Comprehensive claims are completely different. Comprehensive coverage handles damage caused by events outside your control — hailstorms, flooding, fire, falling objects, theft, and vandalism. Because these events have nothing to do with how you drive, Colorado insurance companies treat them very differently when it comes to rate adjustments.
Hail damage is always filed as a comprehensive claim. It is classified as an act of nature. And in Colorado, filing a comprehensive claim for hail damage does not raise your insurance premiums.
What Colorado Law Says
Colorado has specific consumer protections in place for insurance policyholders. Insurance companies operating in Colorado are prohibited from raising your rates solely on the basis of a comprehensive claim for weather-related damage. Hail is one of the most common weather events in the state — Colorado consistently ranks among the top hail-prone states in the country — and the law reflects that reality. You cannot be penalized for something that was completely outside your control.
If you’re ever unsure about how a specific claim might affect your policy, the best approach is to call your insurance agent directly and ask before filing. But for a straightforward hail damage comprehensive claim, the answer is almost always the same — your rates will not go up.
What About My Deductible?
Filing a hail damage claim does mean you’ll be responsible for your deductible — the amount you agree to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. Deductibles for comprehensive coverage typically range from $250 to $1,000 depending on your policy. The insurance company pays for the repair cost above your deductible.
Here’s where David’s Hail & Collision can help. We offer deductible assistance of up to $500 on qualifying hail damage repairs. For many drivers with a $500 or lower deductible, that means the out-of-pocket cost for a full hail damage repair is zero. Call us at (303) 815-3854 to check your eligibility before you schedule.
What Happens If I Don’t File a Claim?
Some drivers decide to skip the claim entirely — either because they’re worried about rates going up (which we’ve established isn’t an issue for comprehensive claims) or because they want to keep the repair money. This seems like a smart financial move in the moment, but it creates two significant problems down the road.
First, your insurance policy includes an unrepaired damage waiver. If your vehicle is hit by another hailstorm in the future — which in Colorado is a very real possibility — your insurer will deduct the amount of any previously paid but unrepaired damage from your new settlement. You lose credit for damage you were already compensated for.
Second, unrepaired hail damage visibly reduces your vehicle’s resale value and trade-in value. Dealership appraisers immediately discount hail-damaged vehicles, often by more than the original insurance check was worth. The math rarely works in your favor when you skip the repair.
What If I Already Got a Check But Haven’t Repaired My Vehicle Yet?
This is more common than you might think. If your insurance company has already issued a payment for hail damage but you haven’t had the repair done yet, you can still bring your vehicle to David’s Hail & Collision. We’ll assess the damage, review the existing estimate, and work with your insurer to make sure the repair is fully covered — including filing a supplement if the original estimate was too low, which it often is.
Just be aware of the timing. Insurance checks are typically valid for 180 days, and your estimate is based on current labor and parts rates. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that costs have increased since the original estimate was written.
The Bottom Line
Filing a hail damage claim in Colorado will not raise your insurance rates. It is a comprehensive claim — an act of nature — and Colorado law protects you from rate increases based on weather-related damage. The only cost to you is your deductible, and David’s Hail & Collision can help offset up to $500 of that on qualifying repairs.
If your vehicle was damaged in a recent hailstorm, don’t let a fear of rate increases stop you from getting the repair you’re entitled to. Contact David’s Hail & Collision today for a free inspection and let us handle your claim from start to finish.
