If your car is caught outside in a hailstorm, it can be left with dents, dings, cracked glass, and serious scratches. Hail damage can greatly decrease your car’s value, cost you a lot of money in repairs, and can even total your car.

Then what? What are the consequences of hail damage on your car, and how can you protect it from being damaged in the first place?

South Carolina car insurance may be able to help with hail damage. And a South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you get the car insurance coverage that you need.

The Cost of Hail Damage in South Carolina

Hail causes billions of dollars in damage to crops and property, including vehicles, each year. There were 5,396 major hailstorms in 2019, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study found that the insurance companies they sampled paid out $5.37 billion in total hail claims over a four-year period. The actual payout by all insurers during that time period was estimated by HLDI to be $7.26 billion. 

The same study also found a frequency of 3.2 hail-related claims per 1,000 vehicles over the four-year period, with an average claim cost of $3,428.

While South Carolina does not rank as one of the top ten states for frequency of hailstorms or severity of hail damage, hailstorms—big ones—do occur in South Carolina. And when they do, if your vehicle is parked outside or if you’re driving, it’s likely that your car will be damaged.

Does Car Insurance in South Carolina Cover Hail Damage?

Car insurance in South Carolina may cover hail damage, if you’ve purchased certain coverage on your policy.

If a hailstorm has caused dents, dings, or a cracked windshield, you’ll need comprehensive coverage in your South Carolina car insurance policy if you want the damage to be covered.

Comprehensive coverage is physical damage coverage for your own car. It is often referred to as “other than collision” coverage because it is applicable when you have damage that is caused by just about anything other than a collision with another vehicle. You might think of it as coverage for damage that occurs when you have little or no control over the incident, such as a hailstorm that occurs when your car is unprotected, or a falling tree limb during a storm.

If you have a car loan or a lease, your lender will probably require you to carry comprehensive coverage (in addition to collision coverage). If your car is paid off, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of buying comprehensive coverage. If you don’t purchase it, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for repairs if your vehicle is damaged in any way by hail, or by another peril like fire, theft, or hitting a deer.

What Else Does Car Insurance in South Carolina Cover?

Car insurance in South Carolina covers a variety of problems besides hail damage. The main purpose of auto insurance is to ensure that if you cause an accident, you can pay for the other driver’s vehicle damage or injuries that you’re responsible for.

All South Carolina drivers are required to have a minimum amount of auto insurance that covers personal injury liability and property damage liability. This protects other people and their property if you’re at fault in an accident. 

• Bodily injury liability coverage: This provides protection if you injure or kill someone else while driving your car. It protects you against an injured party’s claims for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It also provides for your legal defense fees if another party involved in the accident sues you. 
• Property damage liability coverage: This pays for any damage that you cause to the property of others (e.g., another driver’s car) and for your legal defense if you are sued. 
• Uninsured motorist coverage: This protects you if you are hit by a hit-and-run driver or by a driver who does not have auto liability coverage. It takes the place of liability insurance that the other driver should have but does not, and it protects you directly.

South Carolina drivers must purchase uninsured motorist coverage that is equal to the minimum amounts of liability coverage ($25,000 per person bodily injury/$50,000 per accident bodily injury/$25,000 per accident property damage). There is often a $200 deductible for this coverage.

In addition, there are several optional types of coverage that you can choose from, depending on your needs and budget. 

• Collision coverage: This is protection for physical damage to your vehicle when it hits or is hit by another vehicle or object, such as a tree. 
• Comprehensive coverage: This pays for losses from almost all other types of damage to your vehicle other than that resulting from a collision, such as theft, fire, vandalism, weather, birds or animals, glass breakage, and so on. 
• Medical payments coverage, or personal injury protection: This helps pay for medical, dental and funeral expenses for you or your passengers, regardless of who is at fault for an accident.
• Underinsured motorist coverage: This protects you if another motorist is at fault for a collision but does not have enough insurance to cover your losses. Car insurance companies in South Carolina are required to offer to you underinsured motorist coverage, but you are not required to purchase it.
• Roadside assistance coverage, or towing and labor coverage: This pays for help if you are locked out of your vehicle, run out of gas, or face some other type of problem while out on the road. Your insurance company will help you contact tow trucks, locksmiths, or other forms of assistance as needed, and will reimburse you for the costs of these services up to certain limits.
• Rental reimbursement coverage: This provides payment for a rental car if your vehicle is damaged and you must rent a vehicle while it is being repaired. 
• Loan/lease or gap coverage: This pays the difference between what you owe on a vehicle and its cash value if it is totaled. 

An independent insurance agent in South Carolina can help you determine which types of coverage are best for your unique needs.

What Doesn't Car Insurance in South Carolina Cover?

Car insurance in South Carolina covers a lot of scenarios in which your car is damaged or you cause an accident. But most policies also have numerous exclusions that you need to be aware of. Here are some typical items that are not covered by car insurance in South Carolina:

• Liability insurance never covers you or your own vehicle. So if you don't carry optional comprehensive and collision coverage, damage to your own vehicle if you cause an accident or sustain hail damage will not be covered.
• Driving for business purposes is often not covered by car insurance in South Carolina. If you use your own car to work for Uber or DoorDash, you may have to secure additional coverage for when you’re driving for business purposes.
• Your comprehensive coverage won’t cover damage to your vehicle caused by:
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Damage resulting from racing
  • Broken glass
  • Mechanical failure
  • Non-permanent electronics or unapproved vehicle modifications
• Personal possessions that are inside your car and damaged in an accident are not covered by car insurance in South Carolina. These items may be covered, however, by your homeowners or renters insurance policy.
• Damage caused by nuclear accidents, war, or other catastrophic events are not typically covered by car insurance.
• Accidents and damage caused while engaging in illegal activity may not be covered by your car insurance in South Carolina.
• Vehicle damage that is caused intentionally will not be covered.
• Accidents or damage that occur outside the United States are unlikely to covered by your South Carolina car insurance policy. You may be able to extend coverage to driving in Canada and Mexico, in some cases.

Be sure to read your South Carolina car insurance policy carefully so you understand exactly what is covered and what is not. If you need special coverage, talk to your independent insurance agent about your options.

What Does Car Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

Car insurance costs in South Carolina vary significantly depending on your personal risk factors. But on average, South Carolinians pay about $1,210 per year. The national average car insurance rate is $1,311 per year.

The cost of adding comprehensive coverage, which covers hail damage, depends on the year, make, and model of your car as well as your age and gender, the location of your home, and your driving record. These factors help insurance companies know how risky you are as a driver and how likely your car is to need repairs or be stolen.

If your car model has a high theft risk, your comprehensive rate is likely to be a bit higher. If you live in an urban area, you'll pay more than someone who lives in a rural area. If your city experiences frequent hailstorms, you might pay more than someone who lives in a dry climate.

How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

An independent insurance agent can help you get quotes for car insurance in South Carolina, and can make sure that your policy covers hail damage. Independent agents aren’t tied down to one insurance company. They can help you shop around for the best coverage at a price that fits your budget.

What’s more, a South Carolina independent insurance agent will get to know you and your family, and will be there for you at claim time. Your agent will guide you through the claims process and help you get your vehicle fixed and your life back to normal as soon as possible.