Hailstorms can turn a perfectly good vehicle into a total loss in a matter of minutes, but not every insurance policy covers the damage.
To prepare this update, our team reviewed Ontario’s standard auto insurance policy (OAP 1), Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) guidance on hail claims, CatIQ catastrophe-loss data, and proprietary MyChoice insurance quote data.
Read on to learn what coverage pays for hail damage, how insurers assess claims, when a vehicle is written off, and how to protect yourself before the next major storm.
Is Hail Damage Covered by My Auto Insurance Policy?
Yes, but only if you have comprehensive, specified perils, or all perils coverage. While comprehensive coverage is the most common, specified perils also cover hail as a named hazard, whereas basic liability or collision coverage will not. Check your policy or speak to your broker to find out.
What to Do When Your Car is Damaged by Hail
Below is the step-by-step guide on what drivers should do when their car is damaged as a result of a hailstorm.
Why You Should Get Hail Protection
Hail can cause dents, cracked windshields, broken lights, and severe car damage. In extreme storms, vehicles can be written off entirely. If you live in or travel through a hail-prone area, comprehensive coverage that includes hail damage is essential.
Recent events in Calgary show why this coverage matters. A July 13, 2025, hailstorm caused about $92 million in insured damage, and roughly 65% of claims were for vehicles.
And that was the smaller event. The August 2024 Calgary hailstorm caused roughly $2.8 billion in insured damage, making it the second-costliest insured disaster in Canadian history — and vehicles again made up a large share of the claims.
How Much Does it Cost to Insure My Car?
Comprehensive coverage doesn’t have a fixed price. It depends on your deductible, vehicle, claims history, and postal code. As a rough guide, Ontario drivers often pay in the neighbourhood of $200 a year for the add-on, while hail-prone Alberta tends to run closer to $500. Treat both as ballparks, not quotes.
Weigh that against the potential repair bill. Hail damage commonly runs anywhere from about $1,000 for a few panels of paintless dent repair to well over $10,000 when glass, sensors, and body panels all need replacing. It is far more than the annual cost of the coverage itself.
Will a Hail Damage Claim Increase My Premiums?
Generally, a single comprehensive claim for hail damage will not increase your premium because it is considered a ‘not-at-fault’ peril. However, filing multiple comprehensive claims (including theft or vandalism) within a short window can lead to a higher deductible or a premium surcharge.
Can Hail Damage Fully Write Off My Vehicle?
Heavy hail can result in a write-off if repairs exceed the ‘Total Loss Threshold,’ typically 70% to 80% of the car’s Actual Cash Value (ACV), rather than the full 100%.
If repairs are estimated at 75% of the car’s value, insurers often declare a ‘Constructive Total Loss’ because the salvage value plus repair costs would exceed the vehicle’s worth.
When an Ontario insurer writes off a hail-damaged car, the vehicle is branded as ‘salvage’ or ‘irreparable’ under the Ministry of Transportation’s vehicle branding program, which restricts how it can be re-registered or resold (Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation).
Read More: How Car Write-Offs Work
How to Protect My Car From Hail Damage
You can take the following measures to protect your car from damage and yourself from the time and money it costs.