Will a hail damage claim increase my premium?
Short answer. Possibly a little, but skipping a legitimate hail claim to protect your premium often costs more. Area-wide rate increases after hail seasons hit claimants and non-claimants alike, and unrepaired hail damage can later be excluded as old damage, shorten the roof's life, and leave you paying for a replacement your policy would have covered.
What you give up by not filing
- The roof itself. Hail-fractured shingles lose granules faster and start leaking sooner. You pay for the replacement later, out of pocket.
- Future claims. Damage you did not claim becomes old damage. The next adjuster may exclude it, and a later storm claim may pay only for new hits.
- Coverage terms. As the roof ages, many policies move it to actual cash value or a payment schedule, so the same damage claimed later pays less.
- Resale. A buyer's inspector may spot the damage and use it to negotiate.
Meanwhile, the premium may rise anyway
Insurers adjust rates by territory based on losses there. After a heavy hail year, your area's rates can go up whether you filed or not. The individual effect of one weather claim is often modest, and in Georgia an insurer generally cannot refuse to renew solely because of two or fewer claims in 36 months that were not your fault.
When skipping a claim is reasonable
- The repair costs less than, or close to, your deductible.
- The damage is cosmetic and your policy excludes cosmetic damage.
- The roof is due for replacement anyway and your policy would pay very little at actual cash value.
Decide with facts
Get an inspection before calling the insurer. If it shows real hail damage well above your deductible, filing is usually the better financial choice.
More: roof claims and premiums in Georgia and date of loss.