Standard Alabama home insurance typically covers hail damage to your home, though you'll usually pay a separate, higher deductible for storm damage, and homes in coastal areas may need a separate wind policy. How much you're paid for a hail claim also depends on your policy's coverage type, which we'll cover in detail below.
Northern and Central Alabama see frequent hail, often tied to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. In 2025 alone, the National Centers for Environmental Information recorded 184 individual hail events in Alabama, including two events with hailstones three inches or larger.
How does home insurance cover hail damage in Alabama?
Here's how a standard home insurance policy in Alabama generally covers hail damage:
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Coverage type |
What it covers for hail damage |
What it excludes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) |
Sudden hail damage to your home's exterior and physical structure, up to policy limitations |
Pre-existing damage, wear and tear, cosmetic damage |
|
Other structures coverage (Coverage B) |
Sudden hail damage to detached structures on your property, up to policy limitations |
Pre-existing damage, wear and tear, cosmetic damage |
|
Personal property coverage (Coverage C) |
Replacement or partial reimbursement for personal items damaged due to hail damage |
Costs that exceed your policy limits, including sublimits for high-value items |
|
Loss of use coverage (Coverage D) |
Temporary housing, meals, and other costs incurred if your home becomes uninhabitable following a covered hail loss |
Your routine living costs, like mortgage payments |
Home insurance won't cover all costs associated with a hailstorm. Pre-existing damage, damage caused by wear and tear, and cosmetic-only damage are common exclusions and can be grounds for a denied claim.
Pro tip: Keep in mind that home insurance won't cover vehicle damage caused by hail. For that, you'll need an auto insurance policy with comprehensive coverage.
Alabama wind and hail deductibles explained
Most insurers in Alabama include a separate, percentage-based deductible for wind and hail damage. A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance pays the balance of covered damage, up to your policy limits. A wind and hail deductible is different from your policy's standard deductible for other types of damage. Percentage-based deductibles are typically 1% to 5% of your home's total insured value (your dwelling coverage limit) rather than a flat dollar amount.
Example: If your dwelling coverage limit is $300,000 and your wind and hail deductible is 1%, you'd be responsible for the first $3,000 of damage out of pocket for an approved hail claim. If hail damages a few windows in your home and repairs cost $2,900, you'd pay the full amount yourself, since it falls under your deductible. But any covered repairs or replacements over $3,000 would be paid for by insurance, up to your policy limit.
Check your policy's declarations page to confirm both your standard deductible and your wind and hail deductible. This is a summary page (or couple of pages) that lists your coverage limits, deductibles, and other key details. You can usually find it by logging into your account on your insurer's online portal or in the paper version of your policy documents. Otherwise, your agent can help you track it down or answer any questions.
The coastal exception: Baldwin and Mobile counties
While most Alabama homeowners can buy home insurance that includes wind and hail coverage, policies for homes in high-risk coastal areas like Baldwin and Mobile counties may exclude wind and hail damage from standard policies due to these locations’ higher risk. If you're not sure whether your policy includes hail coverage, check your declarations page or ask your agent for clarification.
If your homeowners insurance doesn't cover wind and hail damage, you may be able to purchase a separate wind-only policy. Windstorm coverage is available through specialty insurers or through the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (AIUA), the state's insurer of last resort for coastal wind coverage.
AIUA policies are only available to homeowners with properties located south of the 31st parallel in Baldwin and Mobile counties. AIUA covers your home's dwelling up to $650,000 and personal property up to $325,000. Floods, storms and water intrusion are all excluded from AIUA coverage. And if your property is in a flood zone, AIUA requires flood insurance equal to the combined coverage amounts on your homeowners policy and your AIUA wind policy.
Roof and home upgrades can give Alabama homeowners better access to wind and hail coverage and potential discounts. AIUA and other specialty insurers offer discounts to homeowners who upgrade to FORTIFIED standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, a nonprofit that rates building materials and construction standards for storm resistance. Many Alabama insurers even offer an endorsement, or policy add-on, that covers the cost to bring your roof up to FORTIFIED standards if a full roof replacement is required due to a covered loss.
ACV vs. RCV: Why it matters for your Alabama hail claim
Standard Alabama home insurance policies cover hail damage, but your payout amount depends on your policy's settlement basis, meaning the method your policy uses to calculate what you receive.
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Replacement cost value (RCV) policies pay the current cost to replace damaged items and rebuild structures with materials of like kind and quality, minus any applicable deductible.
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Actual cash value (ACV) policies pay the depreciated value of damaged or lost property, minus applicable deductibles. This is calculated by subtracting depreciation, or the value an item loses over time due to age and wear, from its replacement value.
Your home insurance policy may insure both your dwelling and your personal property at full replacement cost, or you may have a mix of RCV and ACV coverage. It's common to have RCV coverage for your dwelling and other structures, paired with ACV coverage for personal property. However, homes with older roofs may be issued ACV-only policies from Alabama insurers, which could significantly decrease your payout in the event of a major hailstorm.
If your policy covers your property at RCV, your payment might arrive in two parts: an upfront ACV payment, followed by the remaining recoverable depreciation after repairs are complete and invoiced. If your policy covers only the ACV of your property, you could be responsible for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for repairs and replacements.
How to avoid hail damage in Alabama
Hail is a part of life in Alabama, but homeowners can reduce their risk of damage with a few stormproofing strategies.
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Upgrade to impact-resistant shingles. IBHS rates asphalt shingles available from major retailers based on impact resistance.
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Hire a FORTIFIED roofing contractor. If you're serious about mitigating hail damage, consider upgrading your entire roof to FORTIFIED standards, which involves a sealed roof deck and locked-down roof edges in addition to impact-resistant shingles.
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Have your roof inspected. Roof damage isn't always obvious from the ground, and pre-existing damage could increase your risk of future damage and void a new hail damage claim.
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Opt for reinforced windows. Storm shutters or reinforced glass can reduce your odds of hail damage to your windows.
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Know how to identify hail damage. Hail damage can be subtle to the untrained eye, so it's worth researching what to look for after a storm, especially if you're buying a new home.
How to file a hail damage insurance claim in Alabama
If your property is damaged by hail in Alabama, follow these steps to file a claim.
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Document everything. Take timestamped photos and video of all affected areas before you begin any cleanup.
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Mitigate further damage. It's your responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to your property, such as covering exposed areas with tarps. Check your policy; it likely includes a clause outlining this requirement.
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File promptly. Most Alabama insurers require timely notice of hail damage. This isn't a statutory requirement, but your policy may specify how long you have to file a claim. Filing within a few days of the damage improves your odds of a smooth, successful claim.
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Get an independent inspection. Your insurance company will likely send an adjuster to inspect the damage, but it's useful to also have an independent inspection done by a licensed contractor before the adjuster arrives.
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Watch for contractor scams. When comparing repair estimates, be cautious of storm-chasing businesses that offer to waive your deductible, claim an existing relationship with your insurer, or pressure you to sign a contract quickly or pay upfront.
Frequently asked questions
How much does insurance usually pay for hail damage?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average payout for combined wind and hail home insurance claims is more than $14,700, but your specific payout will depend on factors including your coverage specifics, your hail deductible, and the extent of the damage.
What does insurance cover for hail damage?
Standard home insurance policies cover your dwelling structure (including roofs and windows), other structures, personal property, and loss of use (or additional living expenses if you're displaced from your home due to covered damage). In high-risk coastal areas, standard home insurance may exclude wind and hail coverage entirely, in which case you'd need to purchase a separate wind and hail policy for financial protection from these types of storm damage.
