Texas home insurance policies often have a separate deductible for wind and hail damage. This is your share of the cost when you file a covered claim for wind and hail damage. It's typically subtracted from what your insurance company pays you, rather than billed to you directly. These deductibles are usually calculated as a percentage of your home’s insured value rather than a flat dollar amount.
Texas law does not regulate your deductible amount. Your deductible is set by your home insurance policy terms and can be found on your declarations page. Texas law prohibits contractors from waiving, reimbursing, or crediting your home insurance deductible — so treat any contractor who offers to do this as a red flag.
Is it illegal for a roofer to waive your deductible in Texas?
Yes. Texas House Bill 2102, effective Sept. 1, 2019, made it illegal for any contractor including roofers to cover any part of your deductible for you — whether by paying it directly, discounting your bill, or offering a rebate. Contracts for $1,000 or more must also include a notice stating that you're required to pay your deductible. And if your policy includes replacement cost coverage, your insurance company can hold back the final portion of your payout until you provide proof you actually paid your deductible, such as a receipt or canceled check.
When a contractor offers to waive your deductible, they typically make up the difference by inflating the invoice sent to your insurance company, which is insurance fraud. This can put you at risk. If you go along with it, you could face legal consequences too, unless you report the arrangement to your insurance company.
This practice also leaves homeowners vulnerable to poor-quality work and undercuts legitimate contractors who follow the law. HB 2102 was designed to close that gap. Unfortunately, this deductible-waiving practice — often called "free roof" schemes — still happens in Texas. Some red flags to look out for include:
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Contractors who offer free, reduced, waived, or offset deductibles
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Contractors who push you into signing a contract quickly
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Contractors who discourage open communication with your insurance company
Homeowners can look for quality contractors by:
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Getting multiple quotes for work
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Verifying a contractor’s license number
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Requesting and contacting references for contractors
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Documenting all communication and contracts in writing
How Texas wind and hail deductibles work
Standard homeowners insurance deductibles are usually a flat dollar figure, but wind and hail deductibles are typically percentage-based. This percentage, usually 1% to 5%, is calculated based on your dwelling coverage (Coverage A) limit — the part of your policy that pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home itself.
For example, if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a 2% wind and hail deductible, your financial responsibility when filing an approved claim for wind and/or hail damage would be $6,000.
$300,000 (dwelling coverage limit) x 0.02 (2% deductible) = $6,000
You may be able to choose from a range of percentages when you buy your home insurance policy. A higher percentage deductible means a lower premium — the amount you pay for coverage — but a lower payout and higher out-of-pocket costs if you have covered damage.
Texas law requires your deductible to be disclosed in dollars
Texas Insurance Code Section 2301.056 requires your declarations page to list the exact dollar amount of every deductible on your policy — even if your policy describes it as a percentage. If your dwelling coverage limit changes, say through an inflation guard endorsement, your insurance company also has to explain how that change affects your deductible amount.
In other words, you shouldn't have to do the math yourself to find out what a wind and hail deductible actually costs. If your declarations page only lists a percentage, you can ask your insurance company or agent to confirm the current dollar figure.
Why Texas uses percentage-based hail deductibles
Wind and hail damage are the most common type of home insurance claim. This type of damage can be caused by a range of storms, including hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hailstorms — all of which are quite common in Texas. In fact, Texas had the most major hail events of any state in 2025.
Insurers use percentage-based deductibles to account for the frequency of this type of loss in Texas. Percentage-based deductibles mean higher deductibles for policies with higher dwelling coverage limits (e.g., bigger, higher-value homes).
Insurance companies in Texas are not required to use wind and hail deductibles, percentage-based or not. While they are common, the deductibles your policy includes will depend on your home’s location, the insurer you choose, and your policy details.
What to do if you can't afford your hail deductible
If you’ve experienced damage and you’re worried about paying your deductible, you can consider a few more affordable paths forward.
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Speak with your contractor: Contractors may offer payment plans or staggered repair schedules. Especially if the damage is minimal, completing only the essential repairs and paying for them out of pocket may be more affordable than paying your deductible for the entirety of the repairs.
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Look for assistance: Texas may have state or federal funding available if your home damage is due to a declared disaster.
Unfortunately, there is no way around your deductible if you want to file an insurance claim to help cover claimable damage. The best way to financially prepare is to be aware of your wind and hail deductible responsibility ahead of time. Check your deductible amount(s), and verify whether you would be able to afford them with little notice.
If you don’t think you could afford your deductible, speak with your agent about how adjusting your deductibles would impact your premium and make a plan for adjusting it.
Pro tip: It’s a good idea to check your Texas auto insurance deductible as well, because hailstorms can cause extensive damage to vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wind/hail deductible in Texas?
A Texas wind and hail deductible is a separate home insurance deductible subtracted from your payout when you file a home insurance claim for this type of damage. Wind and hail deductibles are typically percentage-based and calculated based on your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A). For example, if you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a 2% wind and hail deductible, your insurance company would subtract $6,000 from an approved claim for wind or hail damage.
Do I have to pay my deductible for hail damage?
Yes, your insurance policy is a contract that requires you to pay your deductible when you file an approved home insurance claim for wind or hail damage. You're not paying that amount to your insurance company, though. Instead, your insurer subtracts your deductible from the claim payout, and you cover that portion directly when you pay your contractor for the repairs. You do not have to pay a deductible at all if you do not file a claim. For this reason — and because filing a claim can increase your home insurance rates — many homeowners choose not to file a claim if the cost of repairs is close to or equal to their deductible. If the cost of repairs is less than your deductible, you'll cover the entire cost yourself when you pay for repairs.
What happens if your car is totaled from hail damage in Texas?
Hail damage to your car is not covered by home insurance. It is covered by the comprehensive coverage portion of a car insurance policy. Comprehensive insurance is not required by law in Texas, but if you do carry it (typically part of a full coverage policy that also includes collision coverage), it will pay the estimated value of your vehicle right before it was damaged, minus your deductible.
Is it illegal for a roofer to pay your deductible in Texas?
Yes, it is illegal for a roofer or any contractor to pay for, subsidize, or discount your deductible in Texas. Texas House Bill 2102 outlaws the practice to protect both contractors and homeowners from insurance fraud.
