Hail Damage to Car Glass in Wichita

How common is hail damage in Kansas?

Very. The National Insurance Crime Bureau counted 147,793 hail loss claims in Kansas from 2017 through 2019, the sixth-highest total among the states in that period (NICB, 2017-2019 U.S. hail loss claims). Hail season in south-central Kansas runs mostly through spring and early summer, though storms can bring hail at other times too. The National Weather Service considers a thunderstorm severe when it produces hail 1 inch in diameter (about the size of a quarter) or larger (National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe).

What hail does to each kind of auto glass

After the storm: a step-by-step checklist

1. Stay safe. Do not go outside during the storm, and watch for broken glass when you do.
2. Photograph everything before moving the vehicle or cleaning up: every pane of glass, the roof, hood and trunk lid, plus a wide shot of the vehicle. Include something for scale on windshield damage.
3. Check every piece of glass. Look closely at the windshield for small bullseyes that are easy to miss, especially near the top edge. Check the sunroof, back glass, mirrors and lights.
4. Cover openings. Tape heavy plastic over broken back glass or sunroofs, fastened to paint, not interior trim.
5. Do not drive with a windshield you cannot see through clearly. Kansas law prohibits driving with a damaged windshield that substantially obstructs the driver's view (K.S.A. 8-1741).
6. Contact your insurer and ask how they want glass and body damage handled.
7. Request glass quotes early. After widespread hail, local shops get busy and some glass sells out.

Insurance for hail-damaged glass

Hail damage to your own vehicle is usually handled under comprehensive coverage, not collision. The Kansas Insurance Department's shopper's guide describes comprehensive as covering damage not caused by a collision (Kansas Insurance Department, Auto Insurance Shopper's Guide). Your deductible usually applies unless your policy has glass coverage. When a storm damages both glass and body panels, insurers often handle the glass first so the vehicle is drivable; ask whether it will be one claim with one deductible or separate. See windshield insurance claims in Kansas.

Glass first, body later

Paintless dent repair and body work after a hailstorm can take weeks to schedule. Glass usually cannot wait that long: a shattered back window or sunroof leaves the cabin open to rain, and a cracked windshield may not be safe or legal to drive. Most drivers get glass done first. Tell the glass shop if body repairs are planned, in case mouldings or trim are affected.

Repair or replace a hail-damaged windshield?

A windshield with one or two small hail bullseyes outside the driver's view is often repairable. A windshield with many impacts, impacts in front of the driver, or cracks spreading from the impacts usually needs replacement. Because hail can leave a lot of small damage, shops look at the total picture. On newer vehicles, replacement usually means camera calibration too.

Protecting your vehicle in hail season

• Park in a garage or under a covered structure when severe storms are forecast.
• Know where covered parking is near work, school or stores you visit often.
• A padded hail cover or even thick blankets secured over the glass can reduce damage in a pinch.
• Do not try to outrun a storm or park under trees that may drop limbs.
• Sign up for weather alerts; the National Weather Service in Wichita issues severe thunderstorm warnings for the area.

Beware of storm-chasing scams

After big storms, out-of-town operators sometimes go door to door or set up in parking lots. Be wary of pressure to sign paperwork on the spot, offers to cover your deductible, or anyone asking you to sign over your insurance claim without explaining it. Take your time, get written quotes, and remember that in Kansas your insurer cannot require you to use a particular glass shop (K.S.A. 40-2,155), and the choice of glass shop is yours.

For specific glass, see back glass replacement, sunroof glass repair and windshield replacement.

Related services

• Back Glass Replacement: Rear windows for cars, SUV liftgates and pickup sliders, with defroster and antenna.
• Sunroof Glass Repair: Shattered sunroofs, panoramic roof glass, leaks and stuck panels.
• Windshield Insurance Claims in Kansas: Comprehensive coverage, deductibles and your right to choose a glass shop in Kansas.

Sources: NICB, 2017-2019 U.S. hail loss claims; National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe; Kansas Insurance Department, Auto Insurance Shopper's Guide.

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the glass, any calibration and the warranty terms.