Is Hail Damage Always Covered by Home Insurance in Oklahoma City?

Mitch had been through Oklahoma storms before. But this one? It sounded like golf balls pounding the roof. He woke up the next morning to find dents on his metal gutters, cracks in his siding, and a dozen shingles in his front yard.

He called his insurance company right away. A week later, he got the answer he didn’t expect: “We’re denying part of your claim. The damage appears cosmetic.”
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Hail is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims in Oklahoma City—but coverage isn’t always as simple as people think.

Cover your roof with the best okc home insurance!

​Hail Damage in Oklahoma: A Real Risk

Living in Oklahoma means dealing with the spring and summer hail season. These storms hit fast and hit hard—especially in the OKC metro. Roofs, windows, fences, siding, and even HVAC systems can all take damage.
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The good news: most standard home insurance policies include hail as a covered peril.
The not-so-good news: the amount your policy actually pays depends on how it’s written, what kind of roof you have, and whether the damage is considered cosmetic or structural.

What Home Insurance Usually Covers After a Hailstorm

If hail damages your home, and your policy includes wind and hail coverage, you’re typically covered for repairs to:

• The roof
• Siding
• Windows and doors
• Fences and decks
• Gutters
• Detached structures (like sheds or garages)

Your policy may also help pay for interior damage caused by hail—if, say, water gets in after the roof is punctured. That said, there are a few big “ifs” to watch for.

The Catch: Cosmetic vs. Functional Damage

One of the biggest issues Oklahoma homeowners face is cosmetic hail damage—dents or marks that don’t impact the performance of the structure.

Example:Your metal roof has visible dents but isn’t leaking. Some insurance companies consider this “appearance-only” damage and may deny replacement or repair.

Whether this is covered depends on your specific policy language. Some policies exclude cosmetic hail damage, especially for metal roofing and siding. Others cover it outright.
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If appearance matters to you—or if you’re in a neighborhood with HOA requirements—you’ll want to make sure your policy includes cosmetic hail damage protection.

Roof Age and Materials Matter

Many insurers in Oklahoma use roof schedules or actual cash value (ACV) for older roofs. That means:

• If your roof is over 15 years old, your payout may be reduced based on depreciation.
  
• If you have an ACV policy, the insurer pays only what the roof is worth today—not what it costs to replace it.
  
• If you have a replacement cost value (RCV) policy, you’ll likely receive full coverage for repairs—minus your deductible.
  

Ask your agent what kind of roof coverage you have. It makes a big difference after a hailstorm.

Hail Deductibles in Oklahoma

In storm-prone areas like Oklahoma City, insurers often apply separate wind/hail deductibles. This amount may be:

• A fixed amount (like $2,500)
  
• A percentage of your home’s insured value (often 1–2%)
  

Example:If your home is insured for $300,000 and your hail deductible is 2%, you’d have to pay $6,000 out of pocket before insurance kicks in.
Knowing this upfront helps you avoid sticker shock during storm season.

​Real-World Hail Claim Scenarios in Oklahoma

Scenario 1: Full Roof ReplacementA storm causes multiple shingles to lift, leading to interior water leaks. Your replacement cost policy covers a full roof replacement and interior repairs—minus your hail deductible.

Scenario 2: Cosmetic DenialA hailstorm leaves visible dents in your metal roof, but there’s no leaking. Your claim is denied under a cosmetic damage exclusion.
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Scenario 3: ACV PayoutHail damages a 17-year-old roof. Your ACV policy pays out based on the depreciated value, leaving you with a significant out-of-pocket cost to finish repairs.

What You Should Do After a Hailstorm

• Document Everything
  Take photos of all visible damage—roof, siding, windows, cars, yard equipment. Time-stamped photos help back up your claim.
  
• Get a Professional Inspection
  Call a reputable roofing or inspection company to assess whether damage is functional or cosmetic. Don’t rely on a quick glance.
  
• File Your Claim Promptly
  Delays can complicate or even invalidate a claim. Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible.
  
• Review Your Policy
  Look for hail-specific exclusions, deductibles, and roof valuation methods. Not sure what you’re looking at? Ask your agent for a walk-through.
  

Hail Happens. Be Prepared Before It Strikes.

You can’t stop hail from hitting your home—but you can protect yourself from surprises when it’s time to file a claim.

At Oklahoma Insurance Professionals, we help homeowners in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas make sense of their policies before a storm ever touches down. As an independent insurance agency, we work with multiple carriers to find the right balance of cost, coverage, and deductible that fits your needs.
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Call us today to review your home insurance and get answers about hail damage before the next storm rolls through.

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Scott Godwin
Founder

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals LLC serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding Oklahoma communities by protecting the people we work with just like we protect our own family members. Home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, and more. We can help you find the coverage you need. ​