The bigger risk is guessing. Calling your insurance company before you know whether your roof is actually damaged, or leaving real damage in place until it's too late to report, can cost you more than the claim itself.
By type of homeowners claim
Insurers price claims by how likely you are to have another one. A kitchen fire or a dog bite says something about the home or the owner. A hailstorm says something about the weather.
That is why weather-related claims usually carry the smallest rate impact. In the survey above, one weather claim raised premiums about 16% on average, compared with 25% to 29% for fire, theft, liability and water claims.
Averages hide a lot. A 2019 Consumer Reports survey found that about half of people who filed a homeowners claim saw no premium increase at all, and only about 1 in 8 saw an increase of $200 a year or more.
Filing a claim is only one piece. These are the things insurers actually look at when your policy renews.
Hail, wind and other weather losses are treated as out of your control. Fire, water, theft and liability claims usually weigh more.
One claim in several years is very different from two or three. Frequency is what most often triggers surcharges or non-renewal.
After a hail or wind event, insurers often raise rates across a whole ZIP code at renewal, including for people who never filed.
An older or damaged roof costs more to insure. A new roof, especially an impact-resistant one, can earn a discount in many states.
Some states limit how insurers can use weather claims, or put protections in place after declared disasters.
Each insurer files its own rating rules. Two neighbors with the same claim can see different results.
Laws vary, so always confirm with your agent or your state's Department of Insurance. Two examples from states where our team works:
Texas Insurance Code § 551.107 lets insurers surcharge or non-renew homeowners after multiple claims in three years, but says a claim caused by natural causes, like hail and wind, does not count as a claim under that section.
After the 2019 storms, Oklahoma's Insurance Commissioner barred insurers from cancelling, non-renewing or raising premiums because of a first claim in declared disaster areas. Similar bulletins can follow other major storms.
You don't have to choose between filing blindly and doing nothing. Get the facts first, then decide.
Have a trained inspector check the whole roof system and document what they find with photos. Then you know whether there's real storm damage before anything goes on your record.
Many policies have a separate wind and hail deductible, often a percentage of your home's insured value. Look it up on your declarations page so you know the real numbers.
If repairs cost only a little more than your deductible, a claim may not be worth it. If the roof needs replacing, the math is usually very different.
Talk to your agent rather than the claims line, and make clear you're asking a general question, not reporting a loss.
Whatever you decide, you have a dated inspection report on file. If you do move forward, you can show the damage to anyone who asks.
SkyView Restoration Group brings 25+ years of hands-on roofing and storm experience. Our trained inspectors check the entire roofing system and give you a free damage report.
You get a Clearance Certificate to keep on file for your insurance and for future storms. Nothing goes to your insurer, and you have a dated baseline.
We explain what we found, what it means for your roof, and when it makes sense to check it again.
Photos and a written report you can show to anyone who asks, plus our recommendation for repair or replacement.
It's uncommon for a single weather claim to cause a non-renewal. Insurers look much harder at how often you file. In Texas, claims from natural causes don't count toward the state's claims-based non-renewal limit.
It can. After a large storm, insurers often raise rates for the whole area at renewal. Not filing doesn't protect you from that, but it can leave real damage on your roof unrepaired.
Sometimes. Some insurers record any call about possible damage. Get an inspection first, ask your agent general questions, and check your C.L.U.E. report once a year.
Often, yes. Insurers usually charge less for newer roofs, and many states offer discounts for impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles. Ask your agent what applies to your policy.
Yes. Most policies require you to report damage within a set time after the storm, and some states set limits too. Check your policy, and don't wait to get the roof looked at.
The inspection and damage report are free. If you later sign a Project Agreement, its fee and cancellation terms are at SkyViewRestore.com/terms.
