Editor's note: This article first appeared on CarInsurance.com and is reprinted here with their permission. Click here for the original post.

Texas, Illinois and Colorado lead the nation for states with the most hail damage claims, according to a State Farm report.

Hail is one of the most frequent causes of property damage to homes and cars, costing State Farm policyholders $2.4 billion last year. Hail claims typically peak in spring.

[Related: Hail damage: Are you covered?]

Here are the top 10 states for State Farm hail home and auto claims for 2014:

1. Texas: 51,193 claims

2. Illinois: 43,821 claims

3. Colorado: 42,365 claims

4. Missouri: 23,019 claims

5. Nebraska: 21,326 claims

6. South Carolina: 20,170 claims

7. Pennsylvania: 19,088 claims

8. Iowa: 12,367 claims

9. South Dakota: 12,367 claims

10. Kansas: 11,562 claims

Keep reading to learn more about hail damage and your car insurance.

Hail stones in a man's hand

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Hail damage and car insurance

If your car is dinged by ice balls falling from the sky, you can decide to live with the cosmetic damage or you may want to file a hail damage claim to have it repaired. Before you reach for your car insurance card, here are five must-know considerations:

  • You must have comprehensive insurance coverage, which also covers theft, vandalism, water damage and animal strikes, to file a claim.
  • You will have to pay your deductible amount, so it's prudent to assess the repair costs – if you have just a few dents, the cost to fix your car will not exceed your deductible. Esurance pegs the average cost to repair each dent at $50 to $125. Major hail damage could be several thousand dollars and can total a car, in which case a claim makes sense. For minor damage, you might want to visit a paintless dent repair shop and avoid a claim.
  • Your car insurance rates typically won't increase if you make a hail claim, as generally insurance companies won't hold you accountable for damage caused by severe weather. If, however, you've had other recent claims on your policy, your insurer may hike your rates.
  • If you do file a claim, have the insurance adjuster inspect your car in the shade or in a garage, as bright sunlight can obscure dents.
  • Once your insurance company completes its estimate of the cost to fix your car, take your vehicle to a repair shop of your choice and get a comparison estimate. Typically, if there's a big discrepancy, your repair shop can contact your insurer with the information and have your insurer provide a revised estimate or have the insurer approve its estimate.

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