How to deal with insurance companies following severe storms

YESTERDAY AND THEN TODAY YOU’VE BEEN TALKING WITH SOME INSURANCE STAFF AS WELL. YEAH GUYS. WELL, IF YOUR CAR LOOKS LIKE THIS GO AHEAD AND GET IT FIXED. YOU DON’T WANT TO PUT IT OFF. BUT IF YOUR CAR LOOKS MORE LIKE THIS ONE AND THE DAMAGE IS MORE SUBTLE, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF FILING A CLAIM IS RIGHT FOR YOU. LET ME TAKE A GUESS. YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND GOT A PAINFUL REMINDER THAT YOUR CAR GOT PELTED LAST NIGHT, AND IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. SO IF YOU WANT TO GET THOSE DENTS FIXED, THERE ARE OPTIONS. BUT YOU’LL NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR SITUATION. THERE’S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION. THE FIRST OPTION YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND FILE THE CLAIM AND USE THE INSURANCE MONEY TO FIX THE CAR IN THE LONG RUN, IT’LL HELP YOUR CAR RETAIN VALUE. THE NEXT OPTION FILE THE CLAIM, BUT THEN KEEP THE INSURANCE MONEY. THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU OWN THE CAR AND YOU DON’T OWE ANYTHING ON IT. YOU COULD ALSO CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE THE HAIL DAMAGE FIXED AT ALL. BUT HERE’S THE THING A LOCAL CAR SALESMAN TELLS ME THE CAR COULD DEPRECIATE AT LEAST THE AMOUNT OF THE POTENTIAL CLAIM FROM THE DAMAGE, SO THAT MEANS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF IT’S MINOR, BUT IF IT’S MAJOR DAMAGE THAT COULD BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ALSO, IF IT’S AN OLDER CAR WITH LOWER VALUE, THE HAIL DAMAGE MIGHT TOTAL IT COMPLETELY. THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT SAYS WEATHER EVENTS LIKE HAIL STORMS CAN INFLUENCE INSURANCE COSTS, BUT THEY SAY IT’S HARD TO KNOW IF YOUR RATES WILL ACTUALLY GO UP FOR FILING A CLAIM ON HAIL DAMAGE. SOLD. THAT’S BECAUSE OKLAHOMA HAS ABOUT 115 DIFFERENT COMPANIES. THAT. ALL RIGHT, CAR INSURANCE. AND I’M ALSO TOLD THAT’S UNACCOMPANIE

It’s estimated that Tuesday’s storms in the Oklahoma City metro will cost millions, leaving many filing insurance claims on their cars and homes.

It’s estimated that Tuesday’s storms in the Oklahoma City metro will cost millions, leaving many filing insurance claims on their cars and homes.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.If your car was badly beaten by hail, you can’t put that off and need to get it fixed, but if it’s minor damage, you’ll need to decide if filing an insurance claim is worth it to you.There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution if you do file a claim.Your first option is to call and file a claim and use the insurance money to fix the car. In the long run, it will help your car retain value. The next option is to file the claim, but keep the insurance money if you already own the car and don’t owe anything.>> Download the KOCO 5 appYou could also choose not to have the hail damage fixed at all, but a local car salesman told KOCO 5 that the car could depreciate by at least the amount of the potential claim from damage, so that means a couple hundred dollars if it’s minor or thousands of dollars for major damage.Also, if it’s an older car with a lower value, the hail damage might total it completely.The Oklahoma Insurance Department said weather events, like hailstorms, can influence insurance costs, but it said it’s hard to know if your rates will actually go up for filing a claim on hail damage.KOCO 5 was told that’s because Oklahoma has around 115 different companies that write insurance, so it’s on a company-by-company basis.Top HeadlinesStorms drop large hail in OKC metro, leaving damage behindOklahoma County deputy taken to hospital after motorcycle crashInsurance commissioner discusses what to do after damaging, costly hail stormOHP: 10 inmates taken to hospitals after fog causes pickup to crash into transport bus near PerkinsOKC metro residents wake up to dense, patchy fog after damaging hail hit Tuesday

OKLAHOMA CITY —

It’s estimated that Tuesday’s storms in the Oklahoma City metro will cost millions, leaving many filing insurance claims on their cars and homes.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

If your car was badly beaten by hail, you can’t put that off and need to get it fixed, but if it’s minor damage, you’ll need to decide if filing an insurance claim is worth it to you.

There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution if you do file a claim.

Your first option is to call and file a claim and use the insurance money to fix the car. In the long run, it will help your car retain value. The next option is to file the claim, but keep the insurance money if you already own the car and don’t owe anything.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app

You could also choose not to have the hail damage fixed at all, but a local car salesman told KOCO 5 that the car could depreciate by at least the amount of the potential claim from damage, so that means a couple hundred dollars if it’s minor or thousands of dollars for major damage.

Also, if it’s an older car with a lower value, the hail damage might total it completely.

The Oklahoma Insurance Department said weather events, like hailstorms, can influence insurance costs, but it said it’s hard to know if your rates will actually go up for filing a claim on hail damage.

KOCO 5 was told that’s because Oklahoma has around 115 different companies that write insurance, so it’s on a company-by-company basis.

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