Severe hailstorms sometimes crack windshields, side windows, or sunroofs in addition to denting body panels. When both types of damage happen together, there are a few extra steps worth understanding to handle everything efficiently.

Prioritizing Glass Safety First

If your windshield or a side window is cracked or shattered, prioritize addressing this before worrying about cosmetic dent repair, since compromised glass can be a genuine safety and visibility concern, particularly if you need to drive the vehicle before repairs begin.

Are Glass and Body Damage Covered the Same Way?

Both glass damage and body panel dents from a hailstorm typically fall under comprehensive coverage, since both result from the same weather event. However, some policies handle glass claims slightly differently, sometimes with a separate glass-specific deductible that's lower than your standard comprehensive deductible, so it's worth checking your specific policy.

Documenting Both Types of Damage

Photograph cracked or broken glass separately and clearly from your body panel dent documentation, since these are sometimes processed as distinct line items within the same overall claim, even though they stem from the same storm event.

Coordinating Glass Replacement and Dent Repair Timing

In many cases, glass replacement and paintless dent repair can be scheduled together, sometimes even at the same facility if they offer both services or work closely with a glass repair partner. This can streamline getting your vehicle fully restored rather than managing two entirely separate appointments and timelines.

Does Glass Replacement Require Sensor Recalibration?

If your windshield includes a forward-facing camera for driver assistance features, replacement typically requires a recalibration process afterward. This is a standard part of modern windshield replacement and is separate from, but sometimes coordinated alongside, your dent repair timeline.

Filing One Combined Claim

In most cases, glass damage and body panel damage from the same storm are filed under a single combined claim rather than two separate ones, since they result from the identical event. Confirming this with your insurance company when you file helps streamline the paperwork.

What to Expect for Overall Timeline

Coordinating both repairs typically doesn't significantly extend your overall timeline if scheduled together efficiently, since glass replacement and paintless dent repair can often happen in parallel or in close sequence rather than requiring you to wait for one to fully complete before starting the other.