2026 Guide · Colorado
Hail damage to your car: what to do in Colorado
Colorado Springs took 2.5-inch hail on the evening of June 23, 2026, 1.25-inch hail around the city and Fort Carson on August 16, severe hail in Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City on August 20, and quarter-size hail on the south side on September 22. This guide is for privately owned vehicles in Colorado Springs and the towns around it. HailMatch repairs hail year-round, not from a tent that leaves after the cell.
1. How do I know if there is hail damage?
Hail leaves round dimples on the hood, roof, trunk, and side panels. Overhead light in a driveway or a lot along Academy Boulevard hides them. They show in raking light from the side. Check the windshield and other glass too. Glass is often part of the same comprehensive claim.
Damage that looks light from the driver seat still shows up at a sale or a vehicle turn-in. An in-person inspection maps each panel so the claim matches the car, not a single phone photo.
2. What insurance coverage applies?
Hail damage is typically a comprehensive claim, also called other-than-collision. A liability-only policy usually does not cover hail. If you are unsure what you carry, your specialist confirms it before anyone talks about a repair date.
Many comprehensive hail claims do not increase premiums the way an at-fault accident can. Rules vary by carrier and policy. One storm is generally one claim for that event, not a stack of claims for the same dents.
3. Can I choose where my car is repaired?
Insurers often name a shop. In Colorado you can typically choose the repair provider. HailMatch is that provider: claim steps, photos, the repair, and the schedule. We are not a shop directory, and we are not describing ourselves as a direct-repair shop for any carrier.
USAA is one carrier many households at Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy already use. It is an example, not a requirement. If you have not filed, we can start the claim. If you are already in it, we pick up at the step you are on. Updates live in HailMatch Tracker.
4. Photos and supplements
Photograph the hood, roof, trunk, and each side in raking light, plus any cracked glass. A photo taken under a lot light is how a real hail file gets read as cosmetic.
The in-person map is the file the carrier should see. If the first estimate leaves panels out, the missed damage is written up as a supplement so the approved repair matches the car. A supplement is additional documented damage, not a second claim for the same storm.
5. When is paintless dent repair the right option?
Paintless dent repair removes hail dents from behind the panel and leaves factory paint in place. That is the usual path for Colorado hail that dents metal without breaking the finish. Severity decides it. HailMatch maps the panels and says whether PDR fits before work starts.
If the finish is broken or the metal is stretched, conventional paint is what the panel needs, and that is explained before anything starts. Most vehicles are back on the road in about 5 to 10 business days once the claim is clear.
6. Privately owned vehicles and government vehicles
This guide covers a privately owned vehicle, a POV, on your own policy. Comprehensive coverage, the deductible on that policy, and your choice of repair provider apply to that car.
A government-owned vehicle is a different process. It goes through the unit or the transportation office, not a personal hail claim. HailMatch repairs privately owned cars.
7. PCS, inspections, and turn-in timing
A PCS date, a command inspection, or a used-vehicle turn-in does not move because the roof is dented. Start the claim and the panel map before that date. Tell us the calendar if you are at Fort Carson, Peterson, Schriever, or the Air Force Academy. The schedule is built around the date you already have.
Most customers pay nothing out of pocket. What you pay depends on your deductible and what the policy covers, including rental coverage if you have it. Your specialist says what applies before work starts.
8. What should you do now?
Walk the car in side light. If you already know the panels are marked, schedule the inspection before the next move or the next storm. HailMatch repairs the hail, works the claim, and coordinates pickup. Recent dates are on the hail activity page.
City pages: Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Fort Carson, Manitou Springs, and Denver.
Frequently asked questions
Does hail damage on my car get covered in Colorado?
In most cases, hail damage is covered under comprehensive (other-than-collision) coverage. The details vary by policy. HailMatch helps you confirm what applies and walks the claim through to the repair.
Will a hail claim raise my insurance premiums in Colorado?
Many comprehensive hail claims do not increase premiums the way at-fault accidents can. Premium rules vary by carrier and policy, so your specialist explains what your claim may change.
Can I choose HailMatch if my insurer suggests another shop?
Typically, yes. In Colorado you can usually choose where the car is repaired. A suggestion from the insurer is not a requirement. HailMatch is the repair provider: documentation, the repair, scheduling, and updates.
Does this apply to a government vehicle?
No. This guide is for a privately owned vehicle on a personal comprehensive policy. A government-owned vehicle is handled through the unit or transportation office, not as a personal hail claim.
What if the first estimate misses panels?
An in-person panel map catches damage a driveway photo misses. If the carrier's first estimate left panels out, that additional damage is written up as a supplement so the repair matches the car.