File a claim or pay yourself?
Put in the repair estimate and your deductible. See what a claim would really pay, and when it's usually smarter to pay it yourself.
Your deductibles and Coverage A are on your policy's declarations page. Many Texas policies have a separate wind and hail deductible as a percent of Coverage A.
Save your deductibles in My Home and they'll be filled in next time.
Why a small claim can cost more than it pays
- The deductible comes off first. On a $3,000 repair with a $2,500 deductible, a claim pays $500.
- Filed claims stay on your record. Insurers share claims through a database called CLUE, and a filed claim can stay there for seven years, even if it paid nothing. A new insurer will see it when you shop.
- Your premium or discount can change at renewal. Many policies have a claim-free discount you can lose. Ask your agent how a claim would affect your price before you file.
- Big, sudden losses are what insurance is for. A burst pipe that ruins floors, a kitchen fire, a hailstorm that totals the roof: those are worth a claim.
What Texas law says
- Asking a question isn't a claim. An insurer can't drop you for asking whether something is covered or how to file. Reporting specific damage that leads to an investigation or claim is different.
- Three or more claims in three years is when an insurer may choose not to renew a homeowners policy for claims. Losses from natural causes (like wind and hail), claims that were filed but not paid, and some water-damage claims don't count toward that.
- Wind and hail deductibles are often a percent. 2% of a $350,000 home is a $7,000 deductible, so many hail repairs fall under it. It's on your declarations page.
- A non-renewal must be explained. Insurers have to tell you in writing why a policy was declined, canceled or not renewed.
From the Texas Department of Insurance: Home insurance guide · Filing a home claim · Bulletin B-0006-26. Questions about your policy: TDI's help line, 800-252-3439.
Insurance or home warranty?
Insurance pays for sudden damage: fire, storms, a pipe that bursts. A home warranty pays to repair or replace systems and appliances that wear out, like an A/C or water heater, for a service fee per visit. A worn-out appliance is usually a warranty question, not an insurance claim.
Add your warranty to My Home and we'll explain your contract in plain words.
General information to help you decide, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurer decide what's covered.