In Colorado, hail damage to a windshield is covered under the comprehensive part of an auto policy, subject to your deductible. Photograph the damage, open a claim with your insurer, and choose any glass shop you like — under C.R.S. § 10-4-613 your insurer cannot require a particular one.
Published October 31, 2026 by Bear Creek Auto Glass, Littleton, Colorado.
Why this matters so much in Colorado
AAA Colorado calls Colorado one of the most hail-prone states in the country, and the Front Range sees damaging storms most summers. When one rolls through the Denver metro, the Colorado Division of Insurance usually puts out a consumer advisory the next day, because thousands of people are filing claims at once.
Windshields take a beating in those storms. Hail leaves bullseyes, star breaks and long cracks, and a windshield is not just a window: it is part of the car's structure and, on most newer vehicles, the mount for the cameras that run lane keeping and automatic braking.
Step 1: In the first hour
When it is safe, photograph the damage — the glass, the rest of the car and, if it is still on the ground, the hail. The Division of Insurance notes that many insurers accept photos as part of a claim.
Then protect the car from more damage. The Division suggests covering broken windshields or windows with plastic sheeting until they can be repaired. If the windshield is badly cracked or caved in, do not drive on it.
Step 2: Check what your policy covers
Hail is a comprehensive claim, not collision. AAA Colorado explains the difference: collision covers crashes with another vehicle or object, and comprehensive covers things like hail.
Look at your declarations page for your comprehensive deductible. The Division of Insurance points out that if the repair estimate comes in below your deductible, the insurer will not issue a payment. Some policies include separate glass coverage with a lower or zero deductible, so it is worth asking your agent directly.
Your insurer cannot pick your shop for you
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-4-613, an insurance company cannot require that your auto glass work be performed at a particular facility as a condition of paying your claim, and it cannot use intimidation, coercion or threats to steer you to a specific vendor.
They're allowed to recommend. They are not allowed to require. Tell them you've chosen Bear Creek Auto Glass.
C.R.S. § 10-4-613, Glass repair and replacement.
Step 3: You choose the glass shop
This is the part many people do not know. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-4-613, an insurer cannot require that your glass work be done at a particular facility as a condition of paying the claim, and cannot use intimidation, coercion or threats to push you toward one.
Your insurer can recommend a shop. It cannot require one. If you are told on the phone that you have to use a national chain, you can simply say you have chosen your own shop.
Step 4: Repair or replace?
A single small hail chip can often be repaired, which is usually faster and cheaper than replacement. But hail rarely leaves just one mark. Several impacts, cracks that have started to run, or damage in the driver's line of sight usually mean replacement.
Colorado's temperature swings make this time-sensitive. A chip that looks harmless in July can run across the glass on the first cold morning. Our rock chip repair guide covers the size and location rules in more detail.
Step 5: Don't forget calibration
If your car has a camera mounted behind the windshield for lane keeping, adaptive cruise or automatic emergency braking, it usually needs to be recalibrated after a new windshield goes in. A good shop identifies that and includes it in the quote up front, so it does not show up later as a surprise. Our Denver windshield replacement page explains how it works.
Step 6: Review the settlement
After you file, an adjuster reviews the damage. The Division of Insurance recommends asking for an itemized explanation of any settlement, not rushing to accept the first offer, and getting more than one estimate if you need to. If a shop finds more damage once work begins, the insurer should be notified before that additional work is done.
If you have a problem with how a claim is handled, the Colorado Division of Insurance takes consumer complaints through its website at doi.colorado.gov.
Your hail claim checklist
- Photos of the glass and the whole car
- Your policy number and comprehensive deductible
- Date and approximate time of the storm
- Your vehicle's year, make and model (and VIN if handy)
- The shop you chose — that part is up to you
Hail hit your windshield? Call Bear Creek Auto Glass at (303) 875-7679. We replace windshields across the Denver metro, including Denver, Lakewood, Centennial and Golden.