Wind and hail deductibles in Texas

Flat vs percentage: the math TDI uses

TDI's example uses a home insured for $150,000. Policy A has a $500 deductible; after a $6,500 hail repair, it pays $6,000. Policy B has a 5% deductible, which is $7,500, so it pays nothing for the same $6,500 repair.

The percentage is applied to the dwelling coverage amount on your policy, not the market value of your home and not the size of the claim. If your dwelling limit rises at renewal, your deductible in dollars rises with it.

Where to find yours

The declarations page at the front of your policy lists your coverages, limits and deductibles. TDI advises asking your agent whether the wind and hail deductible differs from the deductible for other damage, and checking your renewal notice each year: if the deductible is a percentage, TDI says to check what it is in dollars.

Look for wording like "windstorm or hail deductible" or "named storm" alongside a percentage, and for an all-other-perils (AOP) deductible listed separately.

Run your own numbers

Percentages are easier to judge in dollars. Using a $300,000 dwelling limit as an example, here's what common wind and hail deductibles mean before the insurer pays anything:

• 1%: $3,000
• 2%: $6,000
• 3%: $9,000
• 5%: $15,000

Small hail claims and your deductible

If a repair estimate is close to your deductible, talk to your agent before filing. A claim that pays little or nothing can still be recorded as a filed claim, and TDI notes that filing small claims may affect what you pay later. Get a contractor's estimate first so you know which side of the deductible you're on.

Your car has its own deductible for hail: the comprehensive deductible on your auto policy, separate from anything on your home policy.

Deductibles apply per claim

TDI notes that home and auto deductibles apply to each claim, unlike health insurance deductibles that run for a year. Two hailstorms in one spring can mean two deductibles. Read how your policy applies the deductible when several storms hit close together.

TWIA and FAIR Plan deductibles

On the coast, the TWIA policy has its own deductible, chosen by you and shown on the declarations page. TWIA says the deductible has the biggest impact on the premium you pay. A TWIA wind claim uses the TWIA deductible, separate from your home policy's deductibles.

The Texas FAIR Plan eliminated its 1% wind and hail deductible on homeowners policies effective July 1, 2026. Existing policies with a 1% wind and hail deductible switch to 2% at renewal. The available FAIR Plan options are now 2%, 3%, 4% or 5% for wind and hail and 1% to 5% for all other perils, and deductibles can't be changed mid-term.

Don't let a contractor cover it

Texas law requires you to pay your deductible. A contractor who waives, absorbs or rebates it without the insurer's consent commits a Class B misdemeanor under Business and Commerce Code Section 27.02, and TDI says your insurer can ask for proof you paid before releasing the full claim payment. Budget for the deductible in cash, not in the contractor's price.

How to choose a deductible

TDI's general guidance is that a higher deductible lowers your premium, and that you should pick the amount you could actually pay after a storm. It also cautions that filing small claims can affect what you pay later, which is one reason some owners accept a higher deductible.

• Convert every percentage option to dollars using your dwelling limit.
• Compare that number with your emergency savings, not your monthly budget.
• Ask what premium difference each deductible option makes, side by side.
• Check whether your lender limits how high your deductible can be.
• Revisit it whenever your dwelling limit changes.