This week, a storm with golf-ball-sized hail and strong winds tore through north Phoenix. Near I-17 and Peoria Avenue, hail shattered apartment windows and car windshields, and the wind knocked down trees, some onto parked cars. A few miles away, some neighborhoods didn't get a single stone. And this may not be the last storm. NOAA says a strong El Niño is likely through early 2027, which usually means better odds of a wet winter in Arizona. That's a chance, not a promise, but it's a good reason to ask now: if hail hit your place, who would pay?
It depends on whether you own, rent or drive, and most of us do at least two of those.
The same rules generally apply whether the damage comes from hail, strong wind, or a tree or branch that falls on your home or car.
If you own your home, Arizona's Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions says a homeowners policy generally covers hail damage to the house and the things inside it.
If you rent, it splits in two. Your landlord's insurance covers the building, but not your stuff. Your TV, laptop, couch and clothes are only covered by renters insurance. Arizona doesn't require it, but many leases do, so it's worth checking yours.
If you drive, your car is covered for hail only if you carry "comprehensive" coverage. Arizona's legal minimum doesn't include it. Without it, those dents, or that tree on your hood, are yours to fix, whether the car was parked at home or outside a grocery store. One driver in north Phoenix told 12News her insurer wouldn't cover her car because she only had liability coverage.
Even with coverage, you'll usually pay a deductible first. That's the amount you cover before insurance steps in, and it's often somewhere between $500 and $1,000.
So before the next storm, take a few minutes. Find your policy, check your deductible, and see whether your car has comprehensive. If you rent and don't have coverage, get a quote and compare it with what it would cost to replace your things. And if a storm does hit, take photos before you clean anything up.
What we don't know yet is how many Valley renters actually carry insurance, or how many claims this week's storm will bring.
Are you covered? Did this storm make you check? Tell us.
Sources
- 12News, "Golf ball-sized hail shatters windows, damages cars in north Phoenix apartments," Oct. 21, 2026.
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center, "ENSO Diagnostic Discussion," Oct. 8, 2026.
- Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, "Home Insurance: Consumer Information" (see Storms & Disasters), checked Oct. 22, 2026.
