After a Texas hailstorm, the clock starts immediately. Most homeowners assume they have plenty of time. They do not. State law and individual policy language have steadily tightened the filing window over the last decade.
The general rule
For most Texas homeowner policies issued after September 2017, you have one year from the date of the loss to file a claim. Some carriers extend that to two years for hail damage specifically, but never assume — check your policy.
Wait beyond that window and the claim is denied automatically, regardless of how legitimate the damage is.
Why the deadline matters more than people think
Hail damage often does not produce a leak for two or three years. The granules pop off, the asphalt cracks under UV, the mat tears, and then a routine rainstorm finds the weakness. By the time water shows up in your living room ceiling, the original storm is long out of policy reach.
This is why we tell every homeowner in our service area: if there is a significant hailstorm within 25 miles of your house, get a free inspection within 90 days. Not because you definitely have damage — but because if you do, the calendar is already running.
Other deadlines that bite
- Notice of claim — you typically have 1 year from the loss to put the carrier on notice
- Proof of loss — usually 60–90 days from claim notice to submit documentation
- Statute of limitations to sue — 2 years for first-party insurance claims in Texas
- Appraisal demand — typically 90 days from the carrier's scope determination
What to do today
If you had a recent significant storm and have not yet had your roof checked, schedule a free inspection now. Even if the damage does not warrant a claim, you create a baseline record. That baseline saves the next claim if a later storm finishes off what this one started.
Free estimates across North Texas. Same-day inspections during storm season.
