How much it could cost to repair your car damaged in the ice storm

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The ice storm of 2022 has led to a lot of cleanups, thousands without power, and many others now having to file claims for damage to their cars.

Whether it was damage from the ice or you had a tree fall on top of it, repairs could be costly.

FOX13 spoke to Misty White, an insurance agent with State Farm, about what you need to do if you experienced damage during the ice storm.

“There have been some claims where they reported trees falling down damaging cars,” said White.

One of the first things you need to do before getting your car repaired is figure out what kind of coverage plan you have with your insurance company and how much they’ll cover. Then you start the process of filing a claim. White tells FOX13 if you have a comprehensive coverage plan, your insurance should cover the total cost of repairs. You just have to pay your deductible.

”This is an act of nature where the ice has damaged the car. The biggest thing is finding a body shop,” said White.

Don’t expect your car to be fixed quickly either. White says the ongoing supply chain issues and normal flow of car repairs could cause delays.

“It’s taking a while for clients to get their cars repaired under normal circumstances. Having the extra claims puts a little more on the body shops as far as getting parts,” said White.

You should also be mindful of where you take your car to get repaired. White suggests doing research online, looking at reviews, and considering referrals from friends and family.

”Get with the shop and find out one, how long it’s going to take to do repairs,” said White.

What if you don’t have insurance? Depending on what needs to be fixed, the repairs could be expensive. White suggests using aftermarket parts using windshields as an example.

“As opposed to using a windshield that’s made by the manufacturer, aftermarket or used windshields is definitely one way that you can cut your cost in half,” said White.

White says to also prepare for the possibility of your car being deemed totaled by your insurance depending on the extent of the damage.

”It’s very common for that to happen. It doesn’t take very much to total a car out,” said White.

White also emphasized this is a good time for you to sit down with your insurance agent and talk about your current plan. Prepare for future weather events by asking the “what ifs” and what would be covered.

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