The Short Answer
A wind or hail deductible is the share of a storm loss you pay before your insurer pays anything. In Michigan it is either a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your dwelling (Coverage A) limit, such as 1 or 2 percent, shown on your declarations page or in an endorsement. A 2 percent deductible on a $300,000 dwelling limit is $6,000, so a small roof repair may fall entirely below it.
Key Points
- A percentage deductible is calculated on your dwelling limit, not on the size of the claim, so it grows when your coverage grows.
- Under the standard ISO wind or hail percentage endorsement, no other deductible applies to wind or hail damage, even if it is lower.
- If your policy also pays the roof at actual cash value, depreciation and the deductible both come out of the first check.
- We found no Michigan statute or DIFS rule that caps or standardizes wind and hail deductibles; your policy decides the amount.
- Paying the deductible is your share of the contract, and any scheme to hide or cover it is a fraudulent insurance act under MCL 500.4503.
What a Deductible Actually Does on a Roof Claim
The standard Insurance Services Office (ISO) Homeowners 3 form, which most Michigan policies are built on or modeled after, states the rule in one sentence: subject to the limit of liability, the insurer will pay only the part of the total loss payable that exceeds the deductible amount shown in the declarations. The same condition adds that if two or more deductibles apply to one loss, only the highest one applies.
That word "loss" matters. The deductible is applied to the whole storm loss on your property, not to each slope or each item. Roof, gutters, siding, screens and a dented shed door from the same hailstorm are added together, and the deductible comes off the total once. A second storm a month later is a second loss with its own deductible, unless your policy says otherwise.
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) describes the declarations page as the place where your coverages, limits and "applicable deductibles" are listed. If your declarations page shows more than one deductible, the extra one is usually the wind or hail deductible, and on a roof claim it is usually the one that matters.
Flat Dollar vs Percentage Deductibles
All-perils flat deductible
The one you picked
A fixed dollar amount, such as $1,000 or $2,500, that applies to most covered losses: a kitchen fire, a burst pipe, a fallen tree. If your policy has no separate wind or hail deductible, this is the one a storm claim uses.
Flat wind or hail deductible
Higher, but fixed
A separate, usually higher, dollar amount that applies only to damage caused by windstorm or hail. It does not move when your coverage changes. Some carriers use their own endorsement for this rather than an ISO form, so the wording varies.
Percentage wind or hail deductible
Moves with your coverage
A percentage of your Coverage A dwelling limit. ISO's Windstorm or Hail Percentage Deductible endorsement (form HO 03 12, listed for use in Michigan in its 03 22 edition) calculates it by multiplying the Coverage A limit by the percentage in the schedule. It applies regardless of any other cause contributing to the loss, and no other deductible in the policy applies to windstorm or hail.
Hail damage repairCarriers file their own versions of these forms. The ISO wording quoted here comes from the HO 00 03 05 11 policy form and the HO 03 12 10 93 endorsement; read your own policy for the exact language.
Three Worked Examples on a $300,000 Dwelling Limit
The numbers below are illustrations, not quotes or typical claim values. They use a dwelling limit of $300,000 and a 2 percent wind or hail deductible, which works out to $6,000. Swap in your own limit and percentage.
- Step 1
A Few Shingles Blown Off
Wind takes a handful of shingles off one slope and the repair is quoted at $900. With a $6,000 deductible, the claim pays nothing. With a $1,000 flat deductible it would also pay nothing. A claim you file still counts in your claim history, which DIFS lists as a factor insurers use in pricing, so small wind repairs are usually paid out of pocket.
- Step 2
A Slope of Hail Damage
Hail fractures shingles on two slopes and the adjuster's replacement cost estimate for the roof work is $9,000. The claim pays $9,000 minus $6,000, or $3,000, before any depreciation is held back. With a $1,000 flat deductible the same claim would pay $8,000. The difference between the two policies on this one storm is $5,000.
- Step 3
A Full Roof Replacement After Hail
The adjuster agrees the whole roof needs replacing and writes it at $20,000 replacement cost. The claim pays up to $14,000 after the $6,000 deductible. If your policy pays the roof surface at actual cash value and the roof is old, the depreciation comes off too, and the check can be a fraction of that. More on that below.
Where Your Wind and Hail Deductible Shows Up
Pull the most recent declarations page, not the one from when you bought the policy. Carriers change forms at renewal, and a wind or hail deductible added two years ago is easy to miss on a renewal packet that looks the same as last year's.
- The deductible line on the declarations page: look for two figures, one marked all perils or all other perils and one marked windstorm or hail.
- A percentage instead of a dollar figure: if it says 1% or 2%, multiply it by your Coverage A limit to get the dollar amount, and ask your agent to confirm it in writing.
- The list of forms and endorsements: an endorsement number with "windstorm or hail" or "percentage deductible" in its title changes how storm claims are paid.
- Inflation protection: DIFS describes it as automatically adjusting your limits for rising rebuilding costs. On a percentage deductible, a higher Coverage A limit also means a higher dollar deductible.
- Any roof surfacing endorsement: an actual cash value or payment schedule endorsement for the roof stacks with the deductible on hail and wind claims.
How the Deductible Combines With Depreciation
The deductible is only one of the things that can come off a roof check. On a replacement cost policy, many carriers first pay the actual cash value (replacement cost minus depreciation) and release the held-back depreciation after the work is done. The deductible is subtracted from what is payable, so on an older roof the first check can be small and the final payment depends on finishing the repair.
Some Michigan policies go further and pay wind or hail damage to the roof surface at actual cash value only. ISO's Actual Cash Value Loss Settlement, Windstorm or Hail Losses to Roof Surfacing endorsement (HO 04 93) is listed for use in Michigan in its 03 22 edition. On a roof near the end of its life, depreciation plus a percentage deductible can leave very little, which is why the age of the roof and the deductible should be read together. Our page on older roofs and Michigan homeowners insurance covers those endorsements in detail.
Michigan has added one protection here. DIFS Bulletin 2024-26-INS says that for personal homeowners and dwelling policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, an insurer that wants to depreciate labor, taxes, fees, or overhead and profit must do it through a standalone, optional endorsement offered for a reduced premium, rather than through the policy's definitions. If your actual cash value estimate depreciates labor, ask whether you bought that endorsement.
Older roofs and insurance
Roof age, actual cash value roof endorsements and what a repair does for insurability.
Older roofs and insuranceWhat Michigan Law Says, and What It Leaves to Your Policy
We looked for a Michigan statute, administrative rule or DIFS bulletin that sets, caps or standardizes wind and hail deductibles on homeowners policies and did not find one. The amount is a matter of the policy form your carrier files and the option you choose. DIFS's own consumer guide suggests considering the largest deductible your budget can handle to lower your premium, which is sound advice only if you have actually budgeted for it.
What Michigan law does control is how the claim is handled once you file. Under MCL 500.2006, the insurer must tell you in writing what it needs as proof of loss within 30 days of receiving the claim, unless it settles within that time, and benefits not paid on time carry 12 percent simple interest unless the claim is reasonably in dispute. If you and the insurer agree the storm damage is covered but disagree on the amount, every Michigan fire policy must include an appraisal clause under MCL 500.2833(1)(m).
If you think the deductible was applied wrongly, for example a wind deductible used on a loss you believe had another cause, or two deductibles taken from one storm, ask the carrier to explain in writing which policy provision it applied. DIFS asks consumers to try to resolve disputes with the insurer first and then file a complaint if that fails. Its consumer line is 877-999-6442. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm the details with your agent, your insurer or an attorney.
Roof insurance appraisal
How the appraisal clause works when the damage is covered but the number is disputed.
Appraisal in MichiganChoosing a Deductible Before the Next Storm
The time to think about a wind or hail deductible is at renewal, not on the driveway after a storm. A change you make later generally applies only to future losses. These are the questions worth asking your agent.
- What is my wind or hail deductible in dollars, and is it separate from my all-perils deductible?
- How much premium would I save with a higher deductible, and how much more would a lower one cost?
- Does the deductible apply per storm, and how does the policy treat two storms close together?
- Is my roof paid at replacement cost or actual cash value for wind and hail, and does roof age change that?
- If I replace or repair the roof, can the roof endorsement or deductible be changed, and what documentation do you need?
Paying Your Deductible Honestly
The deductible is your share of the contract, and on a claim it is paid to the contractor as part of the repair price. Any arrangement where a roofer offers to absorb, hide or rebate it is not a favor. Under MCL 500.4503, presenting or helping prepare a claim statement that you know contains false information about a material fact is a fraudulent insurance act, and that includes an estimate padded to cover a deductible. Never agree to one.
A minor wind repair often costs less than a wind or hail deductible, so it never becomes a claim at all. Every Stellar repair starts at $500, minor repairs run $500 to about $1,500, and financing is available when a deductible or an uncovered repair is more than you can pay at once. If you are not sure whether your damage is worth filing, an inspection first tells you what you are dealing with.
What a Storm Claim Pays Under Different Deductibles (Illustration, $300,000 Dwelling Limit)
| Deductible | Dollar amount | Pays on a $1,500 repair | Pays on a $9,000 repair | Pays on a $20,000 roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 flat | $1,000 | $500 | $8,000 | $19,000 |
| $2,500 flat | $2,500 | $0 | $6,500 | $17,500 |
| 1% of Coverage A | $3,000 | $0 | $6,000 | $17,000 |
| 2% of Coverage A | $6,000 | $0 | $3,000 | $14,000 |
| 5% of Coverage A | $15,000 | $0 | $0 | $5,000 |
Simple subtraction before depreciation, holdbacks or policy limits. Real claims depend on your policy form, endorsements and the adjuster's estimate.
Know What You Are Filing For
A free inspection tells you what the storm actually did to your roof, in writing with photos, so you can compare it with your deductible before you decide whether to call your carrier.
Related Guides
Roof Leak Claim or Pay Out of Pocket?
Deductible vs repair cost, claim history and when filing clearly makes sense.
Learn MoreOlder Roofs and Michigan Homeowners Insurance
Actual cash value roof endorsements, inspections and nonrenewals on aging roofs.
Learn MoreDoes Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?
Storm damage vs wear and tear, and how the standard policy draws the line.
Learn MoreRoof Insurance Claims in Michigan
The claim process: adjusters, scopes, code items and what your coverage owes.
Learn MoreQuestions We Hear
Is a wind and hail deductible per storm or per year?
On the standard ISO form it applies per loss, so each separate storm that damages your home is generally its own claim with its own deductible. Damage to the roof, siding and gutters from the same storm is added together and the deductible comes off once. Some carriers word this differently, so check the deductible provision in your own policy or ask your agent.
Does a percentage deductible go up when my coverage goes up?
Yes. A percentage deductible is calculated on your Coverage A dwelling limit, so if inflation protection or a new appraisal raises that limit, the dollar deductible rises with it. A 2 percent deductible on $300,000 is $6,000; on $350,000 it is $7,000. Recheck the dollar figure every renewal.
Does the hail deductible apply to my siding and gutters too?
Usually. Under ISO's windstorm or hail percentage endorsement, the deductible applies to the total wind or hail loss across all Section I property coverages, which includes the house, other structures and belongings. So hail damage to the roof, siding, gutters and a detached garage from one storm is totaled and the single wind or hail deductible is subtracted from that total.
Can I lower my deductible after a storm hits?
A change made after the storm generally applies only to future losses, not to damage that already happened, Ask your agent before the next storm season, not after. If you want a lower wind or hail deductible, expect to pay more premium for it.
Is the deductible taken before or after depreciation?
Ask the adjuster to show the math on the estimate, because forms differ. On many replacement cost claims the first payment is the depreciated value minus the deductible, and the held-back depreciation is paid once the work is done. On a roof paid at actual cash value only, depreciation is never paid back, so the deductible and the depreciation together can absorb most of the claim.
What This Page Cites
- Homeowners 3 Special Form, HO 00 03 05 11, Section I Conditions B (Deductible), Insurance Services Office, as filed with the Maine Bureau of Insurance (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/sites/maine.gov.pfr.insurance/files/inline-files/ho00-03-05-11-homeowners3-special-form.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Windstorm or Hail Percentage Deductible, HO 03 12 10 93, Insurance Services Office, reproduced in Auto Club Family Insurance forms library (https://services.autoclubmo.aaa.com/InsuranceAux/Forms/AR/HomeOwners/HO031210-93.html), accessed October 2026
- ISO Homeowners Forms List (state availability of HO 03 12 03 22 and HO 04 93 03 22), PropertyCasualty360 FC&S, June 2024 (https://www.propertycasualty360.com/fcs/2024/06/05/iso-homeowners-forms-list-2/), accessed October 2026
- Your Guide to Homeowners Insurance for Michigan Consumers, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 08/2019 (https://www.michigan.gov/difs/-/media/Project/Websites/difs/Publication/Home/Homeowners_Insurance_Guide.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Bulletin 2024-26-INS, Depreciation of Nontangible Items, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 8 November 2024 (https://www.michigan.gov/difs/-/media/Project/Websites/difs/Bulletins/2024/Bulletin_2024-26-INS.pdf), accessed October 2026
- MCL 500.2006, Timely payment of claims, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-500-2006), accessed October 2026
- MCL 500.2833, Fire insurance policy mandatory provisions, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-500-2833), accessed October 2026
- MCL 500.4503, Fraudulent insurance acts, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-500-4503), accessed October 2026
- DIFS Offers Insurance Tips and Resources Following Severe Weather Across Michigan, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 17 March 2026 (https://www.michigan.gov/difs/news-and-outreach/press-releases/2026/03/17/difs-offers-insurance-tips-and-resources-following-severe-weather-across-michigan), accessed October 2026