Hail season in Saskatchewan runs from roughly May through August. In a bad year, thousands of vehicles take damage in a single afternoon. What most drivers do not know is how their coverage actually responds, and where the gaps are.
What SGI covers for hail damage
Your SGI plate registration includes comprehensive coverage with a $700 deductible. Hail is a comprehensive claim, so that deductible applies. If the damage is under $700, you are paying out of pocket. If the damage is between $700 and $1,500, your $700 deductible applies and your basic SGI plate coverage pays the remainder.
The SGI Auto Extension reduces that deductible. If you have an extension auto policy, confirm your exact deductible with your Cherry broker.
The rental car gap most drivers find out about too late
If your vehicle is in the shop for hail repair, which can take weeks during peak season when shops are backed up, SGI base coverage does not pay for a rental.
Loss of use coverage, available through an extension auto policy, covers your rental costs while your vehicle is being repaired. Without it, you are covering a rental out of pocket during what could be a multi-week repair.
SGI base, Auto Extension, and private extension, what actually differs
SGI base: $700 deductible collision and comprehensive, $200,000 third party liability, basic accident benefits.
Auto Extension: Reduced deductible, up to $5M liability, enhanced accident benefits, and optional coverages such as loss of use and replacement cost on newer vehicles.
Private extension: Loss of use coverage, replacement cost on newer vehicles, increased liability, and other features that vary by carrier.
Most Saskatchewan drivers benefit from carrying SGI base, an Auto Extension policy, and a private extension policy together. A Cherry broker can review your current coverage and provide suggestions to ensure you are fully protected.
If your vehicle is written off in a hail storm
Your insurer pays out actual cash value, what the vehicle was worth before the storm, after depreciation. If you are financing, that number may be lower than your outstanding loan balance.
Vehicle replacement insurance through Cherry closes that gap. See the full breakdown at /vehicle-replacement-insurance.