A Class 4 metal roof insurance discount in Texas is real, but it is not one number. The Texas Department of Insurance lets each carrier set its own credit for a roof rated Class 4 under UL 2218, and 2025-2026 industry reports put the range at roughly 5% to 35% off the wind and hail portion of the premium. On a DFW policy, which commonly runs $5,400 to $6,200 a year as of 2026, that can be worth several hundred dollars a year, or far less, depending on who insures you.
Here is what the rating means, how TDI treats it, why the cosmetic-damage exclusion matters more on a metal roof than on shingles, the paperwork your carrier will ask for, and the questions to put to your agent. For the broader case, see the benefits of metal roofing page.
What does UL 2218 Class 4 actually mean?
Class 4 is the top of a four-step impact test. A steel ball is dropped onto the roofing sample from a set height, and the sample passes if it does not crack, split or rupture. Class 4 uses a 2-inch ball dropped from 20 feet. It is the standard TDI references for impact-resistant roof credits.
| UL 2218 class | Steel ball dropped from 20 feet | Roughly equivalent hail |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1.25 inch | Half-dollar |
| Class 2 | 1.5 inch | Walnut |
| Class 3 | 1.75 inch | Golf ball |
| Class 4 | 2 inch | Hen egg |
Two things the rating does not say. It does not promise the roof will not dent; it promises the roof will not crack or open up. And it belongs to a specific product, gauge and profile, so a listing for one panel does not cover another. Our standard standing seam metal roof is 24-gauge Galvalume, roughly 28% thicker than 26-gauge, which resists denting better in addition to carrying the rating.
How does TDI treat impact-resistant roof credits?
TDI’s rule is short. To qualify for a credit, the roofing must pass UL 2218 and be rated Class 1 through 4, with Class 4 earning the highest credit. The size of the credit is set by each insurance company on a company-by-company basis, and each company decides which test criteria and documentation it accepts. TDI does not mandate a percentage.
That is why quotes vary so much. One carrier may take a percentage off the entire premium, another only off the wind and hail portion, a third nothing for metal specifically. Insurance-industry research gives them a reason to pay: homes with impact-resistant roofs have shown roughly 40% lower hail claim rates and 55% lower losses. The coastal windstorm pool, TWIA, goes further and requires a TDI installation certificate (form PC068) plus labeled product for its credit. That is not a DFW requirement, but it shows the documentation standard some carriers copy.
How much is the discount really worth in DFW?
Work it from the wind and hail portion, not the whole premium. On a DFW policy, hail drives a large share of the price, so that portion is often the biggest line. The table is an illustration, not a quote, using an assumed $3,000 wind-and-hail portion of a $5,800 premium.
| Carrier credit | Yearly saving on a $3,000 wind-and-hail portion |
|---|---|
| 5% | $150 |
| 15% | $450 |
| 25% | $750 |
| 35% | $1,050 |
Over a metal roof that typically lasts 40 to 70 years, even the low end adds up, but the credit is the smallest part of the insurance math. The bigger numbers are the claims you do not file and the deductibles you do not pay, covered below. For the full lifecycle comparison, read metal roof vs Class 4 shingles: the 30-year cost math.
What is a cosmetic damage exclusion, and why does it matter on a metal roof?
A cosmetic damage exclusion removes coverage for hail damage that changes how the roof looks but does not let water through or stop it functioning. TDI approved an optional version, endorsement HO-145, in 1998 for policies receiving an impact-resistant roof credit. Many carriers now attach broader cosmetic exclusions of their own, and some make the exclusion a condition of the Class 4 credit.
On a shingle roof, hail damage usually is functional, so the exclusion rarely bites. On a metal roof, large hail can dent a panel that still keeps water out perfectly, and with a cosmetic exclusion that dent is not covered. Texas courts have reached different results on these exclusions, so plan on the policy language controlling. Ask whether your policy has one, what removing it costs, and whether the credit survives without it. Thicker 24-gauge panels, striated pans, low-gloss finishes and textured profiles like metal shake hide hail marks better; our standing seam vs stone-coated steel guide covers that trade-off.
What paperwork does your carrier want?
Most DFW carriers ask for some combination of the items below. We put the package together for every Class 4 roof we install.
- The manufacturer’s UL 2218 Class 4 listing or certificate for the exact panel, gauge and finish on your roof.
- An installer letter or certificate of installation on our letterhead: address, install date, product, gauge, class rating and signature.
- The invoice and photos of the finished roof and the product labels.
- A TDI-style roof installation certification form, if the carrier uses one.
- Proof the deductible was paid, if the roof was part of a claim.
Roof age matters too. Texas insurers commonly move roofs older than 10 to 20 years to an actual-cash-value settlement at renewal, which pays depreciated value instead of replacement cost. A new Class 4 metal roof restarts that clock, which is worth asking about alongside the credit; the state consumer office, OPIC, explains ACV versus RCV in plain terms.
How do you ask your agent?
Six questions get the whole answer, and they are worth asking two or three carriers.
- Do you offer an impact-resistant roof credit, and does a UL 2218 Class 4 metal roof qualify?
- What percentage is it, and does it apply to the whole premium or only the wind and hail portion?
- Which documents do you need, and in what form?
- Does the credit require a cosmetic damage exclusion, and what does the policy cost with and without it?
- Will a new roof move my settlement basis from actual cash value back to replacement cost?
- Does the credit renew automatically, or do I re-file each year?
Shop the answers. Credits, exclusions and roof-age schedules differ enough between carriers that the same roof can be worth a few hundred dollars a year more with one than another.
Why does HB 2102 matter when you replace a roof?
Since September 1, 2019, Texas law has required the policyholder to pay the deductible on an insured roof claim. A contractor who pays, waives, rebates or absorbs it commits a Class B misdemeanor, roofing contracts must carry a bold notice that you owe the deductible, and insurers may ask for proof it was paid before releasing recoverable depreciation. Our contracts carry that notice on every claim job, and any roofer who offers to make your deductible disappear is offering to break the law.
The deductible is not small. Texas wind and hail deductibles are percentage-based, typically 1% to 5% of dwelling coverage, with 2% the common standard in North Texas; the state average is about $7,761. On a $450,000 dwelling, 2% is $9,000 per claim. State Farm reported about 95,200 Texas hail claims in 2025 averaging roughly $15,000 each. A roof that avoids repeat claims avoids repeat deductibles, which is where a Class 4 metal roof earns most of its insurance value.
Is a Class 4 metal roof worth it for the discount alone?
No, and we would not sell it that way. Treat the credit as a bonus on a roof that typically lasts 40 to 70 years, skips the 15-to-20-year shingle replacement cycle in Texas heat and hail, and carries our lifetime workmanship warranty. Our standing seam price is $15 per square foot of roof for 24-gauge Kynar 500 steel as of October 2026; the metal roof cost guide has the calculator. Our team brings 26+ years of metal roofing experience to the paperwork as well as the roof. Call (469) 569-3956 with your policy questions and we will tell you what we can document.
Class 4 roof insurance questions Texas homeowners ask us
How much is the Class 4 roof insurance discount in Texas?
There is no set amount. TDI lets each carrier decide, and 2025-2026 industry reports put typical credits at roughly 5% to 35% of the wind and hail portion of the premium. Ask your agent for the exact figure and whether it applies to the whole premium or only part of it.
Do all Texas insurers give a discount for a metal roof?
No. Each company decides whether it credits impact-resistant roofs, how much, and which products and documents it accepts. Some credit any UL 2218 Class 4 product, some require labeled product and an installation certificate, and a few offer nothing for metal specifically.
Does a Class 4 metal roof mean hail dents are covered?
Not by itself. Class 4 means the roof resists cracking and splitting; coverage for dents depends on your policy. If it carries a cosmetic damage exclusion, dents that do not cause a leak are typically not covered. Read the endorsement and ask what removing it costs.
What documents do I need for a Class 4 insurance credit?
Usually the manufacturer’s UL 2218 Class 4 listing for the exact product, an installer certificate of installation with the address, date, product and gauge, the invoice and photos. Some carriers use a TDI-style installation form. We provide the full package with every Class 4 roof.
Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible in Texas?
No. Since HB 2102 took effect on September 1, 2019, paying, waiving, rebating or absorbing a deductible is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, and insurers can require proof you paid it. A roofer who offers to is breaking the law, and it is a warning sign about the rest of the job.
Does a Class 4 roof lower my deductible?
No. The credit reduces the premium; the deductible stays a percentage of your dwelling coverage, typically 1% to 5% in Texas. The saving comes from filing fewer claims, since each hail claim on a shingle roof costs you the full deductible again.
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Sources
Facts, figures and rules on this page come from these references (checked October 2026). Nothing here is insurance or legal advice; read your policy and ask your agent.
- Texas Department of Insurance: impact-resistant roofing credits — UL 2218 classes and company-set credits
- Interlock: do metal roofs lower insurance? — reported 5-35% credit range
- JLC: impact-resistant roofing and hail claims — lower claim rates and losses
- TDI Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0030-98 — the optional cosmetic hail damage endorsement
- TDI form PC068: roof installation certification — installation certificate used by TWIA
- Texas Legislature: HB 2102 bill analysis — the deductible rule effective September 1, 2019
- United Policyholders: Texas hail deductibles — percentage deductibles and the state average
- Office of Public Insurance Counsel: ACV vs RCV — settlement basis explained
- Latent: Dallas homeowners insurance (2026) — typical DFW premiums
- Roofing Contractor: Texas hail events and claims (2025) — State Farm claim counts and averages
Get the roof and the paperwork your carrier asks for
Every Class 4 metal roof we install comes with the manufacturer listing, an installer certificate and photos ready for your agent. Call (469) 569-3956 or book online.
