Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles in Texas

Class 4 impact-resistant shingles carry the highest rating for hail resistance (UL 2218), and in Texas they can earn you a 20–35% discount on the wind/hail portion of your homeowners premium — a credit the Texas Department of Insurance requires carriers to offer. For DFW homeowners in 'Hail Alley,' they often pay for themselves over the life of the roof through lower premiums and fewer storm repairs.

What "Class 4" actually means

Class 4 is the top tier of the UL 2218 impact test, in which a steel ball is dropped onto the shingle to simulate hail. Class 4 shingles resist cracking under roughly 2-inch hail impacts far better than standard shingles. They're made with a tougher, more flexible mat (often a modified/SBS asphalt) so they flex instead of shattering.

The Texas insurance discount

• Texas carriers are required by the TDI to offer a premium credit for impact-resistant roofing
• The discount typically runs 20–35% off the wind/hail portion of your premium (varies by carrier)
• You must ask for the credit and provide the product certificate — it isn't always applied automatically
• Over a 20–30-year roof life, the cumulative savings often exceed the modest upcharge

Are they worth it in DFW?

For most North Texas homeowners, yes — DFW's hail frequency means fewer storm repairs and a real, recurring insurance discount, for only a modest premium over standard architectural shingles. They're an easy win if you're replacing your roof anyway. A couple of caveats: Class 4 shingles are impact-resistant, not hail-proof, and some policies exclude purely cosmetic dents (an HO-145 cosmetic-damage endorsement) — worth confirming with your agent.

See how hail claims work in our hail-damage insurance guide, compare metal vs shingles, or check roof replacement cost.