Your Guide to Protecting Your Car From Hail Damage

Hailstorms can be a serious threat to your car, and unless you prepare ahead of time, you can find yourself with a hefty repair bill. Hail can cause various types of damage to your car, from minor cosmetic problems to more severe damage that can affect your car’s functionality.

Hail damage can compromise the safety and functionality of your car and possibly reduce its resale value. We’ve created this guide to look at some of the best ways you can protect your car from hail damage.

Damage Caused by Hail

Some types of damage that can be caused by hail include:

• Dents: Hailstones can cause minor or significant dents depending on the size of the hail and the height from which it falls.
• Cracked or shattered windshield: Hailstones may crack or shatter your windshield, impairing your vision and compromising your safety.
• Broken side mirrors: Hail may also damage the side mirrors, which can make it difficult to see your blind spots and increase your risk of an accident.
• Damaged paint: Hail can dent or scratch the paint on your car, which can cause rust that leads to long-term damage. Paintless dent repair can be an excellent solution to repair damaged paint caused by hail.
• Damage to the roof or sunroof: Hail can dent or even puncture the roof or sunroof of the car, which can lead to leaks and other issues.

How to Limit or Avoid Hail Damage

Stay Informed of the Weather

One of the first ways to protect your car from hail damage is to stay on top of the weather conditions in your area. We recommend checking the weather forecast regularly so you can stay informed on any severe weather warnings that may be issued. If you know ahead of time that a hailstorm is coming, you can take the next few steps to protect your car.

Park Indoors

One of the best ways to protect your car from potential hail damage is to park it indoors. If you have a garage or carport available, use it. If you live in an area where hail storms are common, consider investing in a carport or building a garage if you don’t have one available. If you do not have any access to indoor parking, you can find parking in a covered area like a parking garage or under an awning.

Cover Your Car

If you do not have any access to indoor or covered parking, you can look into covering your car with a hail protection cover. Hail protection covers are made from heavy-duty materials that can withstand the impact of hailstones and prevent them from damaging your car. There are different varieties of hail protection covers available on the market, from basic covers to more advanced options that have airbags to protect your car.

Use Blankets or Mats

If you do not have a hail protection cover, you can still protect your car by covering it with blankets or mats. These will still be able to absorb the impact of hailstones and prevent damage. You can also use towels or any other soft materials to cover particularly vulnerable areas, like your car’s windshield, hood, and roof.

Seek Out Shelter 

If you are caught in a hailstorm while driving, the best thing you can do is find shelter as quickly as possible. You should look for a covered area like a gas station, parking garage, or car wash. If you can’t find any shelter, try to find an area to park that is away from trees or other objects that could fall on your car.

Use Bubble Wrap

It may sound silly, but if you do not have access to any of the aforementioned options, you still can protect your car from hail damage using bubble wrap. You can simply cover your car with bubble wrap before a hailstorm to minimise the damage from hailstones. Though this may not be the most attractive option, it still can be effective when in a bind.

Review Your Insurance Policy

Not all insurance policies cover hail damage, so it is important to check your policy and make sure you have the coverage you need. If you don’t have coverage for hail damage, consider adding it to your policy.

Remember that while hail damage might be covered by your insurance, you still may have to pay for your deductible and potentially have to deal with an increase in your insurance premium. That makes it even more important to take precautionary steps to protect your car from hail damage.

Turn to Caversham Coachworks For Hail Damage

As you can see, protecting your car from hail damage takes some preparation and awareness. You can use this guide to help minimise the risks of hail damage and protect your car from costly repairs. 

In the event that hail has caused damage to your car, Caversham Coachworks can help. We take care of everything from insurance, crash, and car body repairs to dent and scratch repairs and many other services. As the leading independent vehicle repair centre in Berkshire and Central Oxfordshire, we promise to offer exceptional service and quality work.

If your car has been damaged recently in a hailstorm and is in need of repairs, contact us today to speak with one of our experts or use our free and easy estimator tool.