Protecting your car from hail damage requires stringent steps whether you are at home, at work, or anywhere in Bentley. In this article, there are some essential tips to follow that help you safeguard your car from the destructive effects of hail.
Quick answer: how do you protect a car from hail? The best protection is a roof over the car: a garage, carport or covered car park. Without one, use a padded hail cover (or thick blankets and floor mats held in place on the roof, bonnet and windscreen), and follow Bureau of Meteorology storm warnings so you can move the car before the storm arrives.
First Understand the Hail Damage and Its Risks
Before implementing any protective measures, it’s imperative to understand the nature of the hail damage and the risks it poses to your vehicle. Hail can harm your car from minor to severe body dents and windshield cracks. In short, recognizing the potential consequences will help you pick the right protective strategies. But before implementing any protective measures, you have to know the risks associated with hail damage stated here.
- Dents to the car body
- Damage to side view mirrors
- Cracked and chipped windshields
- Water damage to the vehicle’s interior
- Broken windows
Top Strategies to Shield your Car from Hail Damage
Let’s buckle up and decode some of the tips to shield your vehicle from hail damage!
Seek Shelter Immediately
Get shelter as soon as possible. You can move into a garage or stay under the shade to give your car the best protection. The more solid the roof, the more it will absorb the impact of hailstones and prevent any type of damage to your car's body.
Call Dent Removal Service
If you are caught badly in a hail storm while on the road there is no spot to hide and your car gets badly damaged. So, do not leave your vehicle untreated because it can affect the other areas and paint of your car badly. Calling the professional company at this hour is the best opportunity to get rid of stubborn dents with unmatched dent removing service in Perth. Their technicians instantly remove the dents through the PDR technique using the push and pull tools.
Park Under Trees
You can park your car under the trees. They are also a good shelter which can help your car become safe in these risky weather conditions. If you are in a situation where covered parking is not available, you can park your car under a tree to secure your car from any type of dents and scratches whether major or minor.
A word of caution: trees only help against light hail. In strong winds, branches can break and do more damage than the hail itself, so a building, carport or covered car park is always the safer choice.
Use a Hail Car Cover
For areas prone to hailstorms, investing in a hail cover is an excellent preventive measure. These specialized covers are designed specifically to safeguard your vehicle from the negative impact of the hailstones. It’s like an additional layer of protection against the dents, broken glass, and scratches.
Keep Emergency Hail Kit
It’s a proactive strategy to stay prepared for uninvited weather conditions. Keeping an emergency hail kit in your vehicle can be a lifesaver. If you ever get trapped in this serious weather condition, you can use this kit. This kit includes a blanket, a larger tarp, or a hail resistant cover to protect your vehicle.
Install a Garage at Home
Finally, if you live in an area that is constantly hail storms, installing a carport or garage is the best option. It’s a sturdy and permanent solution to your problem. Remember, this shelter will not only protect your car from hail storms but also from other environmental hazards such as rainfall. One more thing, it's an affordable solution.
How to Protect Your Car From Hail Without a Garage
- Use a covered car park: shopping centre and multi-storey car parks are often the quickest roof you can reach when a storm warning is issued.
- Fit a padded hail cover: a normal thin car cover stops dust, not hail. A padded or inflatable hail cover absorbs the impact of small to medium hailstones.
- Use what you have: thick blankets, doonas, cardboard and rubber floor mats on the roof, bonnet and windscreen are better than nothing. Hold them in place with the doors or straps, not tape on the paint.
- Park next to a building: the side of a building that faces away from the storm gives some shelter from wind-driven hail.
- Keep the cover ready: store the cover or blankets in the boot during storm season so you can use them quickly.
What to Do If You Are Driving During a Hailstorm
- Slow down, turn on your headlights and keep a bigger gap: hail makes roads slippery and cuts visibility.
- If you can, pull into a service station, covered car park or carport. Don’t stop under a bridge or overpass on a busy road, where you block traffic.
- Stay inside the car, with your seatbelt on and your back to the windows, until the hail stops.
- Don’t drive through flooded roads after the storm.
What to Do After Hail Damages Your Car
- Check for broken or cracked glass first; a damaged windscreen can make the car unsafe to drive.
- Take clear photos of every damaged panel in daylight, from a few angles.
- Contact your insurer if you have comprehensive cover, and ask how their claim process works and what excess applies.
- Get a repair quote. Most hail dents leave the paint intact, so they can usually be fixed with paintless dent removal, without filler or a respray.
Long Term Hail Protection Solutions
- Opt for hail resistant windows
- Stay informed about weather alerts
- Use hail resistant paint
- Insurance coverage
- Regular maintenance of the vehicle
While it’s impossible to predict when the hail weather will strike, taking the right protective measures can significantly reduce the damage. Investing time and effort in preparing your vehicle for hailstorms not only saves you money in repair but also ensures the vehicle remains in top condition for years.
Hail Damage Repair in Perth
Send us 3 clear photos of the damage and we will reply with a price within 1 hour during business hours. Our technicians at our Willetton workshop use paintless dent removal whenever the paint is intact, small dents start from $80, and our workmanship comes with a lifetime warranty. See our dent repair cost guide, or contact us for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do car covers protect against hail?
A normal thin car cover does not. A padded or inflatable hail cover can prevent dents from small to medium hail, but very large hailstones can still damage the car.
Is it safe to park under a tree during a hailstorm?
Only in light hail without strong wind. Storms often bring wind that breaks branches, which can cause worse damage than the hail. A roof is always safer.
What size hail can damage a car?
Hailstones of around 2.5 cm across and larger can dent panels, and bigger stones can crack glass. Wind makes the impact stronger.
Can hail damage be fixed without repainting?
Usually, yes. When the paint is not cracked or chipped, hail dents can be removed with paintless dent removal and the original paint stays on the car.
Does car insurance cover hail damage?
Comprehensive car insurance usually covers hail damage, while third party policies usually don’t. Check your policy and excess before you claim.
How much does hail damage repair cost?
It depends on how many dents there are and on which panels. Hail damage is quoted from photos or an inspection; see our dent repair cost guide for typical prices.
