Hail is a side effect of the winter weather that can damage your car more than you think. When people think about significant natural catastrophes, they often leave out hail and the damages it is capable of causing. Hail is pellets of frozen rain usually formed when drops of water freeze together in the cold upper regions of thunderstorm (cumulonimbus) clouds.
Statistics state that hail causes about $1 billion in damage to property and crops. Severe hailstorms can lead to your vehicle being labeled as a total loss; smashed windows and windscreens, significant damage to the panel, dents on the hood, scratches in the paint, etc. The best way to exempt your car from that damage is by protecting it.
The weather forecast may not always be able to predict a hailstorm, so you should always be prepared to protect your car from all forms of damage. This article shows you the different ways to protect your car from hail and you from paying massive amounts of money for repair.
Different Ways to Protect your Car from Hail
You could have skipped the weather forecast this morning and may not be aware that a hailstorm is brewing, or maybe the weather forecast was not too right this time; what do you do when you are out on a drive, and you can see that a storm is brewing? The methods below show you the best ways to protect your car from hailstorms before and when they are about to happen.
Purchase a Weather Proof Car Cover
When you find out that a hailstorm will happen and you do not have a covered parking spot, the best thing you can do is to invest in a weather-proof car. You should purchase this two days before the storm happens, and the good thing is it will always come in handy for other harsh weather situations.
It is essential to buy a weather-proof car cover and not just a normal one; the former will prevent damage entirely while the latter will not eliminate damage. Some weather-proof car covers come with compressed air pockets, which serve as a cushion to protect from hail damage, while others have thick padding for protection. Although, the former option does a better job of protecting your car from the hail than the latter option.
Find a Covered Parking Spot
It is always important to check the day’s weather every morning before driving out to protect you and your properties from potential damage. You can expect hailstorms once in a while if you live in an area with frequent thunderstorms.
In cases where you may have forgotten to check the weather forecast for the day and notice a hailstorm brewing, your best option is to find temporary shelter to protect your car from damage. Places like malls, schools, airports, universities, and supermarkets usually have covered parking garages.
Navigate your way to the closest covered parking spot if you do not have one in your home or if it is too far to get to at that time. Covered parking garages can also come in handy during harsh weather conditions like tornados.
Source for Different Padding Materials
Padding materials are a great alternative to a weather-proof car cover. Once you know that there is a hailstorm coming and you do not have a weather-proof car cover, get creative with different padding materials you can find around your house. It is important to note that you have to purchase ratchet straps or bungees to hold down your padding materials, or you can use heavy items like big stones.
You can use your blankets, the thick kind that you use to cover furniture from scratches during a move. Wrap them around your car and use duct tape to hold them down, so they do not fly away when it becomes windy. The duct tape may leave a sticky residue on your car, but it will not damage the paintwork.
Lastly, you can purchase blankets at the closest hardware store, such as Home Depot; the high-quality ones range between $35 to $45, while the cheaper and slightly less thick ones cost between $10 to $15.
Cardboard boxes are your best choice to protect the windows and windshield from getting shattered. You can either secure them with bungees or put them under the windshield wipers, so they do not fly away. Flatten them and fold them double or single, depending on how much you want to cover.
Other padding materials you can use to protect your car include; yoga mats (you can use this to secure the car’s hood), pillows, dog beds, and mattress toppers. By the time you are done, your vehicle will look ridiculous, but just as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
Get Comprehensive Car Insurance and Rental Coverage
Comprehensive insurance refers to the specific coverage which pays for damages caused by weather, fire, and probably hail damage. It is essential to have this because most standard auto insurance policies will not cover the damage caused by hail or any harsh weather.
If prevention does not go too well, your car might get damaged, and comprehensive insurance will help you get out of that messy situation. It should cover the damage caused to the windshield, body, and interior, but this price is subject to estimates. Get in touch with your insurer to know what exactly your insurance policy covers.
Rental coverage is the best choice for anyone whose car has been given the ‘total loss’ designation. This means that the estimated cost of repairs is higher than the vehicle’s value. It is an option that helps pay for a rental car while your damaged vehicle is being fixed or replaced.
Conclusion
Hailstorms can cause severe damage to your car if left unprotected, but following the safety measures listed above will surely protect your vehicle from all kinds of damage. Comprehensive car insurance is what to do when prevention is out of the window. Using padding materials is a DIY solution. A weather-proof car cover is a much pricier solution.
