How to Protect Your Car from Hail

As we approach the colder, wetter months of the year, it’s time to prepare for hailstorms and the associated damage. Hail can quickly transform from an exciting weather event to a full-blown threat, leaving noticeable dents and dings in your vehicle’s exterior. 

Learn how to avoid these costly repairs in this guide, where we’ll cover five tips to protect your vehicle against hail damage. Along the way, we’ll dive into just how much damage hail can do, what size hail is deemed a threat, what to do if you’re dealing with severe body damage after a hailstorm, and whether you can count on your insurance to repair the damage. 

How Much Damage Can Hail Do? 

As hail begins to fall, your car can become a prime target for damage. Whereas most hail only amounts to pebble-sized frozen raindrops, it can grow far larger—golf ball or baseball-sized—in certain conditions. These chunks of ice can cause severe damage to windows and body panels, resulting in cracked/shattered glass, paint chips, dents, and dings. 

Because hail damage often affects an entire vehicle, average hail damage repair costs can range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the required repair method. While PDR (paintless dent repair) can take care of minor dings, severe damage and broken glass can quickly add up to a costly repair bill—especially if your insurance won't cover it. 

What Size Hail Will Damage a Car? 

Believe it or not, it doesn’t take baseball-sized hailstones to damage a car. Even small ice pellets, about the size of a quarter, can cause noticeable damage, such as dents and windshield cracks. These damages only compound and worsen as hail size increases. 

In general, anything larger than pea-sized pellets can cause damage. If you notice sizable hailstones falling from the sky, it’s best to enter into protection mode to reduce potential damage—or better yet, be prepared before the hail strikes. 

5 Tips to Protect Your Car from Hail

With hail on the weather forecast, having a plan in place can save your car—and wallet—from thousands of dollars in damages. Check out these five effective ways to protect your car from hail. 

Tip 1: Park in a Garage

While this may seem obvious, the best way to protect your vehicle from hail damage is to park it safely away from the elements, such as under a carport or in a garage. If you have access to enclosed parking, be sure to take advantage of it before severe weather hits. The few minutes it takes to reposition your car can save thousands in repair costs. 

Tip 2: Invest in a Carport

If you don’t have a garage at your home, consider investing in a carport as the next best line of defense against hail. These semi-permanent buildings provide overhead protection against falling pinecones, bird droppings, sap, and hail, keeping your vehicle’s paint and body in like-new condition during a hail storm. 

Tip 3: Buy a Hail-Proof Car Cover

Not all car covers are created equal. Some car covers are hail-resistant, featuring multiple padded layers to absorb hail impacts and prevent dents. While not as protective as parking indoors, hail-rated car covers are an excellent alternative, especially for those who rent homes or apartments or road trip through hail-susceptible areas. 

Tip 4: Cover Your Vehicle with What You Have

If you’re caught in a storm without a cover or room in the garage, improvise with whatever you have lying around the house. Comforters, blankets, cardboard, or even Husky Liners floor liners can provide a layer of protection against minor hail. Use bungee cords, rope, or a car cover to secure the extra layers, especially if high winds are forecast. 

Tip 5: Check the Weather Forecast

The simplest, yet most effective way to protect your vehicle against hail damage is to stay ahead of the storm. Weather apps and news forecasts can give you advanced notice of potential hail, so you aren’t rushing for coverage once damage has already been done. With an extra hour or two of notice, you can move your car into a covered parking lot or a parking garage, or cover damage-prone areas like the roof, hood, trunk, and windshield accordingly. 

How to Fix Hail Damage on a Car

Sometimes, even preparation and proper precautions can’t overcome Mother Nature. If hail causes noticeable dents and damage, here are a few ways to get your car looking like new again. 

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) 

While dent repair used to require serious bodywork, modern PDR solutions are an excellent alternative, so long as the paint is in good condition. PDR technicians use specialized tools and glue pullers to massage the metal back into shape without filler or repainting. The process is typically faster and less expensive than conventional bodywork. 

Body Filler and Paint Repair

If the damage is too extreme for a PDR expert, your next best option is traditional bodywork. This solution requires body technicians to repair dents with body filler and tools, then repaint the damaged panels to hide the repairs. While effective, this process can be pricey and time-consuming. 

Windshield and Glass Replacement

If your windshield or windows sustain damage, whether small cracks or completely shattered glass, urgent repairs are required to maintain comfort and safety. Certified window repair technicians can remove, reseal, and replace windshields and other glass quickly and precisely, restoring visibility and safety. 

Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage? 

While insurance covers hail damage in most cases, the correct answer is determined by your level of coverage. Simple liability insurance doesn’t cover natural disasters or anything not immediately caused by another driver. In these cases, hail damage repairs will come out of pocket. 

However, if you have comprehensive coverage, your vehicle is typically covered for non-collision events such as hail, falling branches, and vandalism. Before the first storm of the season, it’s best to review your insurance policy details and potentially make some changes to your policy to increase coverage. 

Make Sure You’re Covered This Hail Season

Hail can strike in an instant and cause severe damage to your vehicle. However, with a bit of preparation for the winter season—from checking the weather forecast to investing in hailproof protection—you can help diminish or eliminate hail-related damage. 

While you’re protecting your vehicle’s exterior from harsh weather, don’t forget to safeguard the interior with premium Husky Liners floor liners, cargo liners, ventvisors, and more.