How to avoid hail damage 

(or at least try)

What is hail?

If you’ve ever been in a snowball fight when someone decides to lob the hardest ice-packed ball at you, you know it hurts.

If cars or trucks had feelings, they’d tell you the same thing about hail.

Ice balls that fall (or get blown) from the sky can cause some serious problems.

Hail is essentially raindrops that get propelled up into the atmosphere where they freeze before coming to the ground.

Updrafts from thunderclouds can actually pull the droplets back up into the clouds several times before they eventually get too heavy and end up dropping. 

According to an article by the National Severe Storms Laboratory, “Though Florida has the most thunderstorms, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming usually has the most hail storms“. 

KGAB AM 650 posted a link with videos of previous hail storms around Wyoming.

Hail that dropped in a WY storm, May 2018. Photo courtesy: C Dibble, Casper.

Hail damage cost to cars and trucks

When pieces of hail hit the metal on cars/trucks it can hit hard enough that it will cause dents.

If it hits really hard, it can crack windshields and not just dent the metal, but crack the paintwork through to the bare metal.

To replace a windshield can cost anywhere from $190 to $1,000 dollars depending on the vehicle.

Repairing the dents can cost anywhere from $40-$80 per dent.  Depending on which panels it hits, some dents could be trickier to repair.

Jennifer Zarello, Manager of the Fremont Auto Collision Center in Casper, WY said the average hail damage repair is around $2500.

This cost could up if the damaged panels are aluminum, she said the cost could go up as much as 50%. 

It is entirely possible that a vehicle can be declared a ‘total loss’ if the cost of repairing the damage is more than the vehicle is worth.

A vehicle could end up with a branded title if there is enough damage. 

Photo: Kurt Bauschardt via Flickr

Of course, you can leave the dents in the car, however, this will affect the trade-in value with the cost to repair being removed from the value of the vehicle.

Comprehensive insurance will cover hail damage. You may have to pay your deductible and a claim may result in the cost of your auto insurance premiums going up (depending on your provider and policy).

If you do have to make a claim, make sure you contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

Hail damaged car.

How to avoid hail damage to your car or truck

Find shelter

Taking a few minutes to protect your vehicle is well worth it to avoid an insurance claim and/or body shop trip.

If you have a garage, put your car/truck in the garage.

Find a parking garage, or somewhere that has shelter such as a hotel entrance or car wash.

Park close (right next) to a large/tall building and use it as a hail shadow. For example, if the storm is coming from the West, park on the East side of the building, ie. the opposite side to the direction the storm is coming from.

Cover your vehicle

Here are some other ideas and materials you can use to attempt to protect your vehicle from hail;

• Use a car cover/hail blanket

• Place a tarp over the roof, windshield, and tailgate,

• Blankets,

• Mats,

• Foam pieces,

• Cardboard,

• Cushions,

• Car Mats

• Towels,

• Bubble wrap,

• Sleeping bag,

• Inflatables,

• Use paracord, string, bungees or tape to hold in place and/or place something heavy enough (that won’t also damage your car) on top to hold your material down during the wind.

Check out this video of Chris Hobson, Casper, Wy, quickly covering his truck in blankets to protect it!

Video courtesy: Stephanie Hobson.

Do you have any great tips to avoid hail damage?

Let us know in the comments below.

Send us a pic of your vehicle wrapped up!