How to protect your car from hail damage

Quick insights

• Hailstones—whether large or small—can do damage to your car, from small scratches to broken windshields.
• You can help protect your car from hail damage by covering your car with special blankets or staying parked under shelter.
• Depending on the severity of the hail damage, you can try do-it-yourself fixes or seek professional repairs.

Have you ever heard what sounds like golf balls coming down from the sky? You might be hearing hail hit the metal of your car. Hail damage can come in various forms. Let’s review how you can protect and repair your car from hail damage below.

What does hail damage look like?

Hail damage can affect the structural and aesthetic integrity of a vehicle. Common signs that your car has been damaged by hail include:

• Dents on the hood, roof and trunk
• Scratches on the body of the car
• Cracked or shattered glass
• Damaged side mirrors

The severity of destruction can range from minor scratches to more severe damage, which can impact your decision about how to repair your car.

What size hail will damage a car

Hail comes in various sizes, but it can start impacting cars when it's as small as 1 inch in diameter. Each size of hail can affect your car in different ways. For example, small pieces of hail can damage a car’s aesthetic, such as small dents or scratches on the body of the car.

Larger hailstones, which can be close to the size of golf balls or sometimes bigger, can cause more damage, such as punctured metal on the roof or hood and cracked windshields. The damage from larger pieces of hail can affect the functionality of the car, not just its appearance.

Size is not the only factor that goes into damage—depending on the severity of storm, windspeed and density of hail, your car could be at risk for more serious types of destruction, even if the hailstones are small.

How to fix hail damage

If your car has been affected by hail, there are a few ways you can address the damage, including:

Professional repair options

You may want to take your car to a professional who can help determine what kind of repairs your car needs and to perform more complicated repairs. A technician may suggest a paintless dent repair (PDR) or other repairs, especially if the destruction is more severe.

For example, you may need to hire a mechanic who can replace cracked windshields. Safety should always come first, so the repairs should address cosmetic damage in addition to the safety and structure of the car.

When choosing a professional repair service, you may want to do some initial research to ensure the professional is reputable and has proper certifications. Remember, if you have comprehensive car insurance, review your plan to see if your insurance can help cover the cost of some of these repairs.

Do-it-yourself repair

There are some small, simple ways you can repair certain damage to your car on your own. For example:

• Hair dryer method: You could use a hairdryer to address small dents by heating the surface then spraying the area with compressed air. This contracts the metal and allows it to pop out.
• Do-it-yourself kits: You may purchase dent repair kits that you can use at home. These may provide some more helpful tips and instructions for how to address small damages to your car.
• Dry ice method: Using protective gloves, cover the dent with aluminum foil and rub dry ice over the foil-covered dent while wearing protective gloves. The rapid cooling may help the dent contract and potentially pop out.

Be careful while handling these tools and follow necessary instructions, as you could do more harm than good to your car if you take the wrong approach.

Note that the cost of repairs largely depends on the type of damage your car has. Additionally, it’s important to address damage that affects the functionality and safety of your car. Scratches to the body of the car may not look aesthetically pleasing, but paint jobs can be costly. It may be helpful to prioritize repairing damage that affects your driving experience and safety.

How to prevent hail damage

While we can’t control the weather, we can stay proactive about protecting our cars. Here are a few ways you can help prevent hail damage to your car:

• Use car covers and thick blankets. Equipment such as specially designed hail car covers or even thick blankets can help provide protection during a hailstorm.
• Consider sheltered locations to park your car: Having access to a garage or covered parking spots can help provide shelter for your car. Even if you don’t have a garage or you’re on the road, you can look for a car canopy, such as at a gas station, to keep your car covered while the hailstorm passes.
• Plan ahead: Weather is unpredictable, but if your weather app or local news notifies you of an upcoming storm, you can take precautions to help protect your car.

In conclusion

No matter how strong and capable your car is, weather is a strong force that can cause impactful damage. Hailstorms may cause scratches to your car, and during more severe storms, you could face a cracked windshield or sunroof. Staying aware of weather patterns and taking precautions to protect your car can help save you headaches in the future.