Unexpected storms and extreme weather conditions leave behind costly damage, especially to vehicles parked on driveways and roads. But there must be some ways to prevent this damage and keep your cars in top-notch condition throughout their life. Here is a detailed explanation of what exactly hail damage is, how it affects your car’s status and, what does hail damage looks like on a car.
We’ll also share ways to prevent this issue in the future.
Find Cheap Auto InsuranceWhat Is Hail Damage Car?
If you are facing extreme cold conditions, with predicted or unpredicted storms, you might observe different-sized strikes on your vehicle’s body; they are a result of hailstones. A hail-damaged car results due to continuous forceful strikes during the hailstorm, which cause dents, dings, or even cracks on your car’s paint, body, and windows.
How Does Hail Damage Car?
The stoned, hard, crystalline balls of ice fall on different parts of your car, varying in size and force, hence leaving a varied impact. If the storm was extremely severe at night, you might observe major hail damage car, such as broken windows and dents on the car’s body. However, if the hailstorm was relatively less severe, it might leave behind dents, scratches, and dings.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like On A Car?
If you can see visible small to big dents over your car’s body, dings, and scratches in certain areas, it is most likely to be a result of hail damage to the car; the dents usually appear round in shape with varying sizes. Another result of hail damage is that the car is chipped, scratched, or damaged paint, which is visible in areas where the hailstones strike.
Here’s a closer look at what hail damage look like on a car:
Dents and Dings: If there was a hailstorm in your area and you are worried that your car was parked on an open surface, the first signs of hail damage car are small, round dents over its body.
Paint Damage: Chipped-off or scratched paint is yet another aftereffect of a hailstorm, if left unmaintained; it can further lead to rust, hence damaging the car’s body entirely.
Cracked or Shattered Glass/Windows: If the hailstorms are extremely severe in your area, your car might have a cracked or shattered windshield due to the pressure.
Dimpled Roof/Hood: Since the roof and hood of the vehicle are the areas most affected, they display comparatively more hail damage after the storm.
Making Repairs on Hail Damage Car – Maintenance Tips and Keys
Hail damage car repairs depend on the extent of damage the hailstones have left on the vehicle; the most common repair methods are as follows, having minimal cost breakdowns:
PDR – Paintless Dent Repair
While looking for cost-effective and pocket-friendly ways of repairing hail damage car, you can benefit from PDR. Technicians and mechanics use the paintless dent repair method which involves specialized tools to massage the dents out from the inside of the car’s panels.
Paintless dent repair is ideal for minor to moderate hail damage, as it fixes the problem without affecting the paint.
Traditional Dent Repair
If your car is severely damaged due to the hailstorm, traditional repairs might suit the situation ideally. The process involves filling the dents with body filler, sanding, and repainting the affected areas, resulting in a perfect finish!
Glass Replacement
In the cases where hail damage car is severe, with broken, cracked, or shattered windshields, your mechanic might suggest replacing the glasses as there is no other possible alternative.
Full Body Repairs
Full-body repairs come to the rescue if your car is completely damaged to a point where it might seem unfixable. Every section of the car, including the panels, is repaired to restore its original shape and functionality.
Is There Any Way to Prevent Hail Damage?
The wise often say, ‘prevention is better than cure’; even in the case of hail damage car, preventing it from the storm might help preserve the car’s appearance and original value in the long run.
If you wish to prevent hail damage car, these tips might be useful:
- Covering Up the Car: The best way to prevent hail damage is by investing in high-quality car covers designed to protect against hail and harsh weather. It has padded covers that absorb the impact of hailstones and keep the car safe from damage.
- Always Choose a Covered Parking Area: If your area has covered parking lots, park your car there, especially during harsh weather, to prevent hail damage. Additionally, parking your car inside the garage, carport, or any sheltered area might also effectively prevent the damage.
- Stay Updated on the Weather: Living in an area with unpredictable weather or during winters, it is best to keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid any chance of hail damage car. If a hailstorm has been predicted this season, arrange for sheltered car parking if you don’t have a garage. This will help reduce the stress and anxiety related to necessary measures for car prevention related to hail damage.
- Leverage Hail Blankets: Another way to protect your car from hail damage is to invest in hail blankets before the seasonal hailstorms as an early measure of prevention. Hail blankets are thickly padded covers specifically designed to protect cars from hail damage.
Impact on Car’s Title Status
A car damaged by hail greatly affects its status if the damage is visibly extensive. If you experience that the cost required to repair the hail damage exceeds the repair percentage value set by your insurance company, they might declare it as a total loss. If you file a hail damage car claim, it will lead to increased insurance premiums, depending on your policy and the severity of the damage.
Additionally, the insurance company might entitle the car as “salvage” or “rebuilt”, which majorly impacts its resale value and insurance rates. If your car has a salvage or rebuilt title, it will have a lower resale value, making it harder to sell.
The insurance company gives a total loss title to cars that require sky-high repair costs to restore their originality. This investment ultimately leads to a loss, so it's better to replace or get a new one instead.
Final Thoughts
By staying informed and proactive in taking preventive measures before the predicted weather or unforeseen circumstances, you can save hail damaged car. Knowing what does hail damage look like on a car, understanding its repair options, and taking steps to prevent the damage, helps minimize the risk of minor to major dents, dings, and scratches. Stay updated on the weather forecast and insurance policy to stay one step ahead!
