- How to Protect Your Car from Hail: DIY Methods
- How to Protect Your Car from Hail While Driving
- Insurance Coverage for Hail Damage
- Can PPF (Paint Protection Film) Protect Your Car from Hail?
- Conclusion: Know How to Protect Your Car From Hail Will Make You Save a Lot of Money
Your vehicle is a significant investment, and protecting it from damaging hail is essential to keeping it in optimal condition. Lately, car enthusiasts like us are constantly concerned due to frequent and sudden hailstorms and bad weather. Hail damage can be costly to repair and negatively affect the appearance and value of your car by ruining the original paint and sometimes even the bodywork.
If you’re wondering how to protect your car from hail, you’re in the right place! Today, among the most effective and durable protections, we have some covers and umbrellas available online that can better protect your car. In this article, we will present you with some of the best tips to minimize damage to your vehicle during a hailstorm.
How to Protect Your Car from Hail: DIY Methods
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If you don’t have access to a covered parking area or protective shelter, you can consider using car covers or thick blankets to provide additional protection to your car during a hailstorm. These covers can help reduce the impact of hailstones on the car’s surface by providing a physical barrier.
When purchasing a car cover, make sure to choose one that is durable and waterproof. This will ensure that your car is protected not only from hail but also from other adverse weather conditions like rain. Car covers can be easily mounted and dismounted, allowing you to quickly protect your car during a hailstorm.
Below are some ways to protect your car from hail:
- “Foam anti-hail cover” is a cost-effective choice. This cover has a layer of foam to cushion the impact of hailstones and protect the vehicle.
- The “car umbrella” serves the same function as the cover but is installed like an umbrella. Unlike the cover that is placed in contact with the vehicle, the umbrella remains slightly suspended, making it more unstable in strong winds.
- The “inflatable anti-hail car cover” is the most expensive solution. It’s a cover that inflates like an air mattress and completely protects the vehicle. However, being inflatable, it might bounce hailstones around, so we recommend using it when you are certain there are no other cars nearby.
If you don’t want to or can’t currently purchase one of these tools, you can try some makeshift alternatives that don’t guarantee optimal protection but aim to minimize damage to the car. For example, you could try using tarps, blankets, comforters, or even mattresses, ensuring they are securely fastened to prevent them from being blown away by the wind. For instance, you could wedge tarps and blankets between window openings or tie mattresses to the roof.
How to Protect Your Car from Hail While Driving
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If you’re driving and caught off guard by a hailstorm, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your car:
- Find immediate shelter: Look for a safe place to pull over quickly, such as a garage, underpass, gas station, or covered area. Avoid stopping under trees, as branches could fall during an intense storm.
- Reduce speed: If you can’t find immediate shelter or it’s impossible to stop, slow down and keep a greater distance from the car ahead of you for safety.
- Stay inside the car: Remain inside the car while the hail is falling. Closing the windows can help reduce the risk of hail entering the cabin.
Once the hailstorm has passed and you feel it’s safe to continue, carefully assess the road and your car’s condition before resuming your journey. If your car is damaged, contact your insurance company to inform them of the situation and initiate the necessary repair procedures.
Insurance Coverage for Hail Damage
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One of the most important responses to the question “how to protect your car from hail?” is to consider whether you have insurance coverage. Before the hail season arrives, make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for hail damage. Check your auto insurance policy to see if it covers hail damage and, if necessary, make any changes to ensure your car is adequately protected.
Can PPF (Paint Protection Film) Protect Your Car from Hail?
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In the case of hail, PPF can protect against scratches and abrasions but NOT dents caused by large hailstones. Although it is a very durable material at around 320 microns thick, a car protected by PPF will still exhibit the classic dents from hail, but it will avoid the annoying scratches that could occur. To remove dent marks, simply use a paintless dent repair service.
Below is a list of damages that a car protected with PPF is shielded from:
- Rock chips: PPF can protect the car’s body from rock chips without leaving any damage, absorbing their impact.
- Scratches: PPF shields the body from any type of scratch and can self-heal through heat exposure or exposure to sunlight, eliminating the presence of any scratch or superficial mark..
- Bird droppings and chemical/acid substances
- Atmospheric and polluting agents, such as lime, rain, rust, tar, etc
- UV rays
To know more about our PPF, visit our dedicated page!
Conclusion: Know How to Protect Your Car From Hail Will Make You Save a Lot of Money
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In conclusion, knowing how to protect your car from hail can save you from costly repair services. Protecting your car from hail is crucial to preserving its appearance and value over time. Hail damage can be expensive to repair and can compromise the bodywork and paint of the car. Fortunately, there are several effective solutions to protect your car during a hailstorm.
Using a specific cover, such as a foam anti-hail cover or a car umbrella, can be an effective and affordable solution to protect your vehicle. Although these options may have an initial cost, they can help prevent costly damage in the event of hail.
Lastly, make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for hail damage before the hail season arrives. Check your insurance policy to see if it covers hail damage and make any necessary changes to ensure adequate protection for your vehicle.
While PPF (Paint Protection Film) offers effective protection against scratches and abrasions, it cannot fully protect against dents caused by large hailstones. However, it can help minimize superficial damage and preserve the appearance of the bodywork over time.
Ultimately, investing in car protection solutions and ensuring you have adequate insurance coverage are fundamental steps to protect your vehicle from hail and maintain its value over time.
