‘Oh hail!’ Four tips for preventing hail damage to your car
Auto Glass Now offers tips to protect your vehicle and steps to take if your vehicle is damaged.
When a hailstorm strikes, it can cause extensive property damage. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center Annual Severe Weather Report Summary reported 6,962 hail events in 2023 – most of which occurred between April and September.
Auto Glass Now wants to equip drivers to be prepared for this unique type of severe weather. Vehicles are especially vulnerable given the unpredictability of hailstorms.
“Hailstorms are one of the biggest causes of damage to vehicles,” said Michael Macaluso, Group President, Paint, Collision & Glass. “They can come up suddenly, and if you’re on the road or your vehicle is parked in a lot somewhere, there’s very little you can do to protect yourself and your vehicle. The key is watching the weather during hail season and having a plan in place.”
Here are four tips to help avoid damage:
- Check the weather to see if storms are in the forecast – hail often accompanies thunderstorms and changing temperatures.
- It’s important to consider a safe place to store your vehicle in case of a hailstorm, either in a garage, under a carport, or a nearby parking garage.
- If you don’t have a covered location, a car cover or even blankets can help soften the impact of the hail against your vehicle’s glass and metal surfaces.
- If you’re on the road and a storm is imminent, find a parking garage, bank drive-through, or bridge to park under until the storm passes.
Unfortunately, damage is sometimes inevitable. According to a March 2023 analysis by State Farm, the company paid out over $3.5 billion in hail claims in 2022.
It’s critical to have a repair plan in place if damage does occur.
- When it is safe to do so, take photos to document damage to your vehicle and contact your insurance agent and/or adjustor to facilitate getting repairs done as soon as possible.
- Prioritize glass repair first so you can safely use your car. If your insurance agent or adjuster hasn’t assessed the damage yet, as long as you keep receipts and photos.
“Getting your vehicle’s glass replaced quickly is the fastest way to get back on the road, even if your vehicle’s body is damaged,” added Macaluso. “At Auto Glass Now, we have hundreds of local locations ready to replace your glass, and our mobile units can come to you to service your vehicle, wherever you are. Not only do we replace the glass, our trained technicians also thoroughly vacuum the glass and debris from inside the vehicle. If you have to drive the vehicle, what’s important is protecting you and protecting the vehicle from further damage.”
Take the appropriate safety measures to clean-up damaged glass such as wearing protective eye and hand gear and using a shop vac or broom. Refrain from driving the vehicle if the front windshield is damaged. In preparation for repair, Auto Glass Now offers crash wrap services for vehicles with severely damaged glass.