In 2022 there were 4,437 hail storms across the United States, according to NOAA’s Severe Weather Report, with 40 percent occurring in Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas and South Dakota. When you experience hail damage to your car, you might think, “It’s not that bad,” and go about your day, but hail has the potential to total a car, even if the damage appears to be only cosmetic.
It’s essential to get the hail damage on your vehicle assessed and repaired to avoid additional damage, maintain your car’s resale value and keep your car running safely.
Types of Hail Damage
Hail damage to your car can occur whether you are actively driving or parked in the open when the hail starts falling. The amount of damage you experience depends on the size of the hail. The average hail size is 3/4 inch, but the largest hailstone ever collected in the U.S. was 8 inches in diameter and weighed nearly 2 pounds — that could seriously damage your vehicle!
There are two main types of hail damage to a car: cosmetic and structural.
Cosmetic Damages
Hailstones may only inflict cosmetic damages, which means your car is still safe to drive. Common examples of cosmetic hail damage include:
- Dents and dings that don’t damage the paint: These are the most common types of hail damage. They’re usually small and relatively minor, but they can impact your resale value if you don’t get them repaired. Any local auto body shop should be able to correct this kind of damage no matter where it is on the car.
- Chipped paint, with or without dents: If the hail is large enough or falls with enough force, it can chip your car’s paint job. If that happens, you’ll need to have the entire area repainted to prevent rust from developing.
Structural Damages
Large hail, however, can cause structural damage that negatively impacts your car’s safety and performance. Common structural hail damage includes:
- Cracks: Large hail can potentially crack your windshield, windows or the car’s body. Even if the cracks seem small, ignoring them can cause cracks to expand over time and further compromise the integrity of your glass or cause leaks.
- Damage to the frame: Sometimes hail falls with enough force to bend or warp the frame. Depending on where the damage occurs, this can make the car more difficult to handle, so it may be safer to contact roadside assistance to get a tow to the nearest repair facility.
- Engine damage: Though rare, excessive damage from a large hailstone can reach the engine. If you suspect hail has damaged your engine, do not try to drive it — call roadside assistance for a tow.
How To Fix Hail Damage on Your Car
Your first instinct might be to repair the hail damage yourself, but you probably shouldn’t. DIY methods can damage paint, leaving you with a more expensive bill than if you had just taken it into a repair shop in the first place.
Certified technicians have the right tools and expertise to repair your car without causing any additional damage. Plus, they may guarantee their work.
The most common repairs needed after a hail storm are:
- Paintless dent repair (PDR): This procedure uses special tools that allow a technician to remove a dent from inside the body of your car. The process quickly corrects any dents without damaging your car’s paint job. When taking your vehicle in for hail damage repairs, ask if they have someone on staff trained in PDR.
- Repainting any cracks or chipped paint: If you have paint damaged, a technician will probably need to sand the area to prep it before they start painting. The cost to paint a car depends on various factors, but your insurance company should cover the cost if you have a comprehensive policy.
- Windshield replacement: If hail damages your windshield, you’ll probably need to replace it. It’s essential to replace your windshield as quickly as possible since it may not be structurally sound enough to do its job if it’s cracked. Some retailers will even come to you to replace your windshield so you don’t have to worry about getting your car to a body shop. The cost will vary based on the make and model of your vehicle, and it may be covered by insurance.
- Glass replacement: Hail often damages rear and side windows and side mirrors. Your local body shop should be able to make these repairs for you.
While waiting to repair hail damage may be tempting, don’t. Even the most minor hail damage can get worse over time.
Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
An average of 245,000 personal auto insurance claims are filed for hail damage each year. Whether your hail damage repairs are covered by your insurance depends on the type of policy you have:
- Collision insurance: This type of insurance only covers damage caused when your vehicle is in a collision with another car. Since hail doesn’t involve another vehicle, your policy would not cover your hail damage.
- Comprehensive insurance: This type of coverage covers any damage caused by an act of nature, or something that happens without human intervention. This type of coverage would cover your hail damage.
- Liability insurance: This type of coverage protects you if you injure someone or a piece of property that isn’t yours in a collision. Since there’s no other party involved in a hailstorm, your policy would not cover your hail damage.
Even if you have comprehensive coverage, your deductible may be higher than the amount of your repair, leaving you to pay the cost out of pocket.
Some people worry that filing an insurance claim for hail damage will lead their insurance company to increase their rates, but this isn’t true. Auto insurance companies may raise your rate when an accident is your fault, but hail damage is considered an act of nature.
If you plan on filing an insurance claim for hail damage, you’ll want to do so as soon as possible. If additional damage occurs (such as an accident on the way to the auto repair shop), the hail damage will be considered pre-existing damage and complicate filing another claim. Many policies also have a statute of limitations on hail damage, which means you have a deadline to file your claim. These vary by provider, so check the terms of your insurance policy.
How To Prevent Hail Damage to Your Car
The only surefire way to prevent hail damage to your car is to park under a carport or in a garage. But what do you do when you’re out and about when a storm appears or you don’t have a garage? You have a few options:
- Purchase a hail cover: These covers cost about $100 and can prevent more severe damage during a hailstorm. If you live in a state prone to hailstorms, it might be a worthwhile investment to keep in your trunk.
- Thick blankets or towels: Place blankets and towels over your hood, roof and trunk. Do not use rocks or tape to secure them. Instead, tuck the edges into the doors, hood and trunk to hold them in place.
- Car floor mats: Remove your car mats from the car and place them rubber-side up on your windshield.
- Pull in your side mirrors: Protect the glass in your side mirrors by pulling them toward the car’s body as much as possible.
Take Your Hail-Damaged Car to a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility
When your car is damaged by hail, take it to a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility with body shop services so you know the repair is done right. You’ll get the best service possible from one of our locations, which are only staffed with factory-trained or Automotive Service Excellent (ASE) certified technicians. Plus, your AAA membership will save you at least 15 percent on labor costs.