Hail is never a welcome event, especially when driving. Hailstorms disrupt visibility and make for dangerous road conditions. Plus, hail can be damaging to cars’ windows, roofs, hoods, and other parts of the body. Since hail is a form of precipitation that consists of solid ice formed within thunderstorm updrafts, it can inflict serious damage to not just cars, but to homes, buildings, and even livestock and people.

Hail is by no means an unheard of occurrence in Indiana. While local weather reports might warn of hail, some sites and online trackers, like hail.org, aim to forecast the presence and severity of hail throughout Indiana and other states.

While hail might not be entirely avoidable, there are steps you can take to protect your car from hail and mitigate damage.

Protecting your car during a hailstorm

Under cover

Parking in a covered area will always provide better protection for your auto’s body than parking in the open air. If you can, always park in a garage, carport, or within some other shelter that provides a roof overhead. In addition to hail protection, you’ll keep your car safe from excessive sunlight, rain, and other elements that can wear down or damage your vehicle.

Check the weather

In addition to sites that primarily forecast and monitor hailstorms, always check the weather before driving, especially when heading out on longer trips. Look a few days in advance and also 24 hours before departure to stay up to date on the forecast. Hail typically occurs when thunderstorms are present. Look for severe thunderstorm warnings and try to avoid driving during those times! Storms can also shift locations quickly, so be cautious about thinking that you’re in the clear.

“Hail Alley”

Hailstorms and severe hail are relatively rare events in Indiana and many other states. In the U.S., however, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming have the most hailstorms per year, typically. They average seven to nine hail days per year.

Find shelter

If you’re driving and hail starts coming down, look for sheltered parking as soon as you can. Even a bridge can provide an adequate roof. Also, roll up those windows and put headlights and flashers on. Hail can quickly grow in size and become more severe, so take action right away.

If you’re driving on the highway or any high-speed road, decrease your speed in order to drive more safely and reduce impact with hail. If possible, driving into hail may be better than sustaining sideways impact, as your windshield is more durable than your side windows.

Car cover and blankets

If you can’t find covered parking during a hailstorm, a car cover or even a blanket placed over all surfaces of the car’s body can provide protection. Covers and blankets might not prevent all damage, but they will reduce impact and unsightly damage marks.

When hail is coming down, be sure to first gauge the impact of the hail to make sure it’s safe enough to exit your vehicle. Exit your vehicle only if the hail is small enough to not inflict any damage or pain onto clothed skin. It is always optimal to stay inside your car when hail is present.

Hail damage repair with Killa Dent Removal

If your car’s been pockmarked or otherwise damaged by hail, bring it in to Killa Dent Removal for a free estimate to repair the damage. Most hail damage is covered under your vehicle’s comprehensive coverage, but it’s always best to still check with your insurer.

While auto body shops can take weeks to repair hail damage, Killa Dent Removal typically takes one to three days, with no sanding or painting necessary! Using paintless dent repair, or PDR, we can protect your vehicle’s paint while using special tools to carefully remove dents and restore your car’s body.

If your car’s been damaged by hail or otherwise contains dents or dings, contact Killa Dent Removal to get everything straightened out and good as new.