Hail Damage

How to protect your car from hail

When most people think about major natural catastrophes, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes come to mind.

However, there’s one other type of storm that, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (the U.S. government’s climatology branch), causes $1 billion in damage to crops and property each year—hail.

So, how can you avoid being part of that large sum of money, and how can you make sure your car insurance is ready in case your vehicle is damaged?

• Get covered parking

  Covered parking can save you a lot of hassle and money, especially in the middle of the country where hail damage is typically more of a risk.

• Ride out the hail storm

  If you don’t have access to covered parking, another option is to find temporary shelter. Local malls, for example, usually have parking garages where you could park if you know a storm is brewing. If you don’t have a covered place to store your vehicle, find those options for the big storms.

• Use blankets or a hail car cover

  If you don’t have a shelter option, and you know a storm is coming, get something over your car. Some companies sell car covers specific to this purpose, but you can use your own blankets, as well. Just make sure you duct tape them down—the winds can pick up pretty quickly during hail storms. The tape can leave a sticky residue on your car, but most likely won’t cause any damage to the paint.

  Prepare in advance for this. Opt for personal safety and don’t do this if the storm is happening within a matter of minutes.

• Get Comprehensive and Rental coverage

  With insurance, “Comprehensive” doesn’t mean “all encompassing.” Instead, it’s the specific coverage that helps pay for damage caused by things like weather or fire. In most cases, comprehensive insurance will cover hail damage, too. Also, make sure you have Rental coverage. One in 10 Progressive policy holders who have a total loss (meaning their car is damaged beyond repair) do. And it’s an option that helps pay for a rental car if your car is being fixed or replaced. Both Comprehensive and Rental are among the personalized car insurance coverages you can add to your Progressive auto policy.