Our 4 Best Ways To Protect Your Car From Hail
Chicago drivers know that hail can be a serious problem for their vehicles. One minute, it’s a peaceful day, and then hail starts pummeling your car and doing damage. If you’ve ever had to watch the hail hit your vehicle, follow the six best ways to protect your car from hail and reduce the damage it can do.
Stay Alert With Weather Monitoring
Follow the weather each day so you can stay up to date on any possible hail activity. Set up location-based alerts for both your home and workplace.
When severe weather is approaching, you'll get a warning to relocate your vehicle before the storm hits. Hailstorms often develop quickly, so staying connected with weather updates is essential to protecting your car.
Find Covered Parking Solutions
Protecting your car is easiest when you can move it under a cover. This could be your garage, or if you don’t have one, then a covered parking alternative in your neighborhood. Many shopping centers, parking garages, and even gas stations with large overhangs can provide temporary shelter during storms.
If hailstorms are a frequent occurrence, then consider investing in parking passes for a covered facility near your home or workplace. While it might seem like an extra expense, compare that cost to potential hail damage repairs, which can run into thousands of dollars for severe dents and paint damage.
Invest in a Quality Car Cover
Heavy-duty car covers can be a game-changer for vehicle protection. These covers are usually designed to be hail-resistant and provide multiple layers of padding to absorb the impact of each piece of hail.
Choose a cover that is easy to deploy and can be put on quickly. Practice putting it on a few times until you feel confident you can do it when storm clouds gather. Store the cover in your trunk or backseat so it's always available when you need it most.
Use Blankets and Towels as Emergency Protection
Things happen, so getting caught off guard without a proper car cover can occur. This is why thick blankets and towels can be used in an emergency to provide temporary protection. While not as effective as purpose-built covers, they're better than leaving your paint and windshield completely exposed.
Secure the blankets with bungee cords or rope to prevent them from blowing away during the storm. Focus on protecting your windshield, hood, and roof—the areas most susceptible to visible damage.
Take Action Before the Next Storm
Protecting your car from hail doesn't require expensive equipment or major lifestyle changes—it just takes planning and quick action. Keep emergency materials in your vehicle to help protect it in the case of an unexpected hailstorm. Following these steps can help you prevent hail from damaging your car and invest in easy protection methods.
Changes in the weather can catch you off guard, so if your car is caught in the hail, take action quickly. Dents in your vehicle can be worrisome, but with River North Collision Repair, they can get fixed promptly. Visit our body shop in Chicago for quality repairs when you need them the most.
