What To Do When Hail Wreaks Havoc On Your Car

Tony Mers • February 3, 2021

Many people tend to treat their cars the same way that they treat their own children, giving them love and attention to detail at every turn. This is why when something bad happens, such as your car damaged by hail, it can make many people nervous and even depressed. People's lives are complicated, and having to interact with auto body repair services may be a new or stressful experience to them even if they're nothing but helpful.

Luckily, 90% of stone breaks (stars, bullseyes, etc.) in windshields never crack (known as floater cracks) and you may not necessarily have to get your windshield replaced because of a bad hail storm. But it's always a good idea to have your car inspected when you're aware that your car damaged by hail may be in trouble. The best-case scenario is to find out that it's purely a cosmetic issue.

In this brief post, we'll go over what to look for following a hail storm, and how to treat your car damaged by hail. If the storm has been particularly bad, you may decide to end up totaling your car instead of repairing it. But rest assured that it rarely gets this bad and you'll probably be fine. Most incidents of damage from these storms simply result in repairing dents from hail or other appearance issues.

When You Hear The Storm, Try To Move Your Car

Hopefully it's obvious that if your car is in a garage during a hail storm, you're probably good to go. Rarely is hail so bad that it gets through exterior structures to harm a car or other goods stored inside. Finding an auto repair shop will not be on your list of things to do that day if you're in such a situation.

However, if your car is outside during a hail storm and you see it beginning, try to move your car as quickly as possible to shelter. Take an umbrella outside and navigate as best as you can to your car to drive it under some sort of surface (parking garage, trees, shelter) that is available for your to use.

Cover Your Windshield If You Can

Instead of having to worry about your car damaged by hail, you can also try to prevent it. If the weather report thinks that there will be a large hail storm in your area today, you can put moving blankets on your car and keep them in place with straps or weights. Many people have reported that even large-sized hail does little to no damage to their car with this method, and it can be well worth the effort. You can even leave these blankets on for a day or two and let the hail melt and evaporate off!

Inspect For Damage, But Be Careful

If all else has failed and you're up against a broken windshield or a lot of dents, be practical instead of upset. Your windshield may be smashed to pieces, or some other part of your car may have been taken off, but this is no time to pout. Be careful around the broken glass or sharp metal shards, and don't forget that you can call services to replace your windshield right where your car is parked. You need not risking driving with broken glass in the car or an unsafe vehicle. If necessary, have your car towed.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.