Hail can occur at random times of the year, so it can be hard to prepare for. However, when you know that hail season is on the way, it is vital that you keep your car protected from it. Taking precautions before the worst happens is always a smart move, especially when the damage caused by hail can be so extreme. The good news is that there are some easy ways to ensure that you keep that potential damage to a minimum or even avoid it completely. Here are some of the best ways to protect your car just in time for hail season.
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Best Ways to Prepping Your Car for Hail Season
Know The Weather
The best and simplest way to ensure that your car does not get damaged by a hailstorm is to know when there is one on the way. Make sure that you know when the hail season is in your state and set up weather alerts if you do not always have the local radio station playing. The more that you can keep up with when to expect the next hailstorm, the easier it will be to take steps to minimize the potential damage to your car. If you do not get an alert but you see that the clouds are turning darker and thicker, then that is a good sign that you should get your car under cover.
Parking Under Cover
You might go to sleep one night and then wake up the next morning to find that there was an unexpected hailstorm that has caused massive damage to your car’s bodywork or windows. That is why it is always a good idea to have a parking spot that is covered. The better the cover, the less likely it is that your car will be damaged in the event of an overnight storm. If you do not have access to covered parking, then there are still some effective ways to keep your car safer. You can buy hail-proof car covers from lots of places these days, and these can be incredibly effective in terms of keeping damage to a minimum. If those car covers are outside of your budget, then even placing some protective layers of tarps, blankets, or sheets over your car at night can be very effective.
Repair Existing Damage
If you already have some hail damage on your car then any more will only make matters worse. The problem with hail is that it can dramatically reduce driver safety, and another round of hail damage can cost you thousands of dollars. Every dent on your chassis leaves your car less structurally sound, meaning that if you then have a collision there is a much greater risk of serious injury. Even if the car is safe to drive, multiple storms can cause severe damage that ends up totaling your car or more than doubling the repair cost. When you live somewhere like Colorado Springs that has a notorious hail season, it is always a good idea to get any previous hail damage to your car repaired before the next season starts. Look at experienced hail damage repair Colorado Springs experts who will know how to fix existing damage and can advise you on further protective measures you can take.
Getting Caught Out
No matter how safe you are and how many protective measures you have in place, a sudden hailstorm can still take you by surprise. If that happens when you are out driving, then you must get under some form of cover as quickly as possible to minimize damage. Gas stations can be a useful refuge, but if there are none about then covered car parks or even parking beneath a bridge can save you from car damage. If there is no cover available, then you should look for a large building that will block the direction that the hail is coming from. So, if the hail is blowing in from the east, then drive to the west side of the building. This will not be quite as effective as parking undercover but it can be a useful option if there are no covered parking spots. While this might not be completely foolproof, the goal is to stay safer during dangerous weather. The next time you get caught in a bad hailstorm, just remember to at least pullover and find a safe place to keep your car until the storm passes.
Not only can hail do damage to your car, there is even the risk of totaling it, or getting involved in an accident during harsh driving conditions. If you live in a state where hail is a frequent issue, then there are never too many preventive measures you can take in advance. When hail season is approaching, make sure that you are ready for it. The more prepared you are the safer both you and your vehicle will be.
