It's like one of those things you would only see in a movie: free-falling hailstones pummeling an unsuspecting car. In the real world, hail damage is less dramatic. But it still happens and when it does, the results can be costly. What causes small hailstones to cause such significant damage? This article will discuss factors that influence the amount of damage hail can cause to a vehicle and types of hailstone damages.

Hail Damage to Vehicles

Let's take a look at what causes damage to autos. In general, hailstones striking the surface of an object can do one of three things: bounce off, break into pieces (splash), or penetrate the surface. If a hailstorm occurs, people are advised to get into their vehicles, close all windows, and place a blanket over the top of the car for protection against hail.

Can Minor Hail Impact Cause Damage to a Car?

The first question that comes to mind is, "can small hail damage a vehicle?" This can happen when the hailstones' size is too large for their corresponding frequency of occurrence. This is when a car's paint, or bodywork, is damaged by small hail. Small hailstones bounce off of a larger hailstone, creating a reaction that causes both to break up into smaller pieces. The broken pieces of the smaller hailstone can then bounce off the vehicle, causing additional damage.

Common Hail Damages to Vehicles

A couple of places in a vehicle get hit by hail. These include the vehicle's hood, roof, trunk lid, and lights. Hailstone damage can be severe depending on the size and speed of the stone when it hits the car's bodywork. Here are common hailstone damages to look out for:

Damage on Paint

Hailstones hitting your vehicle will cause dents and cracks in the paint. If a stone is large enough to break through the color, it may create more underlying severe damage inside your car's bodywork. This can cause a leak in electrical wiring, airbags, and other safety equipment.

Damage to Lights

Small hail can also crack lights easily by destroying their glass covers or lenses. You will have to replace these damaged headlights for safe driving.

Damage to Windshield

Light hailstones can break windshields, creating a crack in the glass surface. Therefore, you must be more cautious while driving in such conditions.

Damage to the Trunk Lid

The hood and trunk lid gets hit very often by small hailstones. If a stone is large enough to break through the paint, it may create more underlying severe damage inside your car's bodywork.

Hail Damage Prevention

There are a lot of things you can do to avoid hail damage to your car. Here are some tips that you can use to protect against hail damage:

Vehicle Make

Ensure the vehicle has suitable tires for driving in different weather conditions. Ensure that the tires have enough air circulation to prevent any ice buildups.

Windshield Wipers

Ensure that the windshield wipers are in good working condition and cleaned regularly, especially after driving through hail storms or rain storms.

Standard Maintenance

Keep your vehicle maintained regularly. Get the oil changed, check tire pressure and filter condition, etc.

The Tire

The tire quality matters a lot when it comes to driving in multiple weather conditions. Check your tires and ensure they have enough threads to hold the grip on ice and snow-covered roads. Also, ensure that your tires are adequately inflated, as this will keep them from blowing out or causing accidents during hailstorms.

Hail Inducers

If you want to help prevent hail damage to your car, use hail reflectors or hail inducers on the roof of your vehicle. It may sound like a bad joke, but these devices work by reflecting sunlight and heat back into the atmosphere. This creates a convection current that helps prevent storms from forming in the first place.

Insurance

Liability will cover some damages caused by weather-related incidents, but it does not substitute for physical damage to vehicles. In order to get this in your favor, you must be insured. Check for a good car insurance company that offers hail damage coverage.

Damage to vehicles can be catastrophic if a car is damaged by hail more extensive than a softball. Despite its seeming harmless name, hail is still quite dangerous to vehicles. Safety precautions should always be taken while driving in hail storms and severe weather conditions.