How to protect your car from hail damage

By  AAMI 02 December 2021

Aussies are no strangers to unpredictable weather. Scorching hot one minute, hail falling the next — wild weather affects the country in many ways.

So, how can you best prepare your vehicle? 

Know the weather forecast in advance

We all know it can change, but it’s useful to know the weather forecast in advance. It can help you anticipate whether there’s any weather heading your way that could be dangerous to you or your car. Easy ways to check the forecast include:

Being ahead of the game means you’ll have more time to prepare if you need to.

Before you make a claim, make sure you check if you're covered for hail damage in your policy's relevant Product Disclosure Statement.

Prepare for anything

The best way to protect your car is to park it in a carport or garage.

But, if you don’t have access to a garage, or if you’re driving when a hail storm hits, it may be worth considering a hail cover. Depending on the size of the hail, a hail cover may not prevent damage entirely, but it’ll probably reduce it. Just remember to practice putting it on your car before a storm hits so that you know how long it takes to secure.

Or — in an emergency — you could try covering your car with heavy blankets and tying them down. This isn’t a perfect solution, but it could soften the impact of light hail stones or small branches.

If you’re heading out and there’s a storm forecast, plan where you’ll park ahead of time. Avoid parking your vehicle under trees, as falling branches and trees can be very dangerous, or around areas that are prone to flooding.

Slow down

If you encounter challenging weather conditions while you’re driving, it’s important to keep yourself safe. Extreme weather can be dangerous and affect the road surface you’re driving on, particularly during and after hail or heavy rain, causing it to become slippery or soft. If you find yourself in a situation like this:

  • drive cautiously and slowly
  • turn your lights on, and
  • if visibility is affected, pull over to the side of the road and wait for it to improve. 

These conditions can be scary. Take things slowly, stop completely if it’s safe to do so or seek out shelter under an awning — like at a petrol station or covered car park. Never increase your speed because you think you can beat the oncoming storm — that could lead to an accident.

Consider car insurance

Car Insurance is another way you can make sure you’re covered during a weather event. Though we can’t control the weather (we’re good, but we’re not that good), we can make sure you can repair or replace your car if you’re affected by it.

AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance will cover you for accidental loss or damage to your car caused by an insured event, like hail. It also provides cover for other severe weather events including floods and storms.

 

Discover AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance

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Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI) trading as AAMI. Any advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before you make any decision regarding this product. The Target Market Determination is also available.