What hail does to a car
A hailstone of 1 to 2 cm already dents the metal. Hail can also break glass and damage plastic parts.
The more dents there are and the deeper they are, the more the repair costs. Dents that stay lower the price of the car when you sell it. We inspect the dent and tell you whether the panel can be straightened without filler and paint. More about paintless dent repair
Dent repair: it depends on the paint
- The paint has not cracked: the dents are fixed without filler or paint, and the factory paint stays.
- The paint has cracked or the dent is too deep: the metal is pulled as close to its shape as possible, and then the part is painted.
A hail cover has a foam layer
A hail cover has a layer of foam between the outer fabric and the soft inner side. That layer absorbs the impact of the hailstones, so it cushions small and medium hail. In a heavy storm it at least stops hail from breaking through the windscreen.
On some covers the foam is only over the roof, bonnet and boot, and the doors and side windows are not protected. Check this before you buy.
It comes for the windscreen only, for half the car and for the whole car. It is bulky, so it is rarely in the car when hail starts. At home, when you have no garage, it is the best protection.
What to look for when you choose a car cover
- Size that fits the carA cover that is too big is hard to tie down, so the wind can move it or blow it away.
- Straps under the car and an elastic hemThey keep the cover in place even in strong wind. Hail often comes with wind.
- Soft inner sideIt protects the paint when you put the cover on and take it off. A cheap cover is usually a single layer, without a soft side.
- Air ventsThey reduce moisture under the cover.
- Well-sealed seamsWater usually gets through the seams and the zip, not through the fabric itself.
A cover against sun and ice
A cover protects even when there is no hail. In winter the car under it does not freeze as quickly. In summer strong sun does not age the dashboard and leather seats.
How to keep a cover from scratching the paint
- Put the cover on a clean, dry car. Dust and sand under the cover scratch the paint, and water stays trapped under it.
- Tighten all the straps. In strong wind, check that the cover has not slipped.
- Take the cover off from time to time, so both the cover and the car dry and air out.
The best protection is a roof over the car
A garage protects against hail better than any cover. When hail is forecast, even a paid public garage is cheaper than repairing the dents.
A carport protects less than a closed garage, but it stops part of the hail. A fine hail net can also be stretched over a carport or between posts.
In Serbia hail falls most often in May and June. The hail defence season runs from 15 April to 15 October. In those months, follow the weather forecast and the warnings of the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, on hidmet.gov.rs.
When hail starts and there is no cover, a blanket helps
A thick blanket over the roof, bonnet and boot prevents 4 out of 5 hail damages, according to the Austrian motoring club ÖAMTC.
- Fasten the blanket with elastic straps, or put its edges in the doors and windows, then close the doors and raise the windows. That way the wind does not blow it away.
- Cardboard or bubble wrap also works instead of a blanket.
- During the hail season keep a blanket in the boot, so it is at hand.
- Move the car away from trees and things the wind can knock over.
After hail: photos, claim, then repair
- Look over the car when it is clean and dry. Small dents only show in the reflection of light.
- Photograph every damaged part. Write down how many dents there are and how big they are, and the place, date and time of the hail.
- Report the damage to the insurer straight away, by phone or in writing. The deadline can be as short as 3 days. With some insurers, a report by phone has to be confirmed in writing within the same deadline.
- Wait for the insurer to inspect the car.
- After the inspection, send us photos and we will tell you which dents can be fixed without paint.
Do not repair the car until the insurer has inspected it, because otherwise it can refuse to pay.
Hail damage is paid by comprehensive cover, not third-party insurance
Comprehensive insurance is the insurance that pays for damage to your own car. It pays for hail damage when hail is in the policy. With some insurers hail is also in partial, mini comprehensive cover, which covers only some kinds of damage.
Third-party insurance does not pay for hail damage to your car. Under the Serbian Law on Compulsory Traffic Insurance, it covers only damage your car causes to others. Some insurers offer a hail add-on with third-party insurance, with an upper payout limit.
When the policy has an excess, you pay part of every claim yourself. More about comprehensive cover
