How do I protect my car from hail?: The 7 most important protective measures
The 7 most important measures to protect your car from hail :
- Garage parking : This is, of course, the simplest, safest, and most effective way to protect your car from hail. While not everyone has a garage, it's still possible to park safely without one.
- Carport or shelter: If you don't have a garage, a carport or shelter is a good alternative. While these coverings don't offer the same level of protection as an enclosed garage, they can at least protect your car from hail damage by absorbing some of the hail.
- On the road: Park under bridges, overpasses, canopies, or in an underground car park or parking garage and wait out the hailstorm. Important: Obey traffic laws! Hail is often accompanied by wind. Stay away from trees and objects that could fall.
- Hail nets: Hail nets are specially designed, tight-meshed nets that are stretched over the vehicle to protect it from hailstones. These nets are lightweight and easy to install. They can be stretched over posts, the house wall, or over the carport.
- Tarps: Another way to protect your car from hail is to use a special hail cover. These tarps feature a padded layer that absorbs impact energy, thus minimizing hail damage. Make sure the cover is securely attached to the car to prevent it from shifting during the storm. Manufacturers offer a variety of options in all price ranges and sizes, from windshield covers to semi-covered garages to full-size portable garages. It's important that the cover can be properly anchored to the car.
- Emergency measures: Stretch a wool blanket or bubble wrap over the car roof, hood, and trunk if necessary. Drivers can also carry these items in their cars as a precaution. Make sure they're securely fastened.
- Weather warnings: Keep an eye on weather forecasts, especially during hail-prone seasons.
Hail damage to a car is a classic case for partial comprehensive insurance . It covers the repair costs, such as dented sheet metal, shattered windows, or damaged plastic components. If the vehicle is declared a total loss, partial comprehensive insurance reimburses the replacement value less the residual value – usually regardless of fault.
However, policyholders are required to pay a deductible, depending on the contract, which is usually between €150 and €300. In practice, this means that minor hail damage below this threshold will not be covered. However, for extensive damage—for example, dents across the entire roof, hood, or doors—the repair costs can quickly reach several thousand euros.
For leased or financed vehicles, fully comprehensive insurance usually applies, which includes all the benefits of partial comprehensive insurance. Hail damage is also covered here. Restrictions may apply if the policyholder is accused of gross negligence – for example, if the car was left outdoors without protection despite an official storm warning. In such cases, the decisive factor is whether the insurance contract excludes a so-called "defense of gross negligence."
After a hailstorm, car owners should report the damage to their insurance company as soon as possible. Photos of the affected areas are helpful. Many companies set up central claims centers or mobile assessment centers after major storms to assess vehicle damage on-site. Repairs are usually handled by so-called partner workshops of the insurer, but can also be performed at a specialist workshop of your choice upon request – depending on the chosen plan.
Anyone who only has legally required motor vehicle liability insurance will be left with the costs of hail damage. Liability insurance only covers damage caused to third parties by the insured vehicle—for example, in an accident. In this case, there is no insurance coverage for damage caused by storms, including hail.
How does hail form? Hailstones are solid, frozen balls of ice that form during severe thunderstorms. The formation of hail is closely related to the rising air currents in storm clouds. When warm updrafts rise, they reach the colder layers of the atmosphere.
The rising updrafts cause water droplets to freeze into ice crystals, which are then propelled up and down within the cloud by the wind. This causes further layers of ice to build up around the crystals until they eventually grow into hailstones. If these stones are heavy enough, they fall to Earth as hail and can cause significant damage to vehicles and other surfaces.
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