How To Protect Your Car From Hail

The aftermath of a hailstorm isn’t just expensive to fix, but it’s quite stressful. Your home’s siding and windows are vulnerable to hail, but so is your car. Understandably, you may wonder how you can protect your car from hail.

Cover your car with flattened cardboard and furniture blankets to protect it from hail damage. You can also prevent hail damage if you put bags of soil or a hail blanket on your car. That said, the best way to protect your car from hail damage is to pull over and park in a garage.

Make sure to use bungee cords and ratchet straps when you cover your car. That way, everything will stay in place and offer the most protection. Follow along as we explore how to protect your car from hail.

How To Prevent Hail From Damaging Your Car

You can prevent hail damage on your car with countless household items, from bags of soil to cardboard. Hailstorms often hit at the least convenient times, so it always helps to have a few preventative measures on hand. Luckily, we found many ways to protect your car from hail that anyone can utilize during a storm.

1. Cardboard

It’s hard to predict a hailstorm in the spring even if you check the forecast all day. Because of that, you may need to quickly adjust and use household items to protect your car from hail. Even something as simple as cardboard boxes can protect your car’s windows and body from heavy hail.

Simply flatten some cardboard boxes and keep them in your garage or recycling container. Ideally, you should tie the flattened cardboard to your car with bungee cords or ratchet straps. Otherwise, the cardboard may fly away in the wind.

You can even reuse the cardboard throughout tornado season when hail is common, if it’s in good condition. Corrugated cardboard is the best option because of its density, but any type of cardboard is useful.

2. Furniture Blankets

Movers take many measures to protect your property, and that includes using furniture blankets. Furniture blankets are often made of durable materials, such as polyester and cotton. Thick furniture blankets are strong enough to reduce hail damage and protect your car.

You may need to use several furniture blankets to cover every inch of your car. Otherwise, you can find big furniture blankets that may cover everything. If possible, make sure to secure the furniture blankets to your car with ratchet straps and bungee cords, so the blankets don’t move.

3. Bedding

Something as simple as your bedding can prevent hail damage and protect your car. A comforter or a few sheets and blankets can help protect your car from hail. Ideally, you should use sheets and blankets that can cover your whole car.

Stuff a few pillows beneath the sheets to protect your windows from hail. The sheet may minimize surface damage, but pillows can help stop glass from shattering. Of course, this is mostly a great option if you have extra bedding at home.

4. Rugs

Nobody has time to run to the store during an unexpected hailstorm. However, you can protect your car from hail damage with something as simple as the rugs in your home. Rugs are often well-padded and thick enough to stop hail from cutting through the material.

Many homeowners have rugs in their kitchens and bathrooms, so you hopefully have a few to spare. The hail is unlikely to damage your rugs, but they may suffer some visual changes. First, cover your windshield and back window with rugs.

You may not have enough rugs to cover your car’s body, but that’s fine. Broken glass is the biggest risk with car hail damage, so that should be your priority. Fold the side mirrors if you can’t cover them, and let the rugs protect your windows from hail damage.

5. Hail Blanket

While bedding and furniture blankets are efficient, hail blankets are specifically designed to protect your car from hail damage. You can find hail blankets that cover the whole car, and that’s essential during a storm. Household remedies are effective, but they rarely cover enough of the car to offer full protection.

Hail blankets also come in several sizes to ensure you can prevent hail damage as much as possible. They typically come with straps to ensure they can withstand heavy winds. You can easily store a hail blanket in your garage, basement, or closet when you don’t need it.

6. Bags Of Soil

Hail can damage even the sturdiest and best-protected cars. Luckily, soil bags are the best household items to protect your car from hail damage. That’s especially true if you have new, unopened bags of soil.

The hail may tear the bag’s plastic surface, but it’s unlikely to get through the soil within it. It’s a great idea to lay a sheet, blanket, or furniture pad on your car before you put the bags of soil on top. That way, you don’t have to worry about a mess if the hail tears through the plastic bag that contains the soil.

Bags of soil that weigh at least 10 pounds are the best option to prevent hail damage on your car. Put the bags of soil on your rear window, windshield, and sunroof to protect your car.

7. Plywood

Plywood may be thin, but it’s quite sturdy. You can protect your car from hail with a simple sheet of plywood. This is the best option if you have a car with a roof rack. Otherwise, it will be hard to keep the plywood in place.

That said, plywood can only protect your car from hail if you fasten it. Otherwise, the wind, rain, and hail could move the plywood and damage your car. You can easily fasten the plywood to your car with ratchet straps and furniture pads.

8. Fold Your Mirrors

It’s no secret that hail damage can cause thousands of dollars in car repairs. Because of that, you must protect every part of your car that you can, including the mirrors. It costs up to $300 to replace a single side mirror for a car, and that’s common with hail damage.

Fold your car’s side mirrors inward toward the vehicle’s body before a hailstorm. This will at least protect the glass from hail damage. Granted, this won’t protect the windshield and rear window, but it could save $600 or more if both mirrors break.

9. Park In The Garage

Not everyone is lucky enough to have access to a garage at their home during a hailstorm. However, you must take advantage of your garage if you have one, as it’s the easiest way to protect your car from hail. Keep in mind that your garage door may suffer hail damage.

It’s also a great idea to pull into the nearest parking garage if a storm hits while you’re driving. Not only will the hail damage your car, but it’s also dangerous to drive during a hailstorm.

Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage?

Car insurance policies typically cover hail damage if you have a comprehensive plan. Granted, coverage varies between insurance providers, but many policies cover hail damage. That said, everything from your driving record to your deductible can affect whether you get coverage for hail damage.

Summing It Up

You can protect your car from hail damage if you put furniture blankets and cardboard on the roof and windows. Old bedding, hail blankets, and plywood can also protect your car from hail if you can’t park in a garage. Otherwise, you can put bags of soil on your car, so the hail won’t dent your car and shatter the windows.

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