Hail damage is a serious concern for car owners across the world, especially during seasons when hail storms are prevalent. Hail stones can range from small pebbles to large stones that can cause significant damage to a vehicle, including dents, scratches, and even shattered windows. But you want to know: can hail damage total your car?
In some cases, the extent of damage caused by hailstones could total a car. It is therefore essential to understand what constitutes hail damage and how it can lead to an auto insurance company declaring your vehicle as “totaled.”
Definition of Hail Damage
Hail damage refers to any visible or hidden damages that result from hailstones striking your car. These damages could include dents, cracks, chips in paint, or even broken windows. The intensity of hailstones striking your vehicle determines the extent and severity of the resulting damages.
Overview of How Hail Damage Can Total a Car
When it comes to auto insurance claims related to hail damage repair costs, “total loss” refers to situations where the cost of repairing damaged vehicles exceeds their actual cash value (ACV). The ACV means how much money you would receive if you were selling your car in its current condition without repairs.
In other words, when the cost of repair exceeds the actual value of a vehicle before being damaged by hailstones, it’s usually cheaper for insurance companies to declare such vehicles as total losses instead of fixing them. Moreover, if your car sustains extensive structural damage or has become unsafe for driving due to its damaged state after being hit with hailstones- auto insurance company may also declare that it has been totaled.
Understanding what constitutes hail damage and how severe it can be will help you make informed decisions about whether or not you should file an insurance claim on your damaged vehicle. In this article’s following sections’ we will delve more into factors that determine severity levels of hail damage, types of hail damage, how it can total a car, steps to take after hail damage occurs and prevention measures for car owners.
Factors that Determine Hail Damage Severity
Hailstones come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small pellets to golf ball-sized chunks. The severity of hail damage to a car depends on several factors, including the size and density of the hailstones, wind speed and direction during the storm, angle at which the hail hits the car, and age and condition of the vehicle.
Size and Density of Hailstones
The size and density of hailstones play a critical role in determining the extent of damage sustained by a car. Larger hailstones with higher densities can cause significant dents or even cracks in glass windows. Smaller stones may not inflict extensive damage but can still scratch or chip paint.
Speed and Direction of Wind During the Storm
The force exerted by wind during a hailstorm can increase or decrease damage severity depending on its speed and direction. Strong winds can propel larger stones at higher speeds, resulting in more serious dents or cracks upon impact with a vehicle’s surface.
Angle at Which Hail Hits Car
The angle at which hail hits a car is another factor that determines how severely it will be damaged. If it strikes head-on, it’s likely to cause more significant damage than if it hit at an angle.
Age and Condition of Car
Older cars are often more susceptible to severe hail damage due to their weaker structural integrity compared to newer cars. Additionally, if your vehicle has pre-existing damage or is not well-maintained, then even smaller-sized stones could cause more severe harm. Knowing these factors that determine hail damage severity is crucial so that you can take appropriate measures before parking your vehicle during a storm.
Types of Hail Damage
Hail damage can manifest in different ways, depending on several factors such as the size and density of hailstones, the speed and direction of wind during the storm, angle at which the hail hits the car, and age and condition of the car.
Dents
Dents are perhaps the most common type of hail damage. They can range from small dings to large craters on a car’s body or roof. The severity of dents depends on several factors such as the size and density of hailstones and their velocity when they hit the car’s surface.
Minor dents may be fixed by a paintless dent repair (PDR) technician who uses specialized tools to push out small dings without damaging or repainting affected areas. However, severe dents may require more invasive procedures that involve replacing panels or repainting entire sections.
Cracks or breaks in glass
Hailstones can also crack or break windows, mirrors, windshield wipers, headlights, and other glass components on a vehicle. These damages compromise both aesthetics and safety since broken glass can injure passengers in a collision or impede visibility while driving. It is crucial to address any cracked or broken glass immediately after a hailstorm to avoid further damage or accidents.
Scratches or chips in paint
Paint scratches or chips occur when hailstones strip off layers of paint from a vehicle’s exterior during impact. These damages not only affect aesthetics but also expose metal surfaces to rusting over time if left unaddressed. Small scratches can be repaired using touch-up paint kits that match your vehicle color; larger ones may require repainting entire sections.
Overall, it is essential to assess all types of hail damage thoroughly after a storm before deciding how best to repair them. Depending on severity levels for each type of damage and the age and value of the vehicle, it may be more cost-effective to replace rather than fix a hail-damaged car.
How Hail Damage Can Total a Car
Cost to repair exceeds the value of the car
In some cases, the cost to repair hail damage can exceed the actual value of the car. If this is the case, a car insurance company may declare it a total loss.
The cost of repairing hail damage depends on various factors such as the severity and extent of damage, make and model of the car, and labor charges. Insurance companies consider these variables when assessing if repairing your vehicle is worth it.
Extent and severity of damage makes it unsafe to drive
Hailstorms can cause significant damage to a car that renders it unsafe to drive. Hailstones may break windows or crack windshields creating a hazard while driving.
Additionally, large dents in essential parts like hoods or roofs can affect the stability and control of your vehicle while on the road. If an expert mechanic determines that your vehicle is not safe for you or others on roads after hail hits it, an insurance company may declare it as total.
Insurance company declares it a total loss
If an insurance adjuster determines that repairing your vehicle is not feasible due to cost or safety concerns, they will declare your car as totaled. This means that instead of covering repairs costs up to its value (minus any deductible), they will write you a check equaling what they think your car was worth before experiencing hail damages. You may also choose to buy back your damaged vehicle so that you can keep driving if there are no safety issues with doing so.
Hailstorms are one of those natural disasters one cannot avoid entirely but taking precautions might reduce its impact on vehicles during such situations. Being informed allows you to assess how best you want to deal with damages caused by nature’s wrath like hailstorms upon our assets – cars in this case.
Steps to Take After Hail Damage Occurs
Assessing the extent and severity of damage
The first step after a hailstorm damages your car is to assess the extent and severity of the damage. Look for dents, cracks or breaks in glass, scratches or chips in paint, and any other damage. It’s important to document all the damages with photos and notes.
Contacting insurance company for appraisal and repair options
The next step is to contact your insurance company to report the hail damage. They will send an adjuster to appraise the damage and provide you with repair options. Some insurance companies may have preferred repair shops that they work with or offer different levels of coverage depending on your policy.
Deciding whether to repair or replace vehicle
After receiving a quote from your insurance company on repairs, you will need to decide whether it’s worth repairing your car or if it should be replaced. If the cost of repairs exceeds the value of your car, it may be declared a total loss by your insurance company.
Prevention Measures for Hail Damage
Parking under cover or in a garage during storms.
Parking under cover during storms can help protect your car from hail damage. If you don’t have access to covered parking, consider finding a nearby parking garage or using other forms of shelter like overhangs at gas stations.
Using blankets, tarps, or other protective covers.
If you do not have access to covered parking or cannot find shelter during a storm, using blankets, tarps, or other protective covers can help shield your vehicle from hailstones.
Installing hail guards on windows.
Hail guards are mesh screens that can be installed over windows as an extra layer of protection against hail damage. They are not foolproof, but they can help prevent or minimize damage.
Conclusion
Hail damage can be a serious problem for car owners, but taking preventative measures and knowing what to do in the event of hail damage can save you time, money, and headaches. By parking under cover during storms or using protective covers and installing hail guards on windows, you can reduce the risk of hail damage to your vehicle.
In the event that your car does sustain hail damage, remember to assess the extent and severity of the damages, contact your insurance company for appraisal and repair options, and decide whether it’s worth repairing or replacing your car. Stay informed and be prepared!
