How to protect your car from hail damage in Alberta

According to the the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the frequency, severity and cost of severe weather events are rising across the country. From June until September, it’s hail season in Alberta and the Prairies. Properties in these regions are at risk of damage due to hail, heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Tips when hail strikes while driving

Hail can strike geographically anywhere and can cause major damage to your vehicle. If a hailstorm strikes without warning, take the following precautions to keep yourself and your vehicle safe:

• Do not get out of your vehicle if you are driving during a hailstorm.
• If you can pull over to the side of the road, do so safely.
• Park your car on an angle so that the hail hits the front of your car, since your windshield is made of reinforced glass, whereas the side and rear windows are not.
• In a severe storm, position your back to the windows inside your vehicle and lie down. Then, cover yourself with a blanket from your roadside emergency supply kit. This will protect you in the event that the hail breaks any of your car windows.
• If your car suffered damage to any of the windows, remove broken glass immediately to avoid injuries.
• Generally, your comprehensive auto policy will pay for the damages caused by severe weather and natural disasters.
• Locate a body shop that you trust to make any necessary repairs.
• Discuss the extent of the damage with the body shop and your insurance broker.
• Before leaving the shop, make sure that you are fully satisfied with the repairs made to your vehicle. Check for any remaining dents and obtain a written guarantee of their services.

Tips to protect your car from hail damage at home

Obviously, the best way to avoid hail damage to your car is to park inside a garage or carport. If that isn’t possible consider a hail car cover:

Hail car cover

There are many types of car covers on the market today, and most have a weatherproof exterior and an inner fleece liner. Many have multiple layers and are thicker, therefore offering better protection against harsh weather conditions. Most can handle small hail and strong winds, meaning car covers do indeed protect against hail damage.

See car cover options at cnet.com

Inflatable hail systems

Many car owners have no idea inflatable hail protection systems exist, but they are effective and unique-looking devices that can save your car from massive damage. Just like the name suggests, these inflate to protect cars from large hailstones. These can cost upwards of $500 but come with a remote and can run on a battery or on an AC adapter.

See some in action at hailprotector.com

Can a blanket protect my car against hail?

If you don’t have any other options covering your car with blankets can help. You will need a secure way to hold the blankets together and on your car however.

Safety First

Your safety is most important in our book! If there is a major hailstorm in your area, do not leave the comfort of your home or work to cover your car with blankets or move it to a covered location. You may suffer injuries while trying to protect your vehicle. Your safety is priceless; your vehicle’s safety is not.

Comprehensive Auto Coverage

While auto insurance is often seen as a way to protect drivers when they get into an accident, vehicles also need protection, as there are many ways they can be damaged without actually being involved in a collision. That’s where comprehensive coverage comes into play. If you don’t have this type of coverage included in your auto policy, you may want to consider adding it in order to give yourself an extra layer of security.

Comprehensive coverage kicks in and helps out with potentially expensive repairs or replacement costs resulting from a wide variety of incidents including hail damage.

To learn more about car insurance and how it may be able to keep you and your vehicle safe contact CMB Insurance at 780.424.2727 or click here to get a quote.