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Tag: comprehensive insurance

how to prevent hail damage on car

5 Tips for Protecting Your Car From Hail Damage

Written by Formula 1 Collision on . Posted in Auto Body Repair, Dent Repair, Tips and Advice.

Tucson gets plenty of sun, but during monsoon season, the weather can turn wild in an instant. And while it’s nice to get some rain once in a while, it’s an entirely different story when storms come with hail. It doesn’t take a lot for hail, even small stones, to damage your vehicle and leave behind dings, cracked glass, and costly repairs.

The good news? With these five practical tips on how to prevent hail damage on a car from the paintless dent repair (PDR) experts at Formula 1 Collision Center, you can rest easy this season knowing that you’re prepared for anything.

1. Use Covered Parking Whenever Possible

The most effective and easiest form of hail protection is parking under cover. Whether it’s a garage at home, a carport, or even a parking garage at the mall, covered parking gives your car a shield when hail starts falling. If you don’t have a permanent covered space, think about putting up a portable carport during storm season.

2. Invest in a Quality Car Cover

A car cover can blunt some impact, but they aren’t all created equal. For optimal hail protection, select a thick, padded car cover that can effectively cushion the impact. Keep it in your trunk, and you’ll be ready to protect your car anywhere, even if you’re not at home when the weather turns.

3. Stay Alert to Impending Weather

Hail doesn’t always give a lot of warning, but modern weather alerts can make a huge difference in protecting cars during hailstorms. Download a local weather app that pushes real-time storm notifications. If you know a storm is coming, you’ll have time to move your car to safety instead of scrambling at the last second.

4. Prioritize Storm Preparedness

Storm preparedness means having a plan before the skies open up. Knowing how to prevent hail damage on a car includes identifying the closest places to take cover when extreme weather strikes. However, if hail is in the forecast and you can’t find covered parking, position your vehicle alongside a structure that can block wind-driven hail.

5. Review Your Vehicle’s Insurance Coverage

Even with the best preparation, hail damage can still occur. Comprehensive insurance helps cover the cost of hail damage repairs, so you don’t take a big financial hit after a storm. If you don’t have the right coverage, talk to your insurer about adding it to your policy.

Stay One Step Ahead of Storms

Arizona’s monsoon season doesn’t have to leave your car battered and bruised. Paying attention to when bad weather is on the horizon and moving or covering the vehicle before the ice balls start falling from the sky can greatly reduce the risk of damage.

Still, knowing how to prevent hail damage on a car isn’t always foolproof. If hail does somehow sneak past your defenses, Formula 1 Collision Center in Tucson is here to help. We specialize in PDRs for hail damage and can restore your car’s finish to its pre-storm condition.

Call us at (520) 369-4291 today to schedule an inspection or repair.

what does collision mean in auto insurance

What Does Collision Mean in Auto Insurance?

Written by Formula 1 Collision on . Posted in Collision Repair.

Buying an auto insurance policy provides several types of protection, including liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. Each category covers something different, and how the insurer handles your claim depends on the circumstances of what happened and who’s responsible for the damage. 

As Tucson’s collision center for over 40 years, Formula 1 Collision Center deals with many auto insurance claims. One of the most common questions drivers ask is, “What does collision mean in auto insurance?” Keep reading to learn the answer and what it means for your vehicle after an accident, and call us at (520) 369-4291. 

The Basics of Collision Insurance Coverage 

The simple answer to “What does collision mean in auto insurance?” is that it’s the portion of your policy that pays for the damage to your vehicle in the event of an accident. If you are at fault in an accident with another vehicle or with an object like a sidewalk, tree branch, utility pole, or pothole, then collision insurance coverage will pay for the repairs to your vehicle. It will also cover damage if you’re in an accident involving just your car, like a rollover. 

What Collision Insurance Doesn’t Cover 

Collision insurance will only cover damages to your vehicle. It does not cover any damage to another driver’s car or pay their medical bills when you’re at fault for an accident. Those claims fall under your liability insurance coverage. 

Collision insurance also will not cover theft or damage to your vehicle due to vandalism. These claims fall under your comprehensive insurance. The main difference between comprehensive vs. collision insurance is that collision coverage applies to things you can control, while comprehensive coverage is for incidents out of your control. In other words, if you’re driving and hit something, then you can make a collision claim.

Do I Have to Have Collision Insurance? 

Although liability insurance is mandatory for all drivers, state law doesn’t require drivers to carry collision or comprehensive insurance coverage. However, if you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender will most likely require you to have these policies. 

Because collision insurance can be expensive unless you select a high deductible, many drivers who don’t have to carry it opt to decline the coverage. Insurers will only pay for repairs up to the actual cash value of your vehicle at the time of the accident, so it doesn’t always make sense for older cars and trucks that aren’t worth much more than the deductible. 

Get Help with Insurance Claims After a Collision 

Understanding “What does collision mean in auto insurance?” and other intricacies of your policy can help ensure you have all the protection you need against significant losses if something goes wrong while you’re traveling around Tucson. 

Working with Formula 1 Collision Center can also eliminate unnecessary headaches during an already stressful situation, thanks to our experience working with insurance and restoring vehicles to like-new condition. Plus, we understand the importance of maintaining the value of your car after an accident repair. Give us a call at (520) 369-4291 with questions about the collision repair process or to request an estimate for repairs.