What Size of Hail Causes Damage to Cars?

Arizona’s weather may not rival Texas and Kansas, but every so often, a nasty hailstorm sends locals scrambling to find an auto body shop in Tucson, AZ. If hail pops up in the forecast, should you worry? What size hail damages cars enough to require repairs?

Below, Formula 1 Collision Center describes the size of hail to dent a car and what insurers might say.

Here’s How Big Hail Damages Cars

The size of hail to dent cars does matter, but let’s start with the unfortunate truth: large stones are worse, but hailstones of any size can potentially damage your vehicle. Based on the size of the hailstones, here’s the type of vehicle damage to expect:

• Pea-sized: Usually doesn’t harm cars, but jagged edges can scuff the paint
• Nickel-sized: May damage the paint on your car’s roof and hood
• Quarter-sized: Causes more serious paint scratches and dents
• Golf ball-sized: Can result in large, difficult-to-repair dings and broken windows

What size hail damages cars? Hailstones with a diameter of one inch or more aren’t good. Any hail larger than a golf ball will cause major damage to unprotected cars, often resulting in a total loss. When strong winds increase the speed of falling hail, the damage can escalate quickly.

The Impact of Hail Size and Car Damage On Your Repair Job

Your auto insurance policy likely covers the cost of repairs due to hail damage unless you only have liability coverage. Insurance companies generally use these four categories to describe the severity of the damage to your car:

1. “Cosmetic damage, intact paint:” This level covers minor dents but no real paint damage.
2. “Cosmetic damage, scratched paint:” This category covers both hail dents and some scratched paint.
3. “Severe damage, intact paint:” This level of damage is unusual, but it can sometimes happen that hail mechanically damages your car without dinging the paint. In these cases, the insurance company may opt to write off your vehicle.
4. “Severe damage, scratched paint:” Is there scratched paint and serious mechanical damage? Your insurer will probably consider it a total loss.

Now you know more about what size hail damages cars and the hail basics your insurer may include in your policy. Next, you may want some ideas for hail damage prevention.

Can You Prevent Major Car Damage From Hail?

As with many things, prevention is better than cure. It’s far easier to protect your car from hail than it is to repair its uncontrolled hail damage.

If hail is on the horizon, park your car in a garage. Failing that, shield it with a hail cover. A hail cover is a fabric sheet designed to lessen the impact and prevent paint scratches.

Call Formula 1 Collision Center For Answers About Hail Damage, Car-Sized Hail Covers, and Reliable Repairs for Your Vehicle

What size hail damages cars? It’s not all about hail size. For vehicle damage, the wind speed, car’s location, and hailstone shape also matter, and you’ll need a dependable auto body shop either way.

Call Formula 1 Collision Center at (520) 369-4291 to expertly repair all types of car body damage, including paintwork and hail dents.