Hailstorms and Hurricanes: Weather-Related Auto Body Damage in Surrey, BC

Even a minor storm can cause major damage to your vehicle, and even minor damage can become major over time, especially without immediate repairs. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to reduce the risk of hailstorm, hurricane, and other storm damage to your vehicle. The first step is understanding the biggest threats to your vehicle and how hailstorms and other types of storms can affect your vehicle’s safety, beauty, and value. Here is a closer look at hailstorms and hurricanes and understanding weather-related auto body damage in Surrey, BC.

How Hailstorms Impact Your Vehicle’s Safety, Beauty, and Value

Hail can range in size from a pea to a softball. While even small pieces of hail have the potential to do major damage to your vehicle, damage from golfball- and softball-sized hail can be catastrophic. Hail doesn’t just do cosmetic damage; it can damage important vehicle safety features, destroy your windshield, damage your paint, and affect your vehicle’s overall safety and value. Some of the ways that hail can impact your vehicle include:

• Reduced Structural Integrity – Hail dents can weaken the structural integrity of certain parts of your vehicle, like its frame, roof, fenders, and bumpers. This increases your risk of injury or major auto damage in a collision or accident. Over time, this damage will get worse and can lead to a total loss of your vehicle.
• Compromised Safety – Hail can crack and chip windows and windshields, affecting your visibility. Minor cracks can get worse over time and cause the windshield to shatter unexpectedly, leading to major safety hazards. Depending on where the damage occurs and how extensive it is, it can interfere with vehicle safety features like cameras, windows, mirrors, windshield wipers, and sensors.
• Mechanical Damage – Hail can damage your vehicle’s mouldings and allow water to enter. This can damage electrical components and affect safety features like airbags.
• Increased Risk of Flooding and Water Damage – Without repair, hail damage can allow water intrusion, leading to rust and corrosion of crucial vehicle parts and components. You are also at a greater risk of flooding and water damage, as well as mould growth, foul odours, and upholstery damage.
• Reduced Resale Value – Without immediate hail damage repair, your vehicle’s resale value may diminish.

Common Types of Hail Damage to Vehicles

Hail can cause a wide range of problems, ranging from minor to major. If these problems aren’t addressed quickly, there is a greater risk of them getting worse, more expensive, and more dangerous over time. The most common types of hail damage to vehicles are:

• Chipped and Cracked Paint – Hail can chip and crack your vehicle’s paint, which affects its appearance and exposes the metal underneath to the elements, leading to rust and corrosion.
• Dents and Dings – All sizes of hail can cause auto body damage ranging from minor dents and dings to major structural damage.
• Broken or Chipped Windows, Mirrors, or Windshield – Hail can break, chip, or crack windows, windshields, and mirrors.

Tips for Protecting Your Vehicle From Storm and Hail Damage

The best way to save money and avoid the stress and inconvenience of vehicle storm damage is to be proactive. Pay attention to the weather, understand the risk of storms and storm damage in your area, and keep up with preventive maintenance on your vehicle. Here are some tips for protecting your vehicle from storm and hail damage:

• Stay on top of preventive vehicle maintenance, which can ensure the safety and integrity of your vehicle.
• Pay attention to local weather forecasts so that you know if a storm is coming.
• Be aware of the risk of storm damage in your area due to high winds, hail, sleet, snow, ice, extreme heat, and extreme cold.
• Park your vehicle in a garage or covered area during storms.
• Keep trees and other vegetation on your property trimmed and pruned to reduce the risk of them falling during a storm.
• Remove or secure any objects around your home’s exterior that could become flying projectiles in a storm.
• Use a quality car cover if there is a risk of heavy rain, snow, hail, or extreme cold.
• Do not park your vehicle under trees, underneath or near unsecured structures or objects, or near power lines during a major storm.

l  Evaluate your insurance policy each year and consider investing in comprehensive insurance coverage.

What to Do if Your Vehicle Is Damaged by Hail

It’s important to act quickly if your vehicle suffers from storm damage or hail damage. Delaying repairs can cause them to get more extensive and expensive, and can threaten the safety of your vehicle and your safety when on the road. It’s important to report damage to your insurance company right away and begin the claims process, as a delay might affect claim approval. Here is a look at what to do after storm damage to your vehicle:

• Document the damage thoroughly with photos and videos.
• Review your insurance policy to confirm the damage is covered and to get information about how to file an insurance claim for hail damage or storm damage.
• Contact your auto insurance provider to begin the claims process.
• Get a detailed estimate for vehicle repairs from a trusted local auto body shop.

Need Help After a Storm? Call Columbia Collision Repairs

Columbia Collision Repairs has been providing quality, reliable storm damage repair for vehicles in Surrey, BC, since 1982. We have a team of highly skilled and trained certified auto repair technicians. We make it easy to get a detailed estimate for the cost of storm damage vehicle repair, and we’ll work with your insurance company on the claims process. Call us now or contact us online to make an appointment, or bring your vehicle into our drive-through inspection centre; no appointment is needed. We specialize in dent and ding repair, fender and bumper repair, auto glass repair and replacement, auto body repairs, and vehicle paint jobs.