Repairing Your Car from Hail Storm Damage

If your car has suffered hail storm damage, you can undertake the repairs yourself. Keep in mind that every year hailstorms cause thousands of dollars in damage and uncovered automobiles are particularly vulnerable. Hailstorms can ruin the finish on the surface of your car and leave unattractive dents as well.

Your car's roof, trunk, and hood are the most vulnerable to hailstorm damage. Here are a few proven techniques you can use to repair hailstorm damage on your car.

Step 1 - Expose the Car to Sunlight

One of the most common techniques people use to repair hailstorm damage to their car, is to expose the vehicle to an abundant amount of sunlight. This is because the sunlight will cause the damaged surface of the car to heat up and expand. In this way, small dents on the car's surface will even out. This method is ideal if you live in a hot sunny region. Keep in mind that the longer the car stays under the sun, the better. But you still need to be cautious about the potential damage the sun can cause through its ultraviolet rays.

Step 2 - Use a Hair Dryer

Instead of natural sunlight, you can also use a hair dryer to repair hailstorm dent damage on your car. You need to aim the hair dryer towards the damaged area of the car and wait until you repair the dent completely. Use intervals of about two minutes each time when using the hair dryer.

Do not allow contact between the lip of the hair dryer and the car because the lip would be very hot and can cause further damage to the vehicle. Leave a distance of about 2 to 4 inches between the vehicle and the hair dryer. Keep in mind that you can use this method only to repair light or shallow dents.

Step 3 - Use Dry Ice

Another way to repair hailstorm damage is through the use of dry ice and a hair dryer. Put a block of dry ice on the damaged surface of the car. Leave the block in place for approximately 2 minutes and wait until you see that frost has accumulated and surrounded the damaged area. Remove the dry ice and utilize a hair dryer until the dents even out.

Step 4 - Prevent Hailstorm Damage

Prevention is better than cure, therefore try to avoid hail storm damage in the first place by parking your car in a closed, sheltered area such as an attached or detached garage, particularly in the seasons when hailstorms are very common.

If you have to leave your car unsheltered, then consider covering it with a car cover made of medium-thick fabric and having a waterproof cover to go on top of it.