Can a Small Hailstorm Damage My Car in Killeen?

Killeen is well-known for its subtropical climate, so you can expect the seasons to merge into each other. The hot, humid summers gently lead into mild, cool winters.

But that doesn’t mean that life will be boring. The occasional thunderstorms come and shake things up, with hail taking center stage. And that means you should be prepared for these seasonal events. As a local, you’re probably already wondering how much damage to expect.

Today, we’ll take it slow and talk only about whether or not small hail can damage a car, and what you need to do if there is damage.

Can Small Hail Damage My Car?

If you’re looking for a one-word answer to Can small hailstones damage my car in Killeen,

then – maybe.

Hail, no matter how small, has the potential to damage your car. If you’re really lucky, then you’ll be one of the few people who make it out of a hailstorm without a scratch.

But we all know that Texas is the hailstorm capital of the US. Needless to say, there is a great chance that there will be hail damage to your car in Killeen if a storm rolls by.

How Much Damage Can Small Hail Cause?

It may be hard for you to believe, but the smallest hail can do a lot of damage. It just depends on various factors, such as:

Density

Believe it or not, all hailstones are not the same. Their densities can vary depending on how they’re formed. Some have large cavities filled with air, while others are composed partly of spongy ice (a mixture of ice, water, and air). These types usually have low densities.

But sometimes, hail contains several layers of ice. The stones grow when they ascend in an updraught. As the layers of ice build up, some stones become more dense than others. And the more dense the ice, the harder the hailstone, and the greater damage it can cause.

Speed

The faster the speed, the greater the damage – that’s common sense. Here’s the tricky part. The speed of hail can vary depending on its size, density, and wind conditions, among other things.

But besides this, the speed of the car also matters. If you’re out and about in Killeen and are suddenly caught in a hailstorm, the first thing to do is to pull over. A moving car can cause more damage than you think. The thing is, a moving car meets a hailstone head-on, and the force of the impact is greater the faster it’s going. So, the speed of your car can also influence how much your vehicle dents from hail, regardless of its size.

Material

Different materials absorb the impact of hail in different ways. So, how much hail damage can small hail cause to a vehicle?

Well, that depends on what part was hit and what material the area was made of. For instance, the metal body may get dented, while plastic parts may chip or break, and glass elements might break or shatter. 

As a side note, some cars are made from steel while others are made of aluminum. Unfortunately, aluminum gets damaged more easily than steel. So, if you own an aluminum car, there’s probably some bad news.

Additionally, certain areas of a car are more vulnerable to hail damage than others. For example, the roof, hood, and trunk are large and flat, so they’re likely to get hit more frequently and can be easily damaged. On the other hand, doors and side panels are less likely to be hit, unless the hail is falling at an angle.

What to Do After You See the Damage

Yes, it’s really there. No matter how many times you rub your eyes, you can’t unsee the signs of hail damage on your car.

So, what to do after a hailstorm in Killeen?

First things first. Document the damage and contact your insurance company. After that, you need to visit an auto body hail repair shop to discuss how the damage can be repaired.

Just so you have an idea of the cost of hail damage repair in Killeen, reports claim that if there is major damage, you could be facing thousands in repairs.

Yikes!

But don’t faint on me. Comprehensive insurance covers hail damage, so this figure will likely come down considerably – if you have this insurance.

On the bright side, the price tag for minor hail damage repair is much lower. So if you’re lucky and there’s been only minor damage, most of the time it can be fixed through PDR (paintless dent repair).

So find a specialist who looks into PDR and complete damage repair to get your car back on the road in the best condition.

Preventing Hail Damage to Your Vehicle in Texas

In the coming years, the incidence of volatile weather and hail will increase. Hailstorm weather risks in Killeen are a real concern for residents.

As the city expands, the urban heat island effect will have a greater influence on local weather dynamics. While the warmer air typically causes smaller hailstones to melt before they hit the ground, it can also create stronger updrafts that help create larger ones. So, if you understand Killeen Texas weather, hail damage is a growing concern. And the best course of action is to up your game and protect your car (and pocket) from repairs.

Many Texas homeowners are already hopping on board. They’re now using hail-resistant shingles (10% of roofs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area now use them) to protect their home and garage. Texas car dealerships are also using hail nets to protect their cars.

Alright, now it’s time you protected your cars too. (Like my grandpa always used to say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.) These basic vehicle hail protection tips can help:

• Avoid going out during a hailstorm. (For that, you need to be vigilant about local weather conditions.)
• Invest in good-quality hail covers.
• Park in your garage or covered parking whenever possible.

While you can’t control the weather, there are sure ways to prevent damage.

It’s a Wrap

Hail is hail, no matter what size it is. So yes, even small hail damage to your car is possible. And if your car is damaged in Killeen, luck is on your side. We have an auto repair shop right here in the city.

Rapid Auto Hail Repair has years of experience in repairing cars damaged by hail, especially with PDR. But that’s not all. We also offer remote auto hail damage inspection in Killeen, help file insurance claims, offer repair estimates, provide car pick up & drop off services, and more.

So feel free to visit us for any hail-related auto issues.