Maryland's spring and summer storm season.
Maryland sees its share of severe thunderstorms from spring through late summer, and hail is one of the most common — and most expensive — sources of sudden vehicle damage. A single storm can dent every horizontal panel on your car in minutes. Here's how to reduce the risk, and what to do if your vehicle gets caught in the open.
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The single best defense is covered parking. If you have a garage, use it when storms are forecast. No garage? Look for a parking structure, a carport, or even a gas station canopy as a last resort. Hail forms in strong updrafts inside thunderstorms, so when the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for Montgomery County, treat it as a hail warning too.
A thick blanket, moving pad, or dedicated hail car cover draped over the roof, hood, and trunk can absorb a surprising amount of impact. Floor mats work in a pinch for the most exposed panels. Never try to drive through a hailstorm to 'outrun' it — visibility drops to near zero and you risk a collision on top of hail damage. Pull under cover and wait it out.
Once it's safe, photograph the entire vehicle in good light — hail dents are easiest to see at a low angle. Even if damage looks minor, file with your insurance promptly; comprehensive coverage typically handles hail with no fault assigned to you. Small, paint-intact dents are often perfect candidates for paintless dent repair, which preserves your factory finish and costs far less than conventional bodywork.
Hail usually produces lots of small dents without breaking the paint — exactly the scenario paintless dent repair (PDR) was designed for. A technician works the metal back to shape from behind the panel, with no filler and no repainting. It's faster, cheaper, and keeps your original factory paint intact, which protects resale value. We assess every hail-damaged vehicle for PDR first before recommending conventional repair.
Hail is typically covered under comprehensive coverage, and it's a no-fault claim — meaning it shouldn't raise your rates the way an at-fault collision might. Check your policy and file promptly.
Usually yes. If the paint isn't cracked, paintless dent repair restores the panel from behind without filler or paint, keeping your factory finish and saving money. We assess every hail car for PDR first.
It depends on the number and size of dents and whether PDR is possible. PDR is significantly cheaper than conventional bodywork. We provide a free written estimate after inspecting the vehicle.
You can, but documenting and filing promptly protects your claim. Small dents don't get worse on their own, but addressing them keeps your car looking right and protects resale value.