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• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Driving in the hail
• Method 2 of 4: Park your car outside
• Method 3 of 4: Cover your car
• Method 4 of 4: Take precautions against hail

A hail storm can do a lot of damage to your car's windows, metal and paint, but there are things you can do to protect your car from this type of damage. If a storm is approaching, park the car in a safe place. Your garage or carport will protect your car, as will covered car parks and underground garages.You can also cover your car as best you can - you can use a car cover for this if you have one, but blankets, tarpaulins, or even floor mats can also help.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Driving in the hail

1. Stop under a bridge if possible. If you are already driving and the hail starts to come down, find the closest cover for your car. Bridges and covered gas stations are good options for taking last minute cover if you are in your car when it starts to hail.
2. Drive into the hail, if it falls at all, to protect your side windows. Your windshield is made of stronger glass than the side windows of your car. If you are driving and it starts to hail, drive straight into the hail so that it hits your windshield instead of your side windows.
3. Park on the opposite side of a building than the direction the wind is blowing. If the storm is coming from the east, park your car west of a tall building to protect against the hail. Strong winds may blow the hail past your car.

Method 2 of 4: Park your car outside

1. If possible, park your car in your garage. If you have a garage, this is the best place to park your car during a hail storm. Make sure you have enough space in your garage to put your car (or several cars) in it - you may need to clean up quickly when a storm is approaching. Make sure your car is parked before the storm hits.
2. Park your car in a covered parking lot if you have some time to prepare. If a storm is coming, you can park your car somewhere in a covered parking lot. Some shopping centers or places with many shops have covered car parks and parking spaces. You can also ask someone to follow you so they can drive you home once you park the car.

Method 3 of 4: Cover your car

1. If you don't have a cover or blankets, throw floor mats on your windshield. If you are away from home when the hail hits, put floor mats on the windows of your car. They probably won't completely cover your front or back window, but they can provide some protection.
   • Place the floor mats on your windows with the cloth side facing up. This way, the grippers or suction cups of the mat remain on the window and the mat will not slide off so easily in a lot of wind.
2. Use a cover for the car. You can buy covers for cars at most car stores and even some supermarkets where there is a car section. You need to know the year and model of your car, as most car covers are designed specifically for certain models.
3. Cover your car with blankets or tarpaulins if you don't have a cover for the car. Blankets or tarpaulins can protect the car and slightly absorb the impact of hail, preventing broken windows, bent metal and chipped paint. Lower the blankets from the top of the car, from the rear window all the way to the windshield. If possible, you should also hang blankets on the sides so that the side windows are also protected.
   • The more blankets you can use, the better. You should have at least one layer of blankets that covers your entire car, but if you can double or triple this, your car will be even better protected.
   • Cover your windows first if you don't have many blankets.
   • Secure the blankets to the bottom of your car with duct tape. This should not damage the paint, but it should leave a sticky substance after you remove the tape.

Method 4 of 4: Take precautions against hail

1. Sign up for meteorological alerts so you have time to protect your car. Most meteorological apps for smartphones will send notifications when severe weather is on the way. Make sure you have notifications turned on. You will also be told when the hail might be coming, so you have some time to protect your car.
2. Build a carport if you don't already have one. Some houses have a carport. If you have a carport, park your car under it when a hail storm is approaching. If you don't have a carport, you can buy a cheap carport that you can build yourself on most building supply websites.
   • Cheap carports simply cost between € 200 - € 250 (as opposed to thousands of euros for the more expensive ones). You should be able to build such a carport in an hour or two.
   • A carport with full coverage - and side walls - is the best option as it will also protect your car from side hail.
3. Buy a cover for your car if you live in a place where hail is common. If you have moved to a new place, check the meteorological history. If you live in a place where there are many hail storms, invest in a cover for your car. You can buy these in most car accessories stores.
   • You can buy a normal cover for the car or a specific cover made for the model of car you have.