Hail Damage on Your Car? What to Do in Melbourne

Straight after the storm

1. Don’t drive through hail if you can avoid it — pull over somewhere safe and covered, never under trees or power lines.
2. Once it’s over, photograph every panel in good light: roof, bonnet, boot, doors, and any cracked glass, mirrors or lights.
3. Check the windscreen and sunroof. Cracked glass can let water in and should be dealt with first.
4. Note the date, time and where the car was parked.

Who pays for hail damage?

Hail isn’t another driver’s fault, so there’s no at-fault insurer to claim from. Hail damage is usually covered by comprehensive car insurance — not by third party policies. Your excess normally applies; check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the details.

Lodge the claim with your insurer as soon as you can. After a big storm, insurers and repairers get flooded with work, and the earlier you’re in the queue, the sooner your car is fixed.

Paintless dent removal or panel and paint?

Most hail dents can be fixed with paintless dent removal (PDR): technicians massage the dent out from behind the panel, keeping the original factory paint. It’s usually faster than traditional repairs and keeps the finish original.

If the paint is cracked, the dents are very deep or sharp, or they sit on a panel edge, the panel may need conventional repair and paint — or replacement. Your insurer’s assessor decides what’s approved.

Choosing who repairs it

Many comprehensive policies let you choose your repairer. If yours does, you can nominate us when you lodge the claim: we collect the car, work with the assessor, have it repaired by a trusted partner workshop and bring it back. Choosing your own repairer.

Don’t sit on it

• Small hail dents rarely get better — and cracked paint can let rust start
• Insurers can ask why a claim was lodged months after a storm
• An unrepaired hail-damaged car is worth noticeably less if you sell or trade it