Final Up to date on June 29, 2023 by Kristin

Many drivers have skilled driving in robust winds, heavy rains and thunderstorms, however might by no means have encountered a extreme hailstorm. This strong type of precipitation could cause expensive harm to your rental automotive.

In keeping with the U.S. Nationwide Extreme Storms Laboratory (NSSL), hail is a type of strong precipitation consisting of ice that varieties inside thunderstorm updrafts. Hailstorms can happen through the spring, summer season or fall months. The bulk occur between Could and September.

Hailstorms are most frequent in Midwest and mountain states in a area appropriately often known as Hail Alley. Three states—Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming—are inclined to get extra hail than different states. The town of Cheyenne, Wyoming, experiences extra hailstorms than every other metropolis, with upwards of 10 hailstorms a yr.

A hailstone will be as small as a pea or as giant as a grapefruit and a hailstorm can wreak havoc in a really quick period of time, probably inflicting hundreds of {dollars} in harm. When hail falls, it will probably crack a automotive’s windshield and dent the steel exterior.

What to Do if Hail Damages Your Rental Automobile

What do you have to do if a hailstorm causes harm to your rental automotive?

Consider the Injury & Name for Assist if Wanted

In case your automotive is hit by hail whilst you’re driving, pull over as quickly as you are able to do so safely. If the hailstorm is excessive, guarantee that no person within the automotive has been injured by any damaged glass. When the storm has handed and also you’re in a secure place, consider the harm to the rental car.

Ask AutoSlash for a Quote on a Low cost Automobile Rental

Subsequent, doc and measure any damages to the automotive that weren’t there if you picked it up—this could possibly be windshield cracks, dents to the outside or damaged lights. Take photographs of any damages, regardless of how small or insignificant they could appear.

Get Roadside Help

In the event you’re not assured that the automotive is secure to drive, get roadside help. If the harm to the automotive after the hailstorm is minimal, you might be able to drive it again to the rental automotive heart with out problem. But when there are extreme issues, reminiscent of large cracks on the windshield that hinder your imaginative and prescient, the most secure possibility is to name for roadside help to select up the automotive.
In the event you didn’t buy the automotive rental firm’s roadside help service, you might have entry to this service by way of a membership reminiscent of AAA or AARP, or as a good thing about the bank card that you simply used to lease the automotive.

Different choices embrace pay-per-use platforms like Pressing.ly or the Honk app, that are reasonably priced and quick.

Purchase Collision Insurance coverage For Much less Than What You’ll Pay on the Rental Counter

And as a final resort, you may attempt calling the rental automotive firm’s roadside help quantity anyway. Even if you happen to didn’t purchase the roadside help plan, they will ship assist for a standalone payment.

File an Insurance coverage Declare for Damages

In the event you purchased the rental automotive firm’s collision harm waiver (CDW), you’re lined for the prices to restore or exchange the car—except the accident was on account of reckless driving or one other breach of your rental settlement. Keep in mind, although, that the rental firm’s harm waivers don’t cowl legal responsibility for medical bills or property for you or different individuals concerned within the accident. You’ll should depend on your private insurance coverage or the rental firm’s supplemental legal responsibility protection for that.

Let AutoSlash Observe Your Automobile Rental for Worth Drops

Most private auto insurance coverage insurance policies cowl leases, however double test your protection restrict and deductible. For many automotive insurance coverage insurance policies, hail harm can be lined beneath a complete bundle, and in case your coverage extends to automotive leases, you’re lined as much as the bounds of your protection. Hail harm is usually lined like every other commonplace declare, with deductibles decided on the time you buy auto insurance coverage.

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