We may love living here, but that means accepting the fact that Calgary can have some mean storms and those storms can kick up some serious hail. Bodily, we can find shelter, but one of our most prized possessions – our vehicles – may not be so lucky. Many a car owner has stepped outside to find their beloved ride victimized by Mother Nature.

If you want to minimize the impact of hail on your car, here are a few tips.

Secure & Covered Parking

Covered parking can save money and stress. Studies have shown the more open space around your car, the more chances are increased hail will severely damage the vehicle. Take a closer look at parking options. If you own a home, consider getting a car port.

Quick Shelter

While you can’t always be prepared for storms – many are sudden – if the option is there, find temporary shelter. The local mall usually has large, indoor parking spaces, or maybe there’s a movie theater with underground parking nearby. If you have to pay a few dollars, so what? It will be cheaper than repairing damage.

Third-party Covering

If a storm’s a-brewing, cover the car. Use heavy blankets and thick comforters that are securely tied down. There are hail car covers designed specifically for this purpose. Hail Protector sells an entire system that can notify you about upcoming storms and early warning hail forecasts, and supplies you with a heavy duty hail cover.

Unfortunately, all the preparation in the world doesn’t guarantee your vehicle will be safe during a hail storm. Fortunately, there’s All Makes Collision, one of Calgary’s top providers of repair when a car’s been damaged by hail. Our professional team of techs know the safest and most affordable procedures – like paintless dent repair – for getting your vehicle looking good as new. We work with all the major insurance companies and can save you time in that regard.

If your vehicle is victimized during a storm, give Calgary’s leader in car care, All Makes Collision, a call [sc:tel-allmakes] and make an appointment to have the damage assessed and repaired