It’s not uncommon for drivers to have experienced high winds or heavy rain, but a violent hailstorm may be a new experience for them.
There is still a chance that hail storms may occur during the spring, summer, and autumn. Between May and September is prime time for the bulk of them to happen. A pea-sized hailstone may wreak havoc in minutes, while a melon-sized hailstone can cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Renting a vehicle might be an expensive mistake if this damaging sort of precipitation hits you. The whole business of vehicle insurance is based on compensating the insurance provider in the event of a claim. But, what happens if hail damages the rental automobile you’ve just signed up for?
What Happens If My Rental Car Gets Hail Damage?
In a hailstorm, your rental car’s insurance will most likely cover any damage. Some of the coverage choices include liability, medical, and physical damage protection for your vehicle. If you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance company might cover hail damage repair charges.
In most cases, rental car businesses provide comprehensive coverage as part of their insurance plans. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle policy, you should be protected in the event of an accident involving a rental automobile as well.
Insurance policies that include comprehensive coverage may pay for damage caused by weather events such as storms and snow, sleet or hail, and debris and trees that fall. Although this insurance is not mandated by law in your state, your lender almost certainly will if you have a loan on your car. Even if you’ve paid off your car loan, you may still want to look into this insurance.
Before hail damage occurs to your car, you must have this coverage on your auto insurance policy. Adding full coverage after a hail storm warning or after hail damage has already happened is not an option. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do if your rental automobile was damaged by hail or other non-collision-related mishaps.
Evaluate the Hail Damage
Pull over as quickly as possible if your vehicle is struck by hail. No one in the automobile should be wounded if the hailstorm is severe. You should inspect the rental car once the storm has passed and you are in a secure location.
Document The Scenes with Notes and Pictures
Assessing the damage is the first step before seeking insurance coverage for scratches or windshield damage. Any damage to the automobile that wasn’t there when you got it should be documented and measured, such as cracks in the glass, dents on the body, or damaged lights. Any damage, no matter how tiny or trivial, should be photographed. They will prove your claim for hail damage, and you may use them as such.
Get Roadside Assistance
Get roadside help if you have any doubts about the vehicle’s safety. You may be able to drive the automobile back to the rental car facility if the hail damage is limited. Nevertheless, if the glass is shattered to the point that you can no longer see, it is best to ask for roadside assistance to remove the vehicle.
As a result of your membership in the service, or the credit card you used to rent the automobile, you may be eligible for roadside assistance even if you didn’t buy it from the car rental business. You may also phone the rental vehicle company’s roadside assistance number as the last option. Even if you don’t have a roadside assistance plan, they may still send assistance for a different cost.
Contact Your Rental Company
There is a time limit for contacting the rental business and reporting what occurred. In addition to the number on your rental agreement, you should have a contact number handy in case of an emergency.
You will get further instructions from the rental business once you have contacted them. The first step is likely to be completing an incident report detailing the occurrence. If you want a second opinion, let the rental company know whether your insurance policy covers your rented automobile. Your local paintless dent repair service will most likely do a free hail damage assessment for you.
File an Insurance Claim
Make a claim with your insurance provider. Your insurance company will send a claims adjuster to the rental agency where you picked up the car to check on any damage that may have occurred. An estimate for hail damage repair will be sent to you. If you rented a car from a company in another city and returned it, say, at the airport, most large insurance companies have adjusters in every city. They’ll send out an adjuster.
It is your responsibility to report the accident to your insurance company and ask for all the information they can provide, such as: what happens if you wreck a rented car? Your insurance coverage will alleviate some of the financial load.
Auto insurance packages often include rental car coverage, but you should double-check the policy’s coverage limits and deductible. Insurance plans that include comprehensive coverage usually cover hail damage, and policies that include automobile rental coverage are covered to the extent of their coverage. When it comes to hail damage, your vehicle insurance policy will determine your deductible just like any other claim.
Schedule Damage Repair
You may make a hail damage claim for your rental automobile and have it repaired. Repairs may be scheduled by contacting the PDR firm in advance. Your insurance company must be consulted, and the ding in the rented automobile must be fixed. Depending on your budget and the quality of the services, you should be picky about who you invite to join. If everything goes well, the experts will handle the rest, and your insurance company will hopefully compensate you for your expenses after confirming that you were not at fault.
If you want professional assistance with your hail-damaged car, contact the most trusted name in the industry. Here at Hail Free Solutions, we have the most experienced and skilled professionals that can surely exceed your expectations.
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