Uncovered parking...hail? (Denver, Aurora: to rent, car insurance, homes)

[rumline]

God willing, my family and I will be moving to Denver soon. We have three cars and it's looking pretty much given that we will not be able to find a place to rent that has three covered parking spots, garage or otherwise.

So what do people do about their cars in a hail storm if they don't have a covered parking spot, either at work or at home? Just hope for the best and line up at the body shop afterwards if needed? Please forgive my ignorance; I've never lived anywhere that gets hail before.

Are there any other considerations for a car that will be left outside 24x7x365?

[davidv]

As a general rule, the further east you live, the more likely you are to experience hail damage.

I have live west of Federal Blvd nearly all my life, and have experienced hail damage to my car exactly once. If you live in east Denver or Aurora, you will experience much more damage.

[Lost Roses]

On the other hand, even if you have covered parking at home, you could be parked at the grocery store or in a parking lot at work and you're still unprotected when the hail hits. Usually quite unexpectedly but it's mostly pea-sized which doesn't usually harm your vehicle. We've had several of those this summer.

Larger hail leaves dents but depending on how in love with your vehicle you are, yes, line up at the repair shop or just wait. Hot weather helps those hail dents pop back out.

[cowboyxjon]

I don't think hail is a huge deal. MOST of the time, in my experience, it's not large enough to damage vehicles. Obviously there are exceptions, but it's not like every single storm includes hail that causes damage cars or homes.

[reed303]

One time when a particularly heavy hailstorm was forecast, I managed to to squeeze 3 cars into a 2 car garage. The first 2 went in as close to the right and left as possible, the middle was a mid-size SUV (Chev S-10 Blazer) where I crawled out the back.

Several times when out and about we hid under a bridge, or in a car wash bay (shared with another car !), or under a driveup ATM canopy.

Also have moved a car to a nearby shopping center parking garage a couple times.

[AmFest]

Originally Posted by cowboyxjon

I don't think hail is a huge deal. MOST of the time, in my experience, it's not large enough to damage vehicles. Obviously there are exceptions, but it's not like every single storm includes hail that causes damage cars or homes.

Even once every few years is too much.

Originally Posted by reed303

One time when a particularly heavy hailstorm was forecast, I managed to to squeeze 3 cars into a 2 car garage. The first 2 went in as close to the right and left as possible, the middle was a mid-size SUV (Chev S-10 Blazer) where I crawled out the back.

Several times when out and about we hid under a bridge, or in a car wash bay (shared with another car !), or under a driveup ATM canopy.

Also have moved a car to a nearby shopping center parking garage a couple times.

Great ideas! Of course, this assumes close monitoring of weather forecast and accuracy of weather forecast.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by AmFest

Even once every few years is too much.



Great ideas! Of course, this assumes close monitoring of weather forecast and accuracy of weather forecast.

Hail is so localized that the forecasting is a joke. One block can get hammered and the next block can be fine.

If covered parking is not an option, you can make yourself crazy worrying about it, or just make sure your insurance is adequate.

[history nerd]

You have three options:

1) Get a garage (But it might hail if you are at work/the store)

2) Make sure your insurance will cover it ($$$$, but your car might be worth it)

3) Own old cheap cars and look like a native.

[alloo66]

What is the big deal about hail? If they're damage fix it or not. It's not the end of the world.

[AmFest]

Originally Posted by history nerd

You have three options:

1) Get a garage (But it might hail if you are at work/the store)

2) Make sure your insurance will cover it ($$$$, but your car might be worth it)

3) Own old cheap cars and look like a native.

Do you have to pay extra for car insurance to cover hail damage?