Hail Damage Car Care | Thunder Brothers

If a storm has left you with a hail damage car, the first day matters more than the repair. Photograph every panel, check the glass and lights first, and call your insurer before any repair starts. Then keep the car clean, so every dent stays visible and chipped paint is protected until a panel shop can put it right.

We wash cars by hand across Gauteng and the Free State. We do not fix dents, but we handle the cleaning and protecting around the repair, and the car detailing that looks after the paint once the panels are straight.

When hail season hits Gauteng and the Free State

Hail can fall through the summer storm season, roughly October to February, but the risk is not even. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) singles out October and November as the peak for large, damaging hail on the Highveld, including Gauteng and the northern Free State. A 2021 study cited by Santam found hail most frequent between mid-November and February, mostly between 13:00 and 17:00.

Key fact: most Highveld hail falls in the afternoon, between 13:00 and 17:00.

Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein know the pattern: a hot morning, cloud by lunch, then a storm. A car in an open lot on a November afternoon is right in its path.

Highveld storm season runs roughly October to February, and most hail falls in the afternoon.
Dents, chips and cracked glass: what is hail damage on a car

Hail damage is what ice does when it hits a car. The flat, upward-facing panels take the worst of it: the roof, bonnet and boot lid.
- Dents: round, shallow dimples, best seen at a low angle in daylight.
- Cracked glass and lights: windscreen, rear window, sunroof or headlight lens.
- Chipped paint: harder stones can break through the clear coat (the clear top layer that protects the colour).
- Torn wiper rubbers and trim.
Minor hail damage on a car is easy to miss on a dusty panel, which is why the next step matters.

Where hail damage usually shows up on a car.
The first 24 hours after a hailstorm

The repair can wait a few days. The record of the damage cannot.

Make the car safe

A cracked windscreen that blocks your view, or a broken headlight or brake light, makes the car unsafe and can make it illegal on the road. If you cannot see clearly or a light is out, leave the car parked and tell your insurer.

Photograph every panel in good light

Photograph every panel, the glass and the lights in daylight, at a low angle so dents show as shadows. A clean car shows dents far better, so a wash before the assessor visits helps, but ask the insurer first. Some want the car exactly as the storm left it.

Myth: washing before the claim spoils the evidence. Reality: your photographs are already taken, and a clean panel shows more. Just check with the insurer.

Check seals, sunroof drains and the cabin for water

Hail usually comes with heavy rain. Feel the carpets, lift the mats and check the headlining around the sunroof. Leaves packed into the scuttle panel (the trough below the windscreen) and the sunroof drains can push water inside in the next storm, and damp carpets can grow mould.

Four checks to make in the first 24 hours after a hailstorm.
Hail damage insurance and claims in South Africa

Hail is generally covered under full motor cover, subject to your excess. Santam, for example, says its full motor cover includes hail with the standard excess and no additional hail excess. Other insurers vary, so check your own policy.

The usual route (general guidance only):
1. Report the damage and send your photographs.
2. An assessor inspects the car.
3. An approved repairer (a panel shop the insurer works with) or one you choose does the work, depending on your policy.
4. You pay the excess.
Santam’s guide, what to do when hail damages your car, advises reporting the damage and discussing repairs with your insurer before work begins.

Claiming is not always the right call. If the repair costs little more than the excess, paying privately may make sense once you weigh your premium and no-claim history. Ask your insurer or broker first.
Repair options and hail damage repair cost in South Africa

The state of the paint usually decides the route.

Paintless dent removal for minor hail damage on a car

Paintless dent removal (PDR) is where a technician massages the dent out from behind the panel, with no filler or fresh paint. The South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), speaking to TopAuto, and the RMI say it suits dents where the paint is not cracked, chipped or scratched. SAMBRA’s director calls it faster and more affordable, and it keeps the factory paint where possible.

Panel beating and respray for deep or cracked-paint dents

Cracked or chipped paint, deep dents and damaged edges go to a panel beater for reshaping and a respray. Heavily hit roofs, bonnets and boots may need replacing, according to SAMBRA and the RMI.

Cost factors: dent count, panels, paint damage and method

We do not do the work, so we will not guess a price. The hail damage repair cost in South Africa depends on the number and size of dents, the panels hit, any broken paint, the method and the car. PDR is generally cheaper than panel beating and respraying, but a heavily hit roof can still be costly. Get at least two written quotes from panel shops.

Key fact: PDR suits dents with unbroken paint. Cracked or chipped paint means a panel beater and a respray.

Which hail repair route suits which kind of damage.
What a car wash can do after the storm (and what it cannot)

No car wash fixes dents, and Thunder Brothers does no dent repair, panel beating or paint touch-ups. What the team does by hand is the work around the repair.

Clear leaves, grit and debris from the scuttle panel, drains and wiper area

Storm leaves and grit in the scuttle panel, drains and wiper area hold water and block drainage. The team clears the wiper area and visible debris during a hand wash.

Wash and inspect: chips where paint is broken need protecting before rust starts

A clean car shows every chip. Volvo’s owner guidance is to put paint damage right promptly to prevent corrosion, so a chip down to bare metal needs a repairer soon.

Wax or sealant on chipped and repaired panels

Until the chips are repaired, wax or sealant gives them some protection, and the team applies high definition wax by hand. Leave hand polishing until the repairs are done.

“If the paint is broken, wax buys time. It does not fix anything. The chip still needs a repairer.” The Thunder Brothers team

Interior dry-out if water came in

If water got in, a full valet cleans and dries the interior by hand. Replace broken glass first.

What a car wash can and cannot do for a hail-damaged car.
Protecting the car before the next storm

The cheapest hail repair is the one you never need.
- Park under cover: a garage, carport or covered mall parking.
- Use a padded hail cover or thick blankets if there is no roof over the car.
- Check South African Weather Service warnings, especially in October and November.
- Avoid open lots on storm afternoons, between 13:00 and 17:00.
Frequently asked questions

Question: Can you fix a hail damaged car?
Answer: Yes, most hail damage on a car can be fixed. Shallow dents with unbroken paint often suit paintless dent removal, while deep dents or cracked paint need a panel beater and a respray. Cracked glass is replaced separately.

Question: How much does it cost to repair hail damage in South Africa?
Answer: The cost of repairing hail damage in South Africa depends on the dents, the panels hit, the method and the car. Paintless dent removal is generally cheaper than panel beating and respraying. Get two written quotes and check your excess.

Question: Is it worth claiming hail damage?
Answer: Claiming hail damage is usually worth it for glass or many dented panels, which affect safety and resale value. If the repair costs little more than the excess, paying privately may make sense. Ask your insurer or broker first.

Question: Should I wash my car after a hailstorm?
Answer: Yes, wash the car after a hailstorm once it is safe to move and your insurer agrees. A clean car shows every dent and chip, and the wash clears debris that blocks drains. Wax chipped areas until they are repaired.
Get the car checked and protected

Pretoria drivers can call in at Moreleta Corner or Loftus, and Bloemfontein drivers at Loch Logan Waterfront. A hail damage car needs a panel shop for the dents, but the clean, the checks and the protection can start at your nearest branch.

Find your nearest Gauteng or Bloemfontein branch
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