There are many great things about summer: Christmas, warm weather, the start of a new year. But there’s one thing about summer that every car owner dreads: the storms. Storms wreak havoc every year around Australia, causing millions of dollars of damage to cars as well as homes and communities.
While we can’t change the weather, we can help you protect your car during storm season.
Here are some expert tips on protecting your car from everything storms can bring – hail, wild winds, floods and more.
How to protect your car in storm season
1. Keep your eye on the weather radar
Monitoring the weather doesn’t just mean you can ‘blame it on the weatherman’ – it means you can see a storm coming – and how intense that storm will be – from hundreds of kilometres away. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is free to use, and allows you to track storms in your area accurately.
BoM also releases weather updates and severe weather warnings when flash flooding or hail storms are expected, with added tips on road conditions to help you get to your destination safely.
2. Park under cover
This one is obvious, but it’s worth repeating: if you can park your car under cover, do. As soon as you know a storm is coming, start thinking about getting your car out of its way. If you drive to work and there’s no covered parking available, we recommend checking the BoM before you leave for work and making a plan to get it undercover nearby.
3. Invest in a padded car cover for hail
If you can’t get your car undercover during storms, the next best thing is a padded cover. A good padded cover can reduce the impact of hail significantly, though can’t necessarily stop it altogether. Make sure you choose one that’s strong enough for hail – some of the cheaper ones will only be sufficient for rain and sun protection. You can buy padded covers from Super Cheap Auto here.
4. Update your insurance
Many people suffer the unpleasant surprise of finding out their insurance only covers them for rain and sun damage when they seek help from their insurance for storm damage. Make sure your insurance company is up to scratch so you can get the compensation you need.
5. Avoid flooded roads – always
The government is already on this one, so we’ll keep it short and sweet. Do not drive into flood waters. There is no way to tell how deep the water is, how forceful its current, what debris is travelling through it.
It’s also a good idea to avoid parking near creeks, rivers and lakes during storms, since these areas are first hit during flash floods.
We hope you and your car stay safe this storm season, but if you run into some trouble and need a repair, you know where to find us! Drop into your local Express Lube for auto repairs, log book servicing, parts replacement and more.
