When it comes to choosing a province to live in Canada, many people’s first choice is Ontario. However, the Great White North has other beautiful provinces you can consider settling down in, one being Alberta.
In general, Alberta is located in Western Canada where you will find diverse and welcoming communities ranging from small towns to cosmopolitan cities. But while the province does have its own appeal, there is one great downside and that is the frequency of severe weather events such as hailstorms.
According to media reports, a massive hailstorm smashed dozens of cars with grapefruit-sized hail along a highway in the western part of the country. These damages have caused great financial loss to car owners which is why it is important that you know how to protect your vehicle against this mighty peril.
Here are four tips to secure your car during hail season in Alberta.
Obtain car insurance
The main purpose of car insurance is to provide protection and financial compensation for accidents of any kind. However, it can also be used to cover any damages your vehicle sustains during severe weather conditions like a hailstorm. That’s why it is important that you obtain the right type of auto insurance policy so you won’t be held responsible for weather-related damages.
For example, comprehensive coverage is an optional type of car insurance that can help pay for damages and car repairs to your vehicle caused by non-crash-related accidents, including the weather.
Because the cost for comprehensive coverage can vary in different parts of the province, be sure to compare rates from different companies to find the best auto insurance Alberta has to offer before settling on the one that meets your needs.
Ride out the hailstorm
If you are driving on the highway or another road where you don’t have access to covered parking, you should consider finding a temporary shelter to ride out the hailstorm. This can be a local market nearby as they usually have parking garages where you can park your vehicle if you know a storm is brewing.
In case you need help finding a covered parking spot, there are many applications you can download on your phone such as Park Champ that will show you the location of a nearby garage. This can be a huge car saver when you are trying to avoid the Alberta hailstorm.
Use blankets or hail car cover
If finding a shelter isn’t an option for you, then you should get something to cover your vehicle with. This can be a blanket or a hair car cover, which you can use on your car to protect it from potential damages or expensive repairs that may be caused by the hailstorm.
There are many companies that sell car covers specific to this purpose, although you can use any type of blanket you have at hand as protection. Just make sure you duct tape them down because the winds can easily pick it up pretty quickly during a hailstorm.
Keep in mind that the duct tape can leave a sticky residue on the car, but it won’t damage the paint as much as hail will do.
Watch the weather forecast
Finally, the most obvious way to protect yourself from the Alberta hailstorm is to watch the weather forecast. If you know a storm is coming, you can ride out at home. If you have a garage, you should immediately park your car in there so you will protect it from any damages that may incur as a result of the hail.
Even if you don’t watch the news, you can turn on the notifications on your phone and get an alert if any severe thunderstorms are coming your way.
Photo by Mick Haupt from Unsplash
Final thoughts
When you live in a province like Alberta where the weather can get really crazy sometimes, it is important that you take a few precautions to keep yourself and your vehicle safe from severe weather conditions like hail. It only takes a few minutes for hail to cause great damage to your car and leave you with costly repairs and no compensation.
That’s why it is important to have some tricks up your sleeve to secure your vehicle and stay safe during a hailstorm in this Canadian province.
Veeramachineni Lalitha
I am Finance Content Writer. I write Personal Finance, banking, investment, and insurance related content for top clients including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss, ICICI BANK and IDFC FIRST Bank. My experience details : Linkedin