Bill for hailstone damage to cars may reach £1.5m
One driver said that the bombardment smashed the car’s rear window and flooded its interior — leaving it looking “like a giant gin and tonic”.
The record-breaking heatwave sparked dramatic lightening and hail storms on Wednesday night into Thursday. More than 50,000 people in the north-east of England had their power cut following the storms as nearly 20,000 lightning strikes hit the country.
AA Insurance said it took dozens of claims for cars wrecked by hailstones, and estimated around 1,700 cars worth up to £1.5m could have suffered. It said drivers reported their cars “looked like golf balls because the bodywork was so dimpled” or that their “roof and bonnet [is] covered in dents”.
Janet Connor, managing director of AA Insurance said that claims for storm damage such as this will be accepted. But she warned many drivers may lose some of their no-claim bonus.
The AA also received widespread reports that storms had broken windows and smashed greenhouses and conservatories.
Connor said: “I would urge homeowners to call their claim helpline and get at least temporary emergency repairs carried out straight away.
“Insurance companies are not going to unreasonably withhold a claim payment for those who take that kind of responsible action. Thankfully, while storms of this kind are not uncommon in mainland Europe during the summer, they are rare in the UK and are usually isolated.”
