Dealing with HURRICANE DAMAGE

Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause a variety of damage to your car, including the following:

Water damage - Water can damage your engine's cylinders and electrical components causing myriad issues that can be hard to diagnose at first. There's also the issue of your car's interior getting soaked with dirty water and the health risk that can pose. Water damage can also cause your vehicle to prematurely rust. After a severe storm, take your car to your most trusted auto service professionals and let them know what occurred. It helps us understand what issues your car may be facing and can help us let you know what to communicate during insurance claims.

Broken Glass - Hail and debris can crack or break the glass in your car. Although small cracks may seem harmless, it is important to get them inspected and repaired before the issue gets worse. Small damage to glass can quickly get worse in subsequent storms and sometimes even when you're just using your car in normal conditions. Our team can help evaluate damage to let you know your best course of action.

Auto Body Damage - High winds can cause trees to fall and hit your car, hail often causes dents and paint damage, and any other flying debris can cause a wide of assortment of issues. You may just have to deal with touching up paint, but it could also result in damage to your car that can impact everything from your suspension to your headlights. Our team is well equipped to help you understand the extent of this damage and help guide you through the repair process.

We recommend going through following items in this order:

Stay Safe - If your car has flood damage, you may not want to start it- both for the safety of yourself and your car, call a professional first. If you are dealing with broken glass, it may be best to call someone in to clean it rather than trying to handle it yourself. Even if your car only has minor damage, we recommend that you get it looked at and repaired ASAP to make sure things don't get worse and so you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation. Our team can help answer any questions you may have.

Call Your Insurance - Your insurance company should be able to walk you through your policy, including how much your deductible is and how to file a claim to have your insurer pay for the repairs that are required. If you have damaged belongings inside your car, make sure to call your homeowner's insurance company. You may want to do the next step simultaneously with this step if you're unsure what photos to take.

Take Pictures - Take photos of the damage to your car, as well as surrounding areas that show context. Include pictures of relevant debris before you move it. If possible, make sure to have both interior and exterior photos before moving the vehicle. If you already moved your vehicle to prevent further damage, take photos ASAP and give this information to your insurance provider.

Work with Mechanics You Trust - An experienced auto body shop or dealership will try to ensure you've followed these steps and guide you through the process of fixing your car. Everything should be transparent, understandable, and make sense for you. If you have any questions at all, our team is always here to help!