Hail-Damaged Vehicles: What You Need to Know Before Buying One

Many cars can be prone to problems, including brand new vehicles. If your car has serious issues, a California lemon law lawyer can help you to determine what your best course of action is for pursuing a remedy for your defective or poor performing vehicle.

While any car can have problems, there are certain vehicles that may be more prone to issues – including used cars that have suffered hail damage. If you are thinking about buying a vehicle that has been damaged by hail, there are a few key things that you need to know first.

What to Know Before Buying a Hail Damaged Car

NBC 5 recently reported on some of the key things that you need to know before you purchase a vehicle that has been subject to hail damage.

First and foremost, hail damaged cars are often marked down to lower prices because of the obvious problems with the vehicles that were caused by the hail. For example, dealers may market a $30,000 car for only $18,000 but explain that there is minor damage such as a broken windshield or a dented roof or hood.

But, as NBC 5 indicates, the visible cosmetic damage is just the beginning when it comes to the impact that hail can have on a vehicle.  The fact that the car was damaged by the hail means that its worth will inherently be lower because of the vehicle's history. The diminished value of the vehicle means that it could be harder to unload the car for a reasonable price in the future. Any future buyers who see the vehicle will be able to learn of its history of repairs and will be more likely to either pick a car without this history or request that the vehicle price be dropped substantially because of the vehicle's bad track record.

Another problem is that if your car was damaged by hail, it is possible you will have a difficult time getting an auto insurer to give you full insurance coverage. You might also have a hard time getting a car loan to buy the vehicle, as banks frequently deny loans to buy cars with hail damage.

If your car subsequently suffers additional or more severe damages, your insurance company could also potentially pay out less money to you because of the fact that your car has a history of prior damage.

This does not mean that you should never ever buy a car that has been damaged by hail. In many cases, vehicles with minimal damage are appropriately and cheaply repaired and the cosmetic fixes won't end up detracting from the ability to operate the car or sell the vehicle in the future.  

If you are not sure about whether to buy a hail damaged car or not, it is important to explore consumer regulations to learn about your options. A California lemon lawyer can provide detailed information about your rights as a purchaser of new or used vehicles.