What To Do After a Gold Coast Hailstorm
Published on 14 February 2026
Gold Coast hail storms can drop golf-ball-sized stones in under ten minutes. If your vehicle has been caught out, the steps you take in the first 24 hours dictate how smooth your claim — and your repair — will be.
1. Photograph everything before you move the car
If it's safe to leave the vehicle where it is, do so. Take wide and close-up photos of every panel in natural light. Date-stamped phone photos are exactly what insurers want to see.
2. Call your insurer before you call a panel shop
Most comprehensive policies require a claim number before work begins. Lodging early also locks in your priority in the queue, which matters when an entire region is filing claims at once.
3. Ask specifically for paintless dent repair (PDR)
PDR preserves your factory paint, costs less than traditional panel beating and is almost always faster. For 90% of hail damage it is the correct repair method.
4. Get an independent assessment
We provide written quotes accepted by insurers across QLD and NSW. An independent number gives you something to compare against the insurer's preferred quote.
5. Watch your weather seals
Hail often damages rubber weather strips around windscreens and doors. Driving in heavy rain afterwards can let water into the cabin — get the seals checked before the next storm.
6. Book your repair fast
Hail events flood the local repair industry. Early bookings get done first. Even if you're waiting on the insurer, lock in your spot in the workshop.