Metro man uses inflatable car cover to protect against hail

Storm prep is underway for folks across the state, and potential hail damage is at the top of some people's minds.

One metro man is taking things a step further to protect his vehicle from any potential hailstorms.

“It can hit you, you know, with, you know, less than a half hour’s notice,” Joey Reckner said.

His truck fell victim to a September 2024 hailstorm.

“The truck literally looks like a golf ball. It had dimples all over it,” Reckner said.

It cost $12,000 to repair all the damage and, though it was covered by insurance, the hassle led Reckner to say “never again” to hail damage.

If I can just avoid the damage altogether, then that's the best,” Reckner said.

This storm season, he's getting creative.

Instead of hoping for the best with his vehicle that parks in the driveway, he’s using an inflatable car cover that is meant to deflect hail.

“It does look funny. It looks like a big burrito is sitting on top of your car,” Reckner said.

The inflatable creates a two-foot barrier between the car and the outside world.

"It's high-volume air, so think of it like your bouncy houses," Reckner said.

Reckner has tested the contraption by throwing tennis balls at the inflated cover and hopes real hail will just bounce right off, too.

“I really hope it does because it was very expensive,” Reckner said.

While mitigating risk is never a bad idea, insurance experts still say the best way to protect your car is to park it in a garage or under a carport if possible.

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is also recommending folks go over their policies ahead of any potential storm damage.

“I think that should be a part of everybody’s plan. Being familiar with what you have for coverage, walking through that with your agent, making sure it's up to date, being aware of your deductible,” OID Commissioner Glen Mulready said.