Hail covers are the one product where we'd rather you spend five minutes with a tape measure than guess. A cover that's too short pulls off the bumpers in the first gust. One that's far too big flaps around and lets the wind get under it. Here's how to get it right.
Step 1: Measure the car, not the brochure
Run a tape from the very front of the front bumper to the very back of the rear bumper. Include anything that sticks out: a bull bar, nudge bar, tow bar tongue or a spare wheel on the tailgate. Manufacturer lengths usually leave all of that out. That's the most common reason people come back for a bigger cover.
Step 2: Add 10cm
The cover needs to be at least 10cm longer than the car so the elastic skirt can tuck under both bumpers. So a car that measures 4.40m needs a cover of 4.50m or more.
Step 3: Car cover or SUV cover?
Sedans, hatches and wagons take the car covers. Anything that sits higher, from small SUVs up to 4WD wagons, needs an SUV / 4WD cover. These are wider and taller, so the foam actually reaches down the sides instead of stopping at the window line.
Our six sizes
| Cover | Cover length | Car length up to |
|---|---|---|
| Small Car | 4.32m | 4.22m |
| Medium Car | 4.57m | 4.47m |
| Large Car | 4.82m | 4.72m |
| Xtra Large Car | 5.33m | 5.23m |
| SUV / 4WD Large | 4.65m | 4.55m |
| SUV / 4WD Xtra Large | 5.08m | 4.98m |
Popular models and the size they usually take
These are based on standard factory lengths for recent models. Accessories change the answer, so measure yours to confirm.
| Vehicle | Approx. length | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris hatch, Mazda2 hatch, Suzuki Swift, MG3 | 3.85β4.1m | Small Car |
| Toyota Corolla hatch, Hyundai i30 hatch, VW Golf | 4.28β4.38m | Medium Car |
| Mazda3 hatch | 4.46m | Large Car (Medium is too tight) |
| Corolla, Mazda3, Kia Cerato and i30 sedans | 4.63β4.68m | Large Car |
| Tesla Model 3 | 4.72m | Xtra Large Car |
| Toyota Camry, Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon, Honda Accord | 4.88β4.97m | Xtra Large Car |
| Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Crosstrek | 4.35β4.48m | SUV / 4WD Large |
| Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester | 4.57β4.66m | SUV / 4WD Xtra Large |
| Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander | 4.68β4.71m | SUV / 4WD Xtra Large |
| Prado 150, Pajero Sport, Ford Everest | 4.8β4.9m | SUV / 4WD Xtra Large β measure first, especially with a bull bar or rear wheel |
What doesn't fit
We'll be straight about this. Dual-cab utes like the Hilux, Ranger, BT-50, Triton and D-Max are 5.3m or more. Big wagons like the LandCruiser 300 and Kluger sit right on 5m. None of the six sizes covers those properly with the 10cm buffer. If you have one, give us a call and we'll talk through what's available rather than sell you something that won't stay on.
A few last tips
- Fold the side mirrors in before you fit the cover if they fold. It makes a neater fit and less flapping.
- Pull the antenna down or take it off if you can.
- Practise once on a calm day. Unroll front to back, hook the front and rear elastic, then do up the underbody straps.
- Store it dry and rolled, somewhere you can grab it fast. The boot is ideal if you travel in storm season.
Browse the full hail cover range, or if you're still weighing it up, read are hail covers worth it?