What does a lightning strike do to a car?
Scorch marks, peeled paint or pitting after a storm, often near the aerial or roofline, show where lightning hit the car. From there it can travel into the electrical system, including sensors and safety equipment. None of that shows on a panel.
What kind of repair does it need?
An auto electrician first, and a body shop second. The paint is the smallest part of this. A diagnostic scan comes before any cosmetic decision, because what it finds can decide whether the car is worth repairing.
The marks you can see show where the lightning hit. The damage that matters is along the path it took. A mechanic finds that by checking the electrical system, not by looking.
What to do next
Tell your insurer before you call a panel shop. A lightning strike is usually a comprehensive claim. Do not let anyone quote for paint until the electrical side has been checked. Do not accept that it is only cosmetic because the panels look straight.
Sources
- Progressive Insuranceinsurer
a bolt of lightning may strike either the antenna or somewhere along the roofline
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