A massive hailstorm last month probably smashed hundreds of cars in Tamworth, according to a local specialist hail repair business.
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It's likely the worse hailstorm in years, according to Brad Walker at IndepenDent Auto Services.
Mr Walker said the best guess he's heard puts the number hit at between 150 and 300 vehicles, in Tamworth alone.
The storm crawled across Westdale, West Tamworth and Hillvue from about 5.48pm in the evening on October 28, delivering hail the size of golf balls.
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There are probably about 67,000 cars in Tamworth, given the national average of one vehicle per person.
That's a lot of metal and glass with the potential to sustain damage.
"There's a lot of cars that are on the streets. Not everyone has enough garage space for all the cars they have in their household," Mr Walker said.
The timing of a hailstorm is crucial. Hailstorms do far more car damage if they happen before close of business, with people unable to shift their cars while stuck at work, he said.
The good news is that most hail damage is cosmetic, and can be repaired. An average fix-up takes between a few days and a few weeks.
But the 29-year veteran of the industry, who used to be a "hail chaser", cleaning up after extreme weather, said he's rarely happy to get business.
"It's pretty devastating for a lot of people, but at the end of the day what we need to focus on is people being safe. A car's a car. People need to stay out of the storm.
"It's devastating for a lot of people if their car gets hit with hail. I've had people crying.
"I've had people tell me stories about running out in a hail storm to throw blankets over their cars and then they end up with stitches.
"There's a young fellow in Queensland I met who got hit in the head with a hailstone and he's got nerve damage in his face."
Over two weeks after the massive storm, the repair yard hasn't been delivered its first damaged vehicle, but quotes are starting to trickle in. It's expected to be quite a big job, even for a yard that gets work region-wide.
Aside from vehicle damage, a number of structures received damage in the massive hailstorm.
Armidale City Public School was forced to close for Thursday by the storm.
A couple of nursing homes and two childcare centres also sustained roof damage.
