Frances had her new car for two hours before it was damaged by hail

But she only had it for two hours before it was badly damaged in the violent hailstorm that swept through Canberra on Monday.

"I'd sent them the money yesterday and this morning at 11.30am we were doing the transfer at Access Canberra," she said.

"Two hours later it's really badly dented, it's got that smashed rear window, smashed lights and rips through it."

She had bought the car from friends Monday morning and had been excited to take it out for a spin.

They were enjoying lunch at Kingston Foreshore when the hail struck.

"It was just pelting down, pelting," she said.

"I was praying to God it would be OK but as I walked along the road and we saw what damage had been done to other cars my heart sank.

"I can't believe it now when I think about it."

While Ms Summers is devastated about the loss of her brand new car, she's trying to put things into perspective.

"I haven't lost myself or my house in a bushfire, there are people in the bigger picture who have suffered far worse," she said.

The violent hail storm struck Canberra about 1pm and left widespread damage.

Belconnen, city and the inner south were particularly affected.