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How Does Paintless Dent Repair Work?

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paintless dent repair

Hail storms can be a frequent or uncommon occurrence depending on where you live. The damage such storms leave in their wake can range depending on the intensity of the storm and the size of the hail stones. When hail damage – even minor auto hail damage – occurs, it’s best to take your car to a professional for an assessment. There, you may find that an experienced auto technician will be able to fix your car through a newer, faster, more cost-effective repair method called paintless dent repair (PDR). Let’s explore this method, how it works and its many benefits.

How Can Auto Hail Damage Affect Your Vehicle?

Why is it so important to obtain professional repair when your vehicle suffers auto hail damage? It’s quite simple: dents devalue your car. At times, the hail damage to the hood, roof and trunk may not be severe, but is still important to get fixed
When your vehicle gets damaged by hail, its resale value automatically goes down significantly. Left untreated, dents with cracked or chipped paint can cause rust to occur on your vehicle. While barely noticeable paint cracks might have been able to be fixed with touch-up paint, rust is another matter.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance, many people let things slide or don’t think it’s important to immediately fix. In fact, about $60 billion of this maintenance goes unperformed each year. Doing so is bad for your vehicle and your wallet. Especially when it comes to vehicle hail damage, leaving such widespread damage untreated is particularly detrimental.

Talk to a Professional Paintless Dent Repair Technician

If auto hail damage has affected your vehicle, your first step is to take it to a professional auto technician so they can inspect and assess the damage. Ask about paintless dent removal. If your local auto shop doesn’t offer this service, do your research or ask to be referred to a professional who does. PDR is the preferred method for vehicle hail damage repair, for both the car owners and insurance companies due to lower costs and faster turnaround time. From there, PDR experts can help you file a hail damage claim with your insurance company, negotiate the compensation amount as well as schedule a time to fix the dents.

Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair

Paintless dent removal is a superior method you should highly consider when it comes to fixing your auto hail damage. How exactly does this process work? Using particular tools, PDR specialists massage the dents out so the panel’s original shape is restored. As you learn about this repair method, consider its several benefits.

First, PDR is a fairly fast repair method to utilize. Depending on the amount of damage, it can take as little as three hours to complete for smaller dents and merely a day or two for hail damage. This often eliminates the need for a loaner vehicle while yours is in the shop. The process is less labor-intensive and time consuming, making it a more cost-effective option. Second, there isn’t a need to repaint the vehicle. As the name suggests, paintless dent removal doesn’t involve any extra steps after massaging the dents out. This saves you money and time and allows the value of your car to remain unaffected. With traditional methods that require stripping and then repainting, your vehicle’s valuable factory paint no longer covers the damaged portions, significantly reducing your vehicle value. PDR methods actually retain this valuable paint and restore your vehicle’s resale value. Additionally, PDR doesn’t allow for materials to be wasted as typical dent removal methods do. This makes PDR the more environmentally friendly repair method to choose.

When your car suffers auto hail damage, consider obtaining paintless dental removal services for a superior repair solution. You’ll save time and money, and your vehicle will look unscathed when you bring it back home. Contact Dent Shop today for a free professional estimate and top-notch vehicle hail damage repair services.

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

4 Steps to Follow When Your Vehicle Suffers Hail Damage

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hail damage repair steps

As anyone whose vehicle has been damaged in a hail storm knows, auto hail damage can range from a few dents to a totaled car. At times, your insurance company may estimate the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds its worth, depending on your car’s value and the extent of the damage. However, you won’t know until you visit a reputable dent repair shop that specializes in hail damage.

Here are four steps to follow if a hail storm damages your vehicle.

1. Have Your Hail Damaged Vehicle Professionally Evaluated

First and foremost, take pictures of the dents and damage the hail has caused. Then bring your damaged vehicle to a professional shop that specializes in hail damage repairs for an evaluation. They will be able to provide you with the most reliable and up-to-date information about the most suitable repair options and expected repair costs. If you are advised to obtain vehicle hail repair, ask what methods are most appropriate based on the damage. The severity of the damage impacts whether or not your car can be repaired using modern, efficient, cost-effective paintless dent repair methods.

2. Speak with Your Insurance Company About Filing a Car Hail Damage Claim

Secondly, contact your auto insurance company to learn what you need to do to file a car hail damage claim. The pictures you initially took of the damage will be important when filing this claim, as they prove the damage. You can also provide the information and advice you received from the professional hail damage repair technician. Be sure to check with the dent repair shop you will be hiring to fix your vehicle, as they can help you with the claim process as well. A claims adjuster will make their own estimate of your vehicle, whether it’s worth the cost of repairs and what compensation the insurance company owes you.

3. Request an Estimate From a Reputable Dent Repair Shop

After you’ve received your claim number, the next step is to visit a professional and reputable dent repair shop for an estimate fix your vehicle’s hail damage. Unlike claims adjusters, the specialized shops can more accurately estimate the cost of repairs and how much compensation you’re due. Make sure your insurance company and the dent repair shop are on the same page about damage costs and the estimate provided. It’s advisable to work with a dent repair shop that is willing to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, as well as wait until approval from your insurance company before seeking repairs.

4. Get Your Vehicle Professionally Fixed

Once your claim and the estimate are approved, you can then have your vehicle repaired. 80% to 90% of dents, including ones caused by hail stones, can be repaired using paintless dent repair (PDR) techniques, according to experts. Paintless dent repair is a newer method of dent repair that involves massaging out the dents for a fraction of the time and cost of conventional repairs. PDR allows for your car’s original paint to be preserved, and it is the more cost-effective and timely repair process for your vehicle to undergo. Be sure to choose a dent repair shop that is professionally trained in this repair technique.

When your vehicle suffers hail damage, it can be frustrating, to say the least. However, by hiring a reputable dent repair shop that specializes in paintless dent removal, your vehicle can look as good as new in a day or less. To obtain high-quality hail damage repair for your vehicle, contact us at Dent Shop today.

Posted in Hail Repair, Tips and Tricks

5 Simple Ways to Protect Your Car from Hail Damage

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hail damage

As much as we might like to, none of us can truly predict the weather. That’s why it’s so important to know how to protect your vehicle from hail damage if you live in an area that experiences frequent or severe hail storms. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to preparing your car for a hail storm, here are five protection tips to consider.

Invest in a Covered Carport

If you have off-street parking but there’s no garage on your property, now may be the time to make an investment in a covered carport. While it might not offer as much security as a garage, it’s a worthwhile way to keep your car safe from the danger of sustaining hail damage. And of course, if you already have a garage, make parking your car inside a habit. Whether you’ve checked the forecast or not, this simple change in where you park your car can save you a whole lot of money, time and peace of mind down the line.

Have Blankets or a Car Cover Handy

In the event that you have no form of covered parking on your property, there’s a simple solution that you can even keep in your car: blankets! In the event that a hail storm is on the horizon, some protection for your vehicle is better than no protection at all. So if you have a few thick blankets at the ready in your car at all times, you can avoid the brunt of dents from hail. Another option is a car cover – a more durable, padded blanket specifically for covering vehicles. Car covers can come in many varieties and sizes, with some offering more padding or waterproof protection. Either way, it’s advisable to cover your vehicle if you cannot find a parking structure nearby.

Make Checking the Weather a Habit

The best form of protection is prevention. If you leave the house without checking the weather, you could be caught unawares with some serious vehicle hail damage upon returning to your vehicle. To avoid that problem, it’s a good idea to make a habit of checking the forecast before you leave the house for the day. Not only can it help you protect your car, but it can also remind you when to bring an umbrella to protect yourself. If you can delay an errand to avoid a storm with the potential of producing hail, it’s often best to stay home if your vehicle is most protected there.

Check Your Work Parking Options

Unfortunately, you won’t be at your house all day, every day. In the event that you’re at work while a hail storm hits, you could be facing some severe hail damage without a lot of options. If possible, talk to your employer about your covered parking options. It’s possible that your employer will pay for parking garage fees if you live and work in an area that sees frequent hail storms and hail damage. If not, it may be worthwhile to check your covered parking options near your workplace in order to reduce your risk of expensive hail damage.

Invest in Comprehensive Car Insurance

When you live in an area that sees frequent hail storms, having a comprehensive auto insurance policy is a must. The average vehicle repair cost depends on the extent of the hail damage, and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars to repair. It’s beneficial to make sure your insurance company can cover at least part of your hail damage repair costs. Comprehensive policies extend coverage beyond collisions to include acts of nature such as vehicle hail damage.

Preventing hail damage can take many different forms. If you live in an area that sees frequent or severe hail storms, make sure you’re taking these preventive steps to protect your vehicle from hail damage and your wallet from taking on the full brunt of repair costs. While prevention is key, you can still be caught in a hailstorm unexpectedly while out driving. If your vehicle sustains hail damage, contact us today at Dent Shop for a free estimate, stellar customer service, top-notch repairs and insurance claims assistance.

Posted in Tips and Tricks

Will Your Insurance Cover Hail Damage Repairs?

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paintless dent repair cost

If your car was damaged in a hail storm, you may be wondering if your auto insurance company will cover the hail damage repair costs or if you’ll have to pay out of pocket. The severity of the hail damage will also impact the type of repair best suited to fix your vehicle, such as paintless dent repair or conventional autobody repairs, which directly affects the time and cost. Below is some information that will help you figure out whether or not your insurance will cover the cost of your repairs.

Auto Insurance Policies and Hail Damage Repair Coverage

The first step in figuring out whether or not your automotive policy coverage includes hail damage repair is to determine the type of coverage you have. You can do so by calling your insurance agent or contacting your insurer online to ask about your chosen policy. Here are two common types of auto insurance policies:

  • Liability Coverage. This type of insurance policy is specific to car accidents where you are determined to be liable or “at fault” for the collision. This coverage applies to property damage or medical injuries caused by you to the other driver, after you pay your deductible and only up to the covered limit. This coverage does not include hail damage repair.
  • Comprehensive Coverage. A comprehensive insurance policy covers damage that occurred for reasons besides a traffic collision: acts of nature (hail storms, flooding, fallen tree limbs), fire, vandalism, animal collisions, etc. Since hail damage results from severe weather, it’s classified as an act of nature that is covered under a comprehensive policy. You should also know that filing a hail damage insurance claim does not raise your rates. You’ll need to meet your deductible before your insurance company will pay for the remaining repair costs.

The type of plan you have will determine whether or not your hail damage repair costs are covered completely, partially or not at all by your insurance company. Note that you can change your policy after the damage occurs, but it still won’t retroactively apply to your pre-existing vehicle hail damage.

Hail Damage Repair Claims and Estimates

The amount of damage that your car sustains due to the hail storm will also determine whether or not your insurance company will cover the cost of repairs. For example, if the hail does enough damage that the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the car, your insurance company will declare it totaled and will not pay for the repairs. However, claims adjusters are not repair experts, and may incorrectly assess the value of your car or the extent of the damage. At times, your claims adjuster may undervalue your car, or may mistakenly estimate the cost of repairs as too high to be worth fixing. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also possible that their estimate lowballs the cost of repairs, meaning you may end up paying more than your fair share if the actual repair cost is higher than the compensation you agreed upon.

That’s why you’ll need to get a professional estimate from a certified hail damage repair technician. Conventional repairs cost significantly more money and time to complete, but it’s possible that your car may be eligible for paintless dent repair, which is a much faster and more cost-effective repair option. This repair method methodically involves working out the dents rather than filling them in and painting over them, by massaging them out slowly – a process that restores rather than reduces your vehicle’s value.

If your car has been damaged by hail, make sure to get a quote from your local paintless dent repair shop before agreeing to the amount estimated by the claims adjuster. For assistance with filing your claim and negotiating with your insurance company to obtain fair compensation, reach out to us at Dent Shop today. Our skilled hail damage repair technicians offer the valuable expertise you need for accurate estimates and thorough repairs, and we provide top-notch customer service all the way through the claims process. Contact us today to experience the Dent Shop difference!

Posted in Hail Repair

Vehicle Hail Damage and Auto Insurance Companies

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car dent repair

Hail damage is a major concern for vehicle owners for several reasons – including the reduction in vehicle value, cost of repairs and the hassle of dealing with your insurance company and getting the damage fixed. Vehicle hail damage repair is essential to restore the aesthetic of your vehicle as well as the resale value. Dealing with your insurance company can be complicated during this process, so here are three important things to know about navigating the vehicle hail damage insurance claims process.

The Vehicle Hail Damage Insurance Claims Process Can Be Lengthy

The reality of getting your hail damage repairs covered through your auto insurance policy is that it’s usually a slow process. Once you file your claim, a claims adjuster will come to estimate the extent of the damage and the rough cost of repairs. Some people may have their vehicle repaired before receiving the check from the insurance company, while others may wait until the claim money comes in first before seeking repairs. However, if the estimate provided by the claims adjuster is inaccurate, you’ll need to obtain a second estimate to dispute their price evaluation then negotiate with them to ensure they’ll acknowledge and pay for the true cost of repairs.

Assuming nothing else happens to your vehicle in the meantime, there shouldn’t be any additional issues. However, as anyone who has been in a hailstorm knows, they can come in the blink of an eye. If additional damage occurs to your vehicle before your claim is processed, the original hail damage can be considered preexisting damage and not be covered. That’s why it is best to get the damage repaired as quickly as possible, through efficient and cost-effective methods like paintless dent repair.

Additional Vehicle Damage Can Invalidate Your Claim

The insurance industry is a major for-profit industry, a fact that many vehicle owners seem to forget. It should come as no surprise that insurance companies are not required to pay out claims that they consider superfluous or unneeded. This means if they find your claim to be invalid, they likely won’t pay for your hail damage repair or car dent repair. This can include denying your claim for hail damage repairs because of a fender bender that happened after the hail damage occurred. Or, if your car sustains damage that exceeds its value, your insurance company will consider the car is totaled. This not only means they won’t cover the price of your car dent repair, it also means your insurance company will only pay you the current value (including the value reduction due to damage) of your car.

Repair Estimates Are Not Always Accurate

A simple reality is that claims adjusters are human beings, which means that they can make mistakes like anyone else. Hail damage in particular is difficult to evaluate since there may be damage that is hard to see due to shadows, and without the proper lighting can be easily overlooked. Hail damage mostly occurs on the hood, roof and trunk of a car, but hail can ding and dent other places on your vehicle too. With hail damage there are often some dents can be small and harder to notice, making evaluating the damage a challenging job. Without specialized lighting, your claims adjuster can miscalculate the extent of damage, so make sure to seek out an itemized estimate from a reputable dent shop near you. Hail damage can be extensive, but it is often a repairable form of damage with modern techniques such as paintless dent repair.

Having to get vehicle hail damage repair can be intimidating for some car owners, and insurance companies may complicate the process if you don’t know how to communicate and negotiate with them. That’s why when you are researching local paintless dent repair shops, you should also ask if they can assist you with filing your claim and working with your insurance company. Not all shops are invested in providing this customer service, but it’s worth finding a repair shop that can provide accurate estimates and skillful PDR work along with insurance claim management assistance. At Dent Shop, we tick all those boxes in order to provide top-notch repairs and customer service. For a free estimate today to get started on your hail damage repairs, contact us at Dent Shop!

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

How Much Damage Can Hail Do to My Car?

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hail damage repairs

There’s no question about whether or not hail can cause damage to your vehicle. But what sort of circumstances affect just how much damage your vehicle incurs? Here are a few factors that influence the severity of the damage and the extent of the hail damage repairs you’ll need.

Hailstone Size

Did you know that hailstones can have a diameter of six inches or more? While this is pretty far from the norm, the possibility of large hailstones that can smash through windows and crack windshields is a very real one. That being said, hailstones don’t have to be giant in order to necessitate hail damage repairs for your vehicle. In fact, hailstones that are just one inch in diameter and falling consistently cause damage to cars most frequently. The dimpled dents that result from such hailstorms are often smaller but still numerous and can require costly repairs. In most cases, unless the hailstones cracked the paint, paintless dent repairs are the best option for vehicle hail damage.

Length of the Hailstorm

The duration of a hailstorm can also affect just how much damage your car sustains. A hailstorm that lasts just a few minutes might not leave any noticeable dents to the untrained eye. (Keep in mind, it may take specialized lighting to inspect your vehicle and ensure no hail damage is present.) On the other hand, a hailstorm that lasts an hour or more could do some decent damage to your car. If you’re trying to avoid the need for hail damage repairs, then make sure you keep an eye on the forecast so you can prepare adequately for any hailstorms on the horizon.

Hailstorm Wind Speed

Wind speed is a factor that most people don’t really think about when it comes to vehicle hail damage. The unfortunate truth is that wind has a lot to do with how much damage hail stones can wreak on your vehicle. Higher wind speeds typically contribute to more severe vehicle hail damage. It’s also important to take the hailstone size into account. Smaller hailstones, even moving at higher speeds, often still cause less damage than larger hailstones in high winds. Wind doesn’t just affect the speed at which the hailstones hit your car, it also affects the location of the damage. With low wind speed, damage frequently occurs on the hood, roof and trunk of a vehicle. But with higher wind speeds, the wind gusts can carry hailstones sideways and cause damage to more surface area of your vehicle. You’ll need a thorough evaluation of your vehicle to ensure no dents are missed when you take your car in for repairs.

Preventive Measures

Did you take any preventive measures to protect your vehicle before a hailstorm hit? This is a critical part of making sure your vehicle stays damage free in the event of a hailstorm. Ideally, a garage or carport is where you want to keep your vehicle to avoid any and all possibility of hail damage. Even a car cover or blankets can help shield your vehicle from hail damage. The more preventive measures you take, the less likely you are to need hail damage repairs at all. If you get caught in a hailstorm while driving, try to find a sheltered spot to park your vehicle as quickly as possible.

Any number of factors could influence just how much a passing hailstorm damages your car. If your car ever sustains such damage, don’t wait to invest in hail damage repairs. Maintaining the vehicle and condition of your vehicle is important, and paintless dent repairs are your best option to restore your vehicle to its pre-damaged appearance and worth. Contact Dent Shop today for a free hail damage repair estimate, top-notch repairs and premier customer service.

Posted in Hail Repair, Tips and Tricks

3 Reasons to Handle Hail Damage Immediately

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3 reasons to handle hail damage immediately

Minor hail damage may not seem like a great cause for concern, at least to uninformed vehicle owners. However, there are three major reasons to have your vehicle hail damage repaired as soon as possible. Let’s explore those reasons as well as your best option to repair the hail damage promptly.

Your Insurance

As for-profit business enterprises, insurance companies adhere to strict insurance policies – don’t invalidate or reduce your payout by waiting too long to file a claim.

For one, if you are in an accident after hail damage occurred to your vehicle, that past damage is considered preexisting. In other words, the insurance companies may not pay to repair the past hail damage done to your vehicle. In addition, the cost of hail damage repairs combined with collision repairs may be greater than what your vehicle is worth. In this case, rather than paying for your vehicle to be fixed, the insurance company may prematurely total your car, and cut you a check for its current damaged worth. Furthermore, since claims are slow to be paid out, waiting on your insurance company to respond to your hail damage claim can lead to issues if more damage occurs while you wait for repairs. Insurance is already expensive, costing $889.01 nationwide, according to the NAIC. There’s no reason to let that coverage go to waste by avoiding repairs for your hail damage.

The Value of Your Vehicle

It’s true that traditional dent repair methods can lower the value of your vehicle, but there’s a much better option for repairs. Traditional repairs are a cosmetic solution to the dents in your vehicle, and as a result, end up on your CARFAX report, negatively impacting the resale value of your car by thousands of dollars. (Keep in mind that forgoing repairs altogether also significantly reduces vehicle value and poses additional problems.) A more modern method, paintless dent repair, can be utilized to fully repair the hail damage while actively restoring your car’s value. Not to mention it’s also a much faster and more cost-effective repair solution, which means you may not need a loaner car while you await repairs. Restoring the value of your investment (and often, your primary mode of transportation) is crucial, which is why you should not wait to get your vehicle hail damage repaired.

You Never Know When the Next Hailstorm Will Hit

You may think that you have time before you get your hail damage repaired. The simple truth is that you can’t be prepared for the next hailstorm or other drivers, so putting off getting auto hail damage repaired is a chance you shouldn’t take. Waiting until the end of hail season could also invalidate your insurance claim or cause your insurance company to deny paying the full cost of repairs if a second hailstorm passes though. Holding off on vehicle hail repair can lead to bigger, more expensive issues down the road – the bottom line is don’t wait!

How Should You Get Your Hail Damage Repaired?

It is important to handle auto hail damage as quickly as possible, but the issues of reduction in value due to traditional repair methods remains. If your vehicle’s paint is intact, then you likely will not have to resort to traditional repairs. This is where paintless dent repair comes in. It’s an alternative option to repair car hail damage, which only requires specialized tools to massage out each of the dents in the metal frame. Paintless dent repair doesn’t add filler to the dent; rather, it is done by reshaping the dent to its original form. It also, as the name suggests, doesn’t require any paint, a crucial factor in retaining the vehicle’s value. Despite the skill set required to properly do this, the paintless dent removal cost is significantly lower than that of traditional repairs, making it a no-brainer method of fixing your car’s hail damage as a body shop dent repair alternative.

When it comes to hail damage, think about your insurance payout, the value of your vehicle and the possibility of further damage to your car if you consider delaying or forgoing repairs. Paintless dent repair, a fast and cost-effective method, is your best option to repair any hail damage to your vehicle now and in the future. To get a free estimate for repairs today, contact Dent Shop!

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

3 Common Mistakes People Make When Dealing with Hail Damage

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paintless dent removal

Hailstorms can leave behind dimples, dents and mini craters all over your vehicle, which can range from being barely noticeable to obvious hail damage. This damage may seem to be a small cosmetic problem, but it can severely impact the value of your vehicle if you don’t handle it properly.

Here are three common mistakes people make when it comes to vehicle hail damage.

Ignoring the Damage

It’s fairly common to look at hail damage repair as an unnecessary expense. After all, traditional autobody repairs can be expensive, and if the hail damage doesn’t bother you, why waste your money? This is the kind of logic that can ruin your investment in your vehicle.

Hail damage will significantly reduce a car’s resale value. Left unrepaired, what paintless dent removal could have fixed for a few hundred dollars can instead take thousands of dollars off your car’s value. Then, if you have another event causing more vehicle damage, the initial car hail damage may not be covered because it was preexisting. This means a fender bender or second hailstorm could damage your vehicle to the point where paintless dent removal isn’t a feasible option for repairs and/or the cost of fixing your vehicle is greater than its total value and your insurance company prematurely totals your car.

Attempting DIY Repairs

Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a method used to fix dents commonly caused by hail. Essentially, PDR techniques push out the hail dents, rather than filling them in and repainting as is often done with expensive traditional autobody repairs. PDR is not only better for the long-term value of your car, but it also actually removes the dents from hail and costs less than filling in each and every hail dent with conventional repairs. However, dent repair is not a DIY project. PDR in particular requires a specialized set of tools, skills and experience to perform properly. In fact, attempting car dent repair at home will usually only make the damage worse. Keep in mind that PDR is a method used to fix dents without paint damage. Using DIY remedies to try and pull out or pop out your dents could crack or damage your paint, and when that happens, PDR is no longer an option to fix your dents.

Relying Solely on Insurance

While it’s never a bad idea to file an auto insurance claim for vehicle hail damage, it shouldn’t be your only course of action. A claims adjuster will come out and estimate the cost of repairs, but it’s possible to miscalculate the cost of hail damage repairs or miss a couple of smaller dents from hail without the right lighting. It’s advisable to seek out a second estimate for PDR repairs to ensure your settlement amount will cover the full cost of damages, minus your deductible of course. While it may seem daunting to try to negotiate with your insurance company, you should of course seek a fair settlement without being subjected to a length claims process. When you’re shopping around for vehicle hail damage repair estimates, check and see if the dent shop you’re interested in works with all insurance companies and can assist with your claim.

Oil changes, along with air filter and wiper blade replacements are the most common types of vehicle repairs that auto owners have completed. But hail damage repair is a common vehicle repair, too. And when your car sustains this kind of damage, it’s important to take the right steps to protect your investment in your vehicle and restore its appearance and value. Contact Dent Shop today for a free estimate and hail damage repairs!

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

Why Is PDR the Best Option for Small Dent Repair After a Hailstorm?

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small dent repair

If your vehicle was exposed to the elements while a hailstorm passed by, chances are the metal panels were dented by hail. Though the damage can range from minor to severe, it’s important to invest in dent removal services sooner rather than later. Here are just a few reasons why you should invest in paintless dent removal (PDR) for hail damage repair.

Efficiency

One of the biggest benefits of using paintless dent removal for hail dent repair is the amount of time you’ll save. The process of paintless dent repair takes much less time than conventional dent repair methods. It can be completed using metal rods and body picks to push dents out from the underside of body panels or with glue-pulling techniques and specially designed tabs. Without any paint damage present, PDR is the preferred method to massage the dents out of your panels. So if you’re in a hurry to get a few small dents repaired and don’t want to pay for a loaner car while you leave your car in the autobody shop for weeks, skip the conventional repair. Paintless dent repair is the best option for you to consider.

Value Retention

When it comes to hail damage, it’s normal for the first thing on your mind to be the value of your vehicle. You may wonder if the depreciation in value due to the dents is worth the cost of repairs, but it definitely is. If you get into an accident with an already lower vehicle value, your insurance company may prematurely total the car if repairs exceed its total worth. So it’s important to have your vehicle repaired quickly, but it’s also important that those repairs are able to restore your vehicle value. When it comes to traditional dent repair, you might risk paint colors not matching, paint bubbling or fading over time, or overspray issues. Since traditional dent repair involves grinding away paint to fill in the dent then repainting over the filler, this risks future cosmetic imperfections and ends up lowering the value of your vehicle on a Carfax report. But a skilled paintless dent repair technician using the dent removal techniques we touched on above will be able to flawlessly repair your car’s hail damage without risking any kind of aesthetic or functional issues. As a result, your car will be able to retain its value and you won’t have to worry about driving around with a subpar paint job.

Cost

If you’ve ever needed to bring your car into the shop before, it’s likely that you’re familiar with just how expensive car repairs can get. Fortunately, paintless dent repair is one of the most cost-effective dent removal options you can invest in for your vehicle. The intensity of hailstorms can vary, but often enough hail damage results in numerous small dents on the surface of your car that have not damaged the paint. They don’t look nice either, but that’s why you brought your car in for PDR. Since this process takes less time than conventional dent repair, the labor costs are significantly lower. In addition, this method of dent removal doesn’t require your technician to invest in materials like replacement panels or body filler, primer and expensive auto paint.

Almost $60 billion in car maintenance goes unperformed every year. While hail damage repair may not seem essential, it’s important have those dents removed swiftly in the event of a second hailstorm or future collision. Don’t risk your insurance payouts and the ability to have minor repairs completed by waiting and letting additional damage accrue on your vehicle. PDR is the solution you’ve been looking for when it comes to small dent repair from hail damage. Call Dent Shop today to schedule your free estimate!

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair

What You Need to Know About Paintless Dent Repair

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PDR dent removal

Hail storms may pass through quickly, but the dimples and dents left behind by hailstones can seriously mar the value and appearance of your vehicle. If this is the first time your vehicle sustains hail damage, you may not know the best method or place to seek repairs. Luckily, according to industry experts, 80% to 90% of dents can be repaired using paintless dent repair (PDR) techniques.

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

PDR is a faster, cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of removing dents from vehicles that repairs a vehicle’s value and appearance. This modern method of dent removal involves slowly pushing out each dent cavity in the metal panel until it looks as good as new. No vehicle owner wants to pay for expensive replacement panels or conventional repairs, which are time-consuming and much more expensive. Not to mention, traditional repairs may fix the car’s appearance, but at the cost of the vehicle value. Since conventional repairs involve filling in and repainting over dents, this invalidates your factory finish warranty and gets documented on your vehicle’s Carfax report, which significantly reduces resale value. On the other hand, paintless dent repair actually removes the dents from the panels without damaging the paint or integrity of the vehicle, which is how PDR restores vehicle value. This fast and convenient method can get you back on the road with a better-looking vehicle in no time.

How Much Does Hail Damage Repair Cost?

The cost of repairs depends on the method used to fix or cover up the damage. PDR is a fraction of the cost of conventional repairs which take considerable time and labor to prep, fill in, sand down, paint over in layers and finish. Keep in mind that unless you have a comprehensive automotive insurance policy, you’ll be paying for the repairs out of pocket.

Paintless dent repair costs can vary, and will depend on the condition of the hood, top and trunk of your vehicle after the hailstorm passed. Hail damage repair costs in particular can range, due to the extent of the damage – the number, location and depth of dents can vary depending on the size of the hail stones. Luckily, since the certified PDR technicians are skillfully trained and perform the work with reusable tools, the time and labor costs are already much lower than what the cost would be for conventional repairs. Therefore, hail damage repair through paintless dent repair is a relatively cheaper repair job in comparison to other jobs performed in auto body shops. That’s why your car hail damage can quickly and easily be fixed through PDR dent removal. That also saves you (and potentially your insurance company) the cost of paying for a loaner vehicle until your car is fixed.

How Does the Process Work?

Your vehicle hail repair will be performed by a skilled technician certified in paintless dent repair and hail damage repair. Without certifications or years of experience, paintless dent removal can be done incorrectly without fully repairing the damage, which is why it’s important to visit and choose a reputable dent repair shop.

First, the technician will assess the damage done to your vehicle. Hail can cause a few small dents or a considerable amount of damage depending on the size of the hail stones and the strength of the storm’s winds. Not all shops provide free, in-person estimates but this is important to ensure your insurance company has an accurate, professional assessment of the costs of repairs in order to receive the correct amount in your payout. Then, the technician will access the underside of the damage panel. With specialized lighting that fully illuminates the dent cavities, the technician applies pressure in a slow, steady manner using industry-grade tools until the dent is gone.

Here at the Dent Shop, we are paintless dent repair and hail damage repair experts. If your car has recently been caught in a hailstorm, be sure to give us a call. Feel free to contact us, book an appointment or drop in for a free estimate to determine if PDR can fix your hail damage today!

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair