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Common Myths and Misconceptions About Vehicle Hail Damage, Busted

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paintless dent removal

Severe storms can wreak serious havoc, especially on exposed vehicles. Hail can easily pummel small dents into your hood and might even break your windshield.

When hail damage is spread across the entire vehicle, the costs to repair or replace the dented panels can be shocking. But the good news is that there are many misconceptions about hail damage repair and one of them is that your insurance won’t cover you.

To help clear the air about vehicle hail damage repair, let’s determine if there’s any truth to some of the most common myths.

Myth: Your insurance doesn’t cover hail damage

Comprehensive auto insurance plans cover extreme weather damage including hail damage when it impacts your vehicle. But there’s a catch.

Some insurance companies don’t allow you to purchase a comprehensive auto insurance plan right before extreme weather is expected to hit. This is meant to protect the insurance company from having to make large payouts after every severe storm.

If your insurance covers your hail damage, look for a paintless dent removal shop that works with your insurance. Just obtain a claim number and then bring your vehicle into the paintless dent removal shop for a consultation.

Myth: Hail damage is easy to fix

Hail damage is frustrating to deal with, especially because it’s always unexpected. To make matters worse, in extreme cases hail damage can even total your vehicle if it’s extensive enough.

Paintless dent repair can take the dents out of your car’s surface to make your vehicle look like new. But a PDR technician can’t repair the any underlying structural damage that hail can sometimes cause under the hood. Make sure to have a mechanic and an insurance adjuster take a look at your vehicle before you consider whether or not the damage will be worth fixing.

Myth: Hail damage can’t be repaired without hurting your paint

The last thing you want to do when your vehicle already has hail damage is to damage your paint job trying to repair the dents and dings the hail left behind. That’s why it’s not recommended to DIY your own hail repair.

A professional paintless dent removal shop can repair the hail dents on your vehicle without damaging your paint or putting your car at greater risk for more damage. In addition, the quality and durability of vehicle paint has improved dramatically over the years, making professional repairs significantly easier.

Need small dent repair for your vehicle?

Paintless dent repair is the most effective and efficient way to repair hail damage on your vehicle. Paintless dent repair is a methodical process that only takes about two hours (depending on the severity of the damage) to get your car looking like new again.

For more information about how paintless dent repair works or to schedule your own hail dent removal, contact Dent Shop today.

Posted in Hail Repair

4 Surprising Things That Can Damage Your Paint Job

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car dent repair

The last thing you want to do is permanently damage your car’s paint. But you’d be surprised by just how many products, chemicals and weather conditions can permanently damage your car’s paint.

You can avoid ruining your paint job by knowing in advance which things can be harmful to your vehicle. Here are four surprising things that can damage your paint job and how you can avoid them.

  1. Hail. You don’t need to live somewhere cold for hail to impact your vehicle. A hailstone can be smaller than a golf ball and can still damage your car. While a dent caused by a hailstone won’t necessarily ruin your paint, attempting DIY dent repair certainly will. Make sure you take your vehicle to a car dent repair service. Professional paintless dent repair ensures your car will look good as new again.
  2. Bird droppings. There’s a reason why car washes exist and it’s not just to get your ride looking good again. Bird droppings can leave a permanent mark on the outside of your vehicle if they’re not taken care of. This is because bird droppings are acidic and harden onto the paint when they bake under the sun. To avoid paint damage caused by bird droppings, remove them as soon as possible with a wet rag and mild detergent.
  3. Gasoline. Make sure that you’re careful when you’re filling up your tank. When your gas overflows and drips onto the body of your car, it can leave a stain. Once the gasoline evaporates, the chemicals can leave marks behind on your paint. To avoid stains like these, don’t top off your gas tank. You could also consider having your car waxed after every car wash.
  4. Ashes. If you smoke, don’t lean against your car while you’re on your lunch break. Ashes that settle on the outside of a vehicle cause a chemical reaction when they’re exposed to moisture. The potassium and calcium in the ashes can mark up your vehicle’s paint when they become wet and leave a dark gray stain.

Need paintless dent repair for your vehicle?

If your car has one or more dents and you’re worried about ruining your paint job trying to fix them, then Dent Shop is the place for you. Our dent removal experts report that 80% to 90% of dents can be repaired using paintless dent repair techniques so you don’t have to worry about damaging the paint finish, making your car susceptible to rust. For more information on paintless dent repair, contact the Dent Shop today.

Posted in Dent Repair, News

How Winter Weather Can Damage Your Car

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paintless dent repair

Winter is just around the corner, and with the change of seasons comes a change in the type of weather you can expect. As temperatures drop, certain types of weather are more common, including sleet, snow, and hail. If you’re not careful and caught unprepared, these could cause serious damage to your vehicle. Here are a few ways you can protect your car from winter weather this year and avoid future damage.

Park Smart

During the winter months, look for places to park that are sheltered and safe from inclement weather. If you have a garage at home, clear out enough space to keep your car in your garage. If you normally park on the street or in a driveway, try to park in a space that’s relatively sheltered against snow or hail. Ideally, this will minimize the damage your car sustains in inclement weather.

Drive Safe

There are some situations where you’ll have to drive in difficult weather, but try to limit the amount you drive during storms as much as you can. Hail storms might not seem too serious at first, but they can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior if your car isn’t sheltered. The National Weather Service reports that it only takes a hailstone the size of a golf ball to damage a vehicle, and winter storms can become serious fairly quickly, catching you by surprise on the road.

Have A Plan For Dent Repair

If you do have to drive in a hail storm or other winter storm, it’s possible you’ll end up in need of some small dent repair or dent removal. In this case, knowing your options for hail damage repair can help. Paintless dent repair is a minimally invasive option that can have your car ready to drive again as soon as possible. Paintless dent repair is a great solution for small damage from hail or other common types of winter weather, and can also be cost effective.

With winter just around the corner, it’s important to know your options for paintless dent repair and other solutions for winter weather damage. Use this information to protect your car as much as possible this upcoming winter.

Posted in Dent Repair, News

Easy Ways To Make Your Car Look Like New

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pdr dent removal

After a few years of regular driving, any car is going to start to show its age. From mechanical problems to unsightly dents and dings, plenty of things can happen to a car that make it look older than it actually is. If you want to keep your car looking like you just drove it off the lot yesterday, here are a few easy steps you can take.

Stick To A Maintenance Schedule

About $60 billion worth of vehicle maintenance goes unperformed every year. While it can be tempting to skip out on routine maintenance like oil changes in order to save money, this can actually be an expensive mistake. The longer your car goes without maintenance, the more likely you are to develop a serious problem that wears more heavily on the car over time. Take your car in for maintenance on a regular schedule to avoid expensive issues.

Repair Sooner, Not Later

If your car does happen to break down, it’s best to get it fixed as soon as possible. This is true even for small dent repair; if left unchecked, unfinished car dent repair can eventually cause your exterior to rust or have other signs of damage. Repairs only get more expensive the longer you wait, and they can age your car more quickly than it would if it were in perfect condition.

Keep Up Appearances

Even if a dent in your car isn’t going to damage its performance or durability, it can be incredibly unsightly. PDR dent removal, or paintless dent removal, allows you to fix dents on your car without more invasive techniques being necessary. After most PDR dent removal, there are no signs the dent was even there in the first place. It also tends to be a more affordable dent removal technique, meaning you won’t need to spend nearly as much to have a brand new looking car that’s entirely dent-free.

Having a car that looks brand new requires regular maintenance and repair, but most importantly, it takes careful consideration of how your car’s paint job looks. If you’ve got a few dents or dings that could be taken care of by PDR dent removal, contact Dent Shop today for more information on how to get your car looking new again.

Posted in Tips and Tricks

Dent Repair FAQ: Everything You Need To Know

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dent repair

Most drivers will at some point end up with at least a small dent or ding in their car. Sometimes they’re the result of an accident, while other times the only thing to blame is a particularly nasty hail storm. When you notice that your car has been damaged, you might start coming up with a long list of questions that need answering before your car can be repaired. Here are just a few of the most commonly asked questions about dent repair and removal that you should have answered before you schedule your repairs.

How much will my dent removal cost?

Ultimately, the type of dent and severity of the dent will determine how much you end up paying for the repair. The total average repair cost for a vehicle in the United States is $305.55, a sum total of $202.28 for parts and $103.27 for labor. However, this will vary greatly depending on your situation. For some dents, more affordable repair options will be available, but generally more serious damage will result in higher repair costs.

What about smaller dents?

If you only have minor damage to your car that only affects the external appearance of your car, you’re in luck. Small dents, such as ones caused by hail damage or similar small impacts, can often be fixed with paintless dent repair. This non-invasive repair technique requires little time to complete and can be a much more affordable solution for aesthetic damage to your vehicle.

Will paintless dent repair work for my car?

Paintless dent removal is a great option for many types of damage. Whether you’re dealing with hail damage, small impacts, dings, or even some larger dents, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to take advantage of this repair technique. The right body shop will be able to help you make these repairs fairly quickly and at a reasonable price. However, if there has been substantial damage to the actual structural integrity of your car, you might need additional repairs to return it to its former condition.

Understanding the options available for your dent repair can help you make the right call for your vehicle’s repairs. For more information or to have your questions about repairs answered, contact Dent Shop today.

Posted in Dent Repair

Paintless Dent Repair for Automotive Hail Damage is Available at Dent Shop

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hail on car

Dent Shop is offering full assistance to those who experienced hail damage from the Washington, D.C. area storms earlier this week. Dent Shop’s Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) services will enable vehicle owners to have any damage fixed promptly, without affecting the value and appearance of their vehicle. PDR is a fast, permanent solution that leaves the manufacturer’s warranty and vehicle safety features unaffected and maintains your vehicle’s value without adding a negative report to your CARFAX history.

View the press release below or our Hail Damage Repair Services page for more details. Call us today at (571) 293-2129 to schedule your estimate!

Dent Shop Announces Availability of Hail Damage Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Services to Address Damage From Tuesday’s Heavy Storms in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia PDR Experts Offer Insurance Claims Processing and Fast Repair for Hail Damage to Area Vehicles

AUG 23, 2019 08:00 EDT

ASHBURN, Va., August 23, 2019 (Newswire.com) – In the wake of damaging hail incidents across the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area due to the severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, Aug. 20, Dent Shop, the region’s #1 hail repair experts, urges those who sustained damage to their vehicles to take action and choose the fast and effective solution for repairing hail damage to their vehicles: Paintless Dent Repair (PDR).

Dent Shop uses Paintless Dent Repair to completely remove dents for a permanent solution that maintains the vehicle’s factory finish and manufacturer’s warranty and is typically covered by insurance. In contrast to the more expensive, intrusive and time-consuming conventional solutions, which reduces the value of a vehicle due to a superficial solution, paintless dent repair can be completed at a fraction of the time and helps retain vehicle value. 

As the local PDR expert, Dent Shop is offering full assistance to those who experienced hail damage from Tuesday night’s thunderstorm – or for anyone with existing body damage that might benefit from PDR. Visit the Dent Shop website at https://dentshop.com/ to schedule an appointment so that Dent Shop’s technicians can determine the extent of the damage and provide an estimate. Since Dent Shop works directly with the insurance company to approve the repair, local vehicle owners merely need to provide the claim number to begin the repair process.

“The great news is that Paintless Dent Repair can fix most vehicle hail damage,” says Dent Shop President Tim Kordon, “so choose an experienced PDR professional with proven technical expertise to fix your dents.”

About Dent Shop: Based in Northern Virginia, Dent Shop uses its decades of PDR experience to efficiently and cost-effectively return vehicles back to their original condition. Dent Shop’s leadership team are recognized experts in the PDR field and offer their expertise to a national network of PDR providers throughout the country in response to requests for dent repair assistance after major storms and other disasters.

Posted in Hail Repair

3 Practical Tips To Get Your Car Ready For The Cold

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Car roof being hammered by heavy hail storm

Summer is nearly over, which means now is the time to get your car ready for cooler weather. During the fall and winter seasons, your vehicle can have a harder time gripping the road and your windshield is more vulnerable to cracks.

Fortunately, there are a few ways you can fight back against the cold before it even starts creeping in. Consider the three following tips you can use to prepare your vehicle for the fall.

  1. Repair any dents you have in your car. It’s a good idea to have your car’s dents repaired during the warmer months. This is because the metal or plastic that’s been dented will need to be warmed up first during the colder months before the issue can be addressed properly. Making any dent repairs in below-freezing temperatures can seriously damage your vehicle’s paint. This can cause cracks and chips during the dent repair process. That said, have your dents repaired while the weather is still warm outside.
  2. Check your tires. Your tires need to be routinely checked throughout the year because they can be impacted by the weather and the roads. You’ll want to check your tires’ tread, inflation and overall condition before the fall begins. Rotate your tires, too, to ensure they wear evenly while you drive. You also want to be sure that your tires contain the proper tire pressure. Cold weather causes your tires to quickly lose air, which can be dangerous when the first snow starts to make the roads slippery.
  3. Repair any cracks or dings in your windshield. Just like dents, it’s a good idea to have your windshield repaired during the warmer weather because colder weather can make the problem worse. Cold weather can cause a cracked or damaged windshield to break, chip, or fracture even more. Windshields that are free of cracks and fractures aren’t at risk of breaking during extremely cold weather or during rapid temperature changes.

Does your car need paintless dent removal?

A paintless dent repair is a methodical process and it can take up to two hours when done properly. But the good news is, after those two hours, your vehicle will look like it never had a dent to begin with.

If you’re looking for a paintless dent repair for your vehicle, Dent Shop has the experience you need. For more information about our dent repair capabilities and services, contact Dent Shop today.

Posted in Tips and Tricks

4 Factors That Determine Paintless Dent Repair Costs

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According to industry experts, up to 90% of automobile dents can be repaired with paintless dent repair techniques. Paintless dent repair, or PDR, is a paint-free method of repairing minor automotive damage when the car’s paint surface is still intact. Most commonly used to repair vehicle dents caused by hail damage, paintless dent removal can also handle bodylines dents, minor dings, and even some larger dents. PDR dent removal can be carried out on both steel and aluminum vehicle panels.

Car dent repair helps return your vehicle to its original state, and charges depend on the extent of damage, as well as how long the dent removal process takes. To best estimate your paintless dent repair cost, your auto body shop will likely consider these four factors.

Dent Size

It’s typical for your paintless dent repair cost to increase as the size of the dent goes up. Dent sizes are typically categorized by comparing them to coins, including dime, nickel, quarter, and half-dollar sizes. The smaller the dent, the easier and quicker it is to return to its pre-damaged state.

Dent Depth

The depth of a dent can be categorized not only by size but also by shape, and this can vary depending on how the dent was made. For example, a piece of hail dropping onto a vehicle causes a different type of dent depth and shape than damage taken in an automobile accident. The degree to which the dent is deep and uneven can impact how much time it takes to remove the dent, which can, in turn, affect the paintless dent repair cost.

Dent Location

Because of the degree of difficulty in removing dents in certain areas of a vehicle, dent location is another factor that can impact your paintless dent repair cost. Some dents are easy to access and can be fixed quickly, but others are often found in hard to reach areas that require more extensive tools and attention. Additionally, dent damage that is located closer to the edge of a panel also takes more time and precision to remove and therefore costs more to repair. On the other hand, dents located in the middle of a panel with no bracing behind them may be repaired for a much lower price.

Number of Dents

Another factor that determines paintless dent repair cost is the number of dents on the automobile. For example, if your vehicle has experienced severe hail damage, then it’s likely to have multiple dents in need of repair. If the dents are localized or occur in the same area, costs may be lower than in cases where multiple dents are located in very different areas around the car. As the amount of dents increases, particularly if they are not found in the same basic location, so will the cost, since more time is required to repair multiple damaged panels.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, between 2008 and 2014 in the United States, more than $7 billion in hail damage claims were paid out to insured drivers. Whether from hail, minor accidents, or other weather events, dent damage is a common concern for all drivers. PDR dent removal is a popular solution that can return your car to its pristine state without using paint or fillers. It’s a convenient option whether you’re in need of small dent repair or something more extensive like bodylines dent removal. Though prices can vary depending on the dent itself, it’s helpful to know that your paintless dent repair cost is influenced by factors including size, amount, location, and depth.

Posted in Paintless Dent Repair

Protecting Your Vehicle with Paintless Dent Repair

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hail damage repair

Automotive repair can be a costly, stressful, and time-consuming process. When it comes to dent removal and hail damage repair, you do not want to cut any corners. It’s important that you seek professional help when dealing with any type of car dent repair. Luckily, hail damage repair has come a long way thanks to paintless dent repair.

Paintless Dent Repair: What is It and Why Does it Matter?

Paintless dent repair is a precise and detailed process that restores dents in the body of your car without the use of any paint. Using advanced techniques and comprehensive technical training, paintless dent repair specialists massage your car’s metal from underneath the panels to restore the body to its original factory positioning, preserving its original, undamaged state. The process is useful for drivers in need of hail damage repair, small dent repair, and dent removal. The paintless dent repair procedure is involved and methodical and as such, should not be attempted by anyone without the proper training and experience.

What You Can Do About Hail

According to recent data pulled from a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, from 2014 to 2015 car insurance expense across the United States rose 2.7% countrywide, from an average of $865.34 to $889.01. When you consider these figures and the unpredictable nature of harsh weather patterns, you should treat hail damage quite seriously as a vehicle owner. Typically an analysis of hail damage begins with a complete check of the size and quantity of dents sustained. This can vary widely based on the length and severity of the storm. Only high quality, certified technicians should be consulted when dealing with hail, as a poor job can lead to further damage and higher costs in the long run. A credible paintless dent repair specialist can usually fix hail damage. If the vehicle has been damaged severely, conventional body repair can be used to restore the panels.

It’s wise to keep a regular maintenance schedule and repair budget for your vehicle. This way, when storms happen, as they often do, you’re not surprised by the expense. Being prepared is the first and most important step to becoming a more conscientious vehicle owner.

Posted in Paintless Dent Repair

Pros and Cons of Paintless Dent Removal

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paintless dent removal

What is Paintless Dent Removal?

If you are looking for small dent repair or dent removal, paintless might be the way to go. Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) usually needs access to the back side of the dent. This means that the body panels will have to be carefully removed. Once access to the dent is obtained, slow and consistent pressure is applied to the back of the dent to carefully massage the metal back to its original position.

Because of how quick it can be done, PDR is often a same day service and the results are amazing – for both your car and your wallet!

Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair

It generally requires hail the size of a golf ball to damage and dent a vehicle. If your vehicle has been damaged by hail or otherwise has a small dent, here are some benefits of paintless dent removal:

Retains Car Value: Traditional repairs usually require the use of body filler and repainting dented and damaged areas. Using paintless dent repair will help maintain the vehicle’s value by restoring the car to its original condition, rather than adding tacky filler. There are no color differences in paint or issues with overspray because PDR doesn’t require the use of paint.

Fast Service: Compared to a traditional repair, PDR takes only a small amount of time to complete. Of course, if your car was caught in a hail storm and has dozens of dents to repair it might take a bit longer, however, the time will still be shorter compared to a traditional dent repair. For smaller dents, the entire process can be completed in only a few hours.

Cost Effective: Because of the low man hours for paintless dent removal, there are much lower labor costs. In addition, you aren’t paying for extra materials like paint and body filler. PDR usually ends up saving loads of money compared to traditional dent repair.

Good for the Environment: PDR has no adverse effect on the environment. Traditional paint repair, on the other hand, releases chemicals and fumes from the body filler, paint, and paint thinner. These chemicals also have a risk of contaminating groundwater. With paintless repair there are no fumes, no chemicals, and no environmental risk.

It’s pretty clear that paintless dent removal is beneficial in most situations, however, there are some instances where PDR won’t work. Because PDR utilizes tools and pressure to mold metal, plastic parts (such as the bumper) cannot be repaired or restored this way. Additionally, dents that cause additional damage, such as a puncture, cannot be repaired by PDR. There are also some locations of the car that cannot be reached by PDR, and while this is rare, it does happen occasionally.

If you are looking for a dent repair for your car, PDR is usually the way to go. Even for antique cars, paintless repair can help maintain the original value of the car, while smoothing out the dents and maintaining the beautiful look of the original paint.

Stop on by for an assessment of the dents in your car. Our skilled dent repair technicians can assess your vehicle quickly and give you an estimate on how long it will take to get all of the dents completely repaired. Or if your car requires work other than paintless dent removal, we can advise you on the best next steps to ensure you get your vehicle looking great and back on the road as quick as possible.

Posted in Paintless Dent Repair