Category: Hail Repair

The Impact of Hail Damage On A Car

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hail dent removal

Vehicle owners know that regular maintenance and repairs are part of keeping their vehicle running safely, but often don’t consider what they’d do in the event of unpredictable damage from mother nature.

Hailstorms can have a devastating impact on vehicles, causing car owners to face hefty repair bills that were never anticipated. Let’s examine the impact that hailstorms can have on cars and how quality hail dent removal from a paintless dent repair specialist can help.

Costly Repairs

Because hailstorms are unlikely to occur in Northern Virginia, vehicle owners rarely consider how or where they would seek hail dent removal if the need arose. When such damage does happen, drivers are surprised to discover hail damage can range from small, dimpled dents across the top surface to large impacts that have severely dented the metal exterior. Hail damage can be expensive to fix, depending on the severity of the damage.

But failing to have your car repaired means additional damage, whether due to another hailstorm, collision, fallen branch, debris, or other major dents, could cause your insurance company to potentially deny your claim or consider your car prematurely totaled. In addition, the ideal repair option for hail damage is cost-effective, fast paintless dent removal (PDR). But any additional damage that scratches, cracks or chips your paint means PDR can no longer be a suitable repair option. Without the unbroken protection of your vehicle’s paint, moisture can accumulate in the cracks, and rust will quickly begin to form, decaying the metal.

Avoiding any of these scenarios requires prompt action and swift repairs. Thanks to skilled paintless dent repair specialists, you’ll have specially trained technicians who are capable of performing this sort of vehicle repair for a great price. They work to massage out each dimple and dent until the metal exterior is back to its original shape. That’s why it’s vital that you receive a professional assessment and estimate so you can determine the viability of PDR for your hail damage repairs. Paintless dent repair experts can outline all costs for you so that you’ll know upfront and can properly submit your vehicle hail damage claim (if you haven’t already).

Reduction in Your Vehicle Value

Did you know that hail damage can cause rapid depreciation of your vehicle if you decide to leave your hail damage untreated? That’s because traditional hail repairs are (using conventional methods) are quite expensive and time-consuming and involve scraping off the factory finish paint to apply filler into the dent and new layers of paint. Your factory finish paint is guaranteed via a warranty to protect your vehicle from the hazards of rust and other issues by lasting for years. Removing that paint invalidates the warranty, not to mention risks exposing your car to moisture and rust forming anyways, nor is the new paint guaranteed to last as it should. Vehicles that were once in pristine condition will now be worth significantly less thanks to the hail damage they have. In order to restore your vehicle to great condition, paintless dent removal must be performed.

PDR experts stand ready for the hail damage repair job. With their skill set, dedication, and know-how, you’ll receive a quality vehicle hail repair that you can be proud of. Instead of attempting DIY repairs, which can make the dents worse or damage the factory finish paint, trust your hail dent repair to the team at your local dent removal shop.

Days Without Your Vehicle

Another aspect to think about when contemplating hail dent removal is the time that you will be without your car, often your primary mode of transportation. Conventional hail damage repairs can take weeks – since this labor-intensive method involved prepping each surface before applying Bondo, and requires a waiting period after applying each layer of paint. This extensive step-by-step process may fix your vehicle’s appearance, but the dents themselves and reduction in vehicle value remain.

Paintless dent repairs for hail dent removal, on the other hand, quickly restore your vehicle’s worth and appearance. Once your insurance company approves your claim, you should only be without your vehicle for a few days, thus potentially eliminating your loaner car requirement. Instead, you may only need a ride from a family member, friend or ride-hailing app while the PDR repairs take place. Hail dent removal professionals understand this all too well. That’s why they offer quality and efficient paintless dent repair that returns your vehicle to you as soon as possible.

Why Should I Think About Paintless Dent Removal for My Vehicle’s Hail Damage?

Paintless dent removal or PDR is a cost-effective, fast and minimally invasive method for the removal of hail damage. PDR also requires a lot less labor and equipment than conventional methods. PDR further protects your vehicle’s exterior finish while helping your vehicle maintain its value.

For that hailstorm that left all of that damage to the roof, trunk, doors, and hood of your vehicle, contact your local PDR specialists and hail dent removal professionals. You’ll receive a comprehensive evaluation of your car’s hail damage while ensuring that PDR is the most suitable repair method. Contact Dent Shop today to discover how we can restore your vehicle.

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Your Car Sustains Hail Damage

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paintless dent repair near me

When your car gets damaged by hail, seek hail damage repair right away – learn about modern restoration methods by searching for “paintless dent repair near me.” Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a non-invasive and methodical process that can restore your vehicle’s worth and appearance when completed by an experienced PDR technician. In most cases, PDR is the best solution for auto hail damage repair, saving many drivers considerable time, money and hassle when compared to traditional repair processes. Due to the cost and reduction in value that occurs from using traditional hail repair methods, many individuals have made the following common mistakes, which should be avoided whenever possible.

Here’s what not to do when your car is damaged by hail.

1. Attempting DIY Dent Removal

The dents from hail on your vehicle may seem small, but certainly pack a punch in terms of how much they reduce the value of your vehicle. When there’s not much visible damage, you may be tempted to repair them on your own. You may wonder, why pay for dent removal costs when you could easily watch a YouTube repair video or buy a PDR kit and repair the dents yourself? Here’s why that’s detrimental.

For starters, there’s no guarantee that the DIY methods you’ve seen on the internet will prove successful. Testing out videos using dry ice, plunger, hair dryer or more could possibly do more harm than good. Similarly, if you’re not a PDR expert, you may end up doing more harm to your car by using the wrong technique, or the wrong PDR tools. For instance, you may not know which size and shape of PDR tabs to use, or which reflector board and dent lifter to use.

Worst case, you may chip, scratch or dislodge the original factory paint on the car. When this happens, PDR may be no longer applicable, and without repairs, rust will form and spread on your vehicle. This means you’ll have to replace the car panels or resort to expensive traditional repairs which use Bondo filler and require repainting. All these methods will interfere with the factory finish of your car, which is the best protection against rust and is guaranteed by warranty to last – invalidating that warranty significantly reduces the value of your vehicle. That’s why it’s important to protect the condition of your vehicle’s paint at all costs.

2. Waiting Until the Hail Season Is Over to Seek Dent Repair or Claim Insurance

PDR experts advise car owners to seek paintless dent repair as soon as their cars get hail damage. When hail damage occurs, be it on the roof, hood, or trunk, you should start searching for paintless dent repair near me. If you wait for the hail season to end, another round of hailstorms will worsen the existing dents and increase your costs. If the second round of damage results in cracked paint, rust will begin time form and spread, eating into the metal panels.

Additionally, you may miss the window to file an insurance claim or invalidate a claim for your dent removal costs if you delay hail damage repair. Instead, you should take clear pictures of hail damage and send them to your auto insurance company to begin the claim process right away. You may also search for paintless dent repair near me and share the pictures with your preferred PDR shop to get a cost estimate. The top PDR technicians in your area will coordinate with your insurance to facilitate the claim process and fix the hail dents quickly.

3. Neglecting to Get an Estimate for PDR Hail Damage Removal

The biggest mistake people make is not getting their vehicle evaluated for PDR repairs after hail damage happens and instead taking their vehicle straight to an auto body shop for traditional repairs. When the hail dents are repaired by a top PDR technician, your car will not be left with incomplete seals, imperfect color matches, over-spray, or damage to adjacent painted panels that comes from traditional repair methods. PDR preserves your vehicle’s factory finish to ensure that your car keeps its value while getting its appearance restored. It’s faster, more cost-effective, preferred by insurance companies and more beneficial for your investment in your vehicle. It takes years of practice and experience for a technician to become a PDR expert capable of repairing hail damage – your vehicle is in good hands with certified PDR technicians. The top PDR technicians in Rapid City have over 30 years of experience and they can fix all car models.

Paintless dent repair is the ultimate hail damage repair method. When your car sustains hail damage, you can trust an experienced PDR technician to repair the dents quickly and expertly, and also coordinate with your insurance to assist with the claims process. Contact Dent Shop today for a free estimate and to learn more about the benefits of PDR for hail dent removal.

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair

How to Inspect for Car Hail Damage

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car hail damage

With the arrival of spring, the risk of severe thunderstorms and the potential for hailstorms significantly increases. Unfortunately, hail stones only need to be one inch across – or roughly the size of a golf ball – to damage and dent the exterior of your vehicle. Auto hail damage can significantly decrease the resale value of your vehicle, so knowing how to check for dents and select a vehicle hail repair shop is crucial for keeping your car in optimal condition. Here is how you can perform an inspection for car hail damage.

Check Your Glass Components

The first thing you should inspect your car for after a hailstorm is cracks in your windshield, windows and side mirror. This type of car hail damage is unfortunately common, and it can easily be exacerbated. Cracks in the glass can easily spread, and in some cases, the glass can even shatter. You may also want to inspect the joints on your side mirrors and make sure they are moving with ease. It may be possible have chips or cracks repaired by a professional, but depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to replace the glass.

Look for Visible, Large Dents

When it comes to car hail damage, the hood, trunk and top of your vehicle are likely to suffer the most. If you’re worried about hail damage on your vehicle, the roof is where you should place your attention first. Bouncing hail or wind gusts can also cause hail damage to the sides of your car, so make sure to give your doors and side panels a good once-over after a hailstorm. The top of your vehicle is typically where the impacts from hail will dent the deepest and will be the most noticeable. As soon as you find any dents following a hailstorm, take pictures to document the damage in order to file a claim. While making your assessment, note whether or not there are any cracks, chips or any other damage to the paint of your vehicle in the dented spots.

Feel for Microdents

You may easily notice large dents after a hailstorm, but there can still be smaller dents from hail that go undetected to the untrained eye. Even with proper lighting, smaller dents can go unnoticed if the hailstorm was not a severe one. You can use lighting at different angles to check for dents that may be hard to see, but it often helps to inspect your vehicle by running your hand over the surface. If you notice any dents, so will whomever appraises the value of your vehicle when you go to resell.

The primary issue that many vehicle owners may be unaware of how significantly hail damage reduces the value of a car. That’s because in the past, repair methods for hail damage meant filling in and repainting the surface, a time-consuming and step-by-step process that was subject to imperfections and ruined the factory finish of the paint in the “repaired” spots. In order to properly repair hail damage, seek a professional assessment for paintless dent repair – a process that massages out the dents at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional repairs.

Paintless dent repair professionals can make sure that every dent is repaired, even those you may have missed with your inspection. Reach out to Dent Shop today for an expert’s evaluation and a free repair estimate – no appointment needed. We’ll help you file a claim and work with your insurance company. Contact us today for vehicle hail damage assistance!

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

What to Do If You’re Driving in a Hailstorm

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vehicle hail repair

If you happen to live in a place where hailstorms are common, like Rapid City, South Dakota, you’re well aware of the possibility of being caught in one while driving. Hail the size of a golf ball or greater can significantly damage a vehicle, but even smaller sized hail can still pose risks to your car, you and your passengers. The idea is to reduce the chance of vehicle hail damage as much as possible.

Here are a few of the ways that you can protect yourself and your car if you’re driving when a hailstorm starts and what to do after the storm has passed.

Pull Over in a Sheltered Location

As soon as you notice hail stones, turn on your flashers and slow your vehicle down. Instruct any passengers to move away from the windows as much as possible. Immediately look for a chance to pull your car over in a sheltered location. Preferably, you should find someplace that will cover your car from the storm as much as possible, such as a covered parking garage. If your only option is an overpass, be sure to pull completely off the road, knowing the wind can blow hail sideways and hit your vehicle anyways. But some shelter is better than none. Anything that will be able to block hail stones from hitting your car and prevent the need for vehicle hail damage repair is a good spot to stop during a storm.

Protect Yourself and Stay Away from Windows

After you’ve found a place to shelter your car, the next step is to protect yourself and your passengers. Be sure to stay in the vehicle at all times since hail can inflict severe injuries to the human body. Move away from the windows as much as you can, perhaps by getting into the backseat or reclining your seat. Keeping a blanket in the car is good for a multitude of scenarios, and one of those reasons is that you can use it to cover yourself during a hailstorm. Since large enough hailstones can severely dent metal and crack or shatter windows, you should cover yourself and your passengers with a blanket to protect against shattered glass from broken windows.

Check the Weather Before You Start Driving Again

If it seems like the hailstorm has cleared up, it’s a good idea to double-check with a weather app on your phone to make sure that is the case. A lull in the storm is not always an indication that it has completely passed. Your safety and the condition of your vehicle is paramount, and is worth waiting until the doppler radar indicates the storm has moved on. Even once you’ve confirmed that it’s safe to leave your sheltered area, you should also be very careful of the hailstones on the road that could impair your driving and that of others on the road.

Once the storm is over, you can check for any damage and contact your local dent shop about any auto hail damage that your car may have sustained during the storm. Dent removal doesn’t have to be invasive or expensive, so be sure to get more than one professional estimate regarding your options for vehicle hail repair. Contact Dent Shop today to learn more about modern hail damage repair methods that restore your vehicle’s value and appearance!

Posted in Hail Repair, Tips and Tricks

3 Common Questions About Repairing Car Dents from Hail, Answered

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dents from hail

When your car is damaged in a hailstorm, you might be uncertain about how to proceed. As a valuable asset that most often is your primary mode of transportation, it certainly causes problems to have dents from hail all over your car. Let’s review a few common questions about repairing vehicle hail damage.

What Should I Do Immediately After Discovering Hail Damage?

After a hailstorm passes and it’s safe to go outside, check on the state of your vehicle. If it’s been damaged, the first step is to document and photograph the damage. Then, it’s important to contact your auto insurance provider. If you don’t already know, you should determine whether or not hail damage repair is covered under your insurance policy. In general, a comprehensive policy will cover claims due to acts of nature such as a hailstorm. If you live in an area that frequently experiences hail, you should definitely call and ensure hail damage is covered under your current policy.

Then, you’ll need to have the vehicle professionally inspected. You can have this done through your insurance company with a field inspection or at a shop that specializes in vehicle hail repair. In most cases, you should seek more than one estimate in order to gain a more accurate assessment of the repair cost (and the compensation amount your insurance company will owe you).

How Does a Repair Shop Fix Vehicle Hail Damage?

Depending on the severity of the hail damage on your vehicle, there are a few different ways to fix your vehicle. The first and most efficient method of hail damage repairs is paintless dent repair (PDR), which is also called paintless dent removal. This method of hail damage repair requires specific tools that press and massage damaged panels from behind. As a result, the dented metal is pushed back out and restored to its original shape without any need for repainting. This method of dent repair is typically recommended for smaller and easily accessible dents and is equally suitable when hail damage is spread out over the hood, roof and trunk of a car. For more severe dents or hail damage with cracked paint, it may be necessary to use more traditional forms of dent repair that require filling in the dent cavity and repainting or entire panel replacement.

When Should I Start the Process of Hail Damage Repair?

If your car sustains dents from hail, it’s important that you start the repair process as soon as possible. Ideally, you’ll contact your insurance company and have your vehicle professionally inspected within a few days of the damage occurring. After that, getting to a repair shop as soon as possible should be a priority. The longer you wait to have vehicle hail damage repaired, the higher the chances of your car sustaining even more damage. If those dents aren’t taken care of, a second hailstorm could compound the existing damage. If another hailstorm compromises your car’s protective paint, rust could form if left as is. Not only is rust unsightly on your car, but it can cause serious structural decay if you’re not careful. In the worst-case scenario, your vehicle’s value could be appraised as lower than the cost of repairs, in which case your insurance company could prematurely total it.

If you need help filing a hail damage insurance claim or getting a professional estimate, reach out to our team today! Contact us and come experience the Dent Shop difference – thorough estimates, top-notch repairs and stellar customer service.

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

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

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.

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