Category: Hail Repair

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

How to Deal with Vehicle Hail Damage

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vehicle hail repair

Contrary to common belief, having vehicle hail damage repaired doesn’t have to be a stressful, time-consuming and expensive process. In addition, existing hail damage on your vehicle can reduce its resale value by thousands of dollars. Knowing your next steps after hail damage occurs can simplify the process – here’s a quick guide on what you need to know to handle these situations.

Vehicle Hail Damage Reduces Vehicle Value

Any damage to your vehicle can lower its resale value. Unfortunately, since hail damage impacts a larger surface area of your vehicle, the extent of this type of damage and the high costs to fix it make it a severe issue that drastically reduces vehicle value. Failing to take care of hail damage quickly means that you’re driving around with a reduced vehicle value. Should you get into a car accident, get dinged in the parking lot or experience another form of vehicle damage, this existing reduction in value in addition to the new cost of repairs could cause your insurance company to prematurely total your vehicle. Rather than allowing the cost of repairs to accumulate and exceed your vehicle value, it’s important to have the hail damage repaired swiftly and properly.

Vehicle Hail Repair Uses Modern Techniques

Thankfully, there are modern vehicle hail damage repair techniques that can efficiently restore both the appearance and value of your vehicle. For example, paintless dent repair (PDR) is an effective repair option that can get rid of even the nastiest hail dents so long as there’s not paint damage. Finding a shop that offers this kind of repair technique can help to eliminate most of your problems. However, finding the right shop is key since paintless dent repair requires lots of in-depth training and certifications, and it should not be attempted by someone who does not know what they are doing. You should also avoid taking your vehicle to auto body collision shops for hail repairs, since the traditional repair method does not fully restore vehicle value and appearance. Conventional repairs are invasive and inferior to PDR methods because they require cosmetically filling in dents and invalidate the valuable factory finish paint warranty. Opt for repairs from a company that regularly provides paintless dent repair for hail damage.

Select a Trusted Vehicle Hail Repair Shop

That’s why it’s important to find the right repair shop. The best shop will offer PDR repairs completed by certified, skilled technicians to ensure your hail damage is visibly eliminated and your vehicle is restored to its pre-damaged condition. It may help to review some before and after images, read customer reviews and set up a clear budget before you choose a vehicle hail repair shop to work on your car. Your vehicle is not only your mode of transportation, it’s an important asset that you’ve invested in and need to last. The hail damage repair company you select will recognize that and will work quickly to return your vehicle to you with its value intact.

At Dent Shop, we’re here to help you with your vehicle hail repair needs – from estimates to repairs to assisting you with your hail damage insurance claim. We’re committed to quickly and cost-effectively eliminating your vehicle hail dents with the latest hail dent repair techniques. For top-notch repairs and incredible customer service, contact Dent Shop today.

Posted in Hail Repair

3 Tips for Protecting Your Car from Hail Damage While Driving

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hail damage

If you live in an area where frequent hailstorms occur, you probably already do everything you can to protect your car before the storms arrive. Even with your best efforts, you may get caught in an unexpected storm while you are driving. According to the National Weather Service, it takes a hailstone the size of a golf ball to cause significant vehicle hail damage. If caught in a storm, it’s important to prioritize both your safety as well as the condition of your vehicle. Here are three tips for reducing the hail damage to your vehicle while driving, and how to take action after the storm passes.

Get to Safety

If you are caught in a hailstorm while driving, it’s important to stay calm and find a safe sheltered place to pull over to avoid significant vehicle hail damage. Since wind can blow the hail stones sideways or at an angle, it’s best to pull into a parking garage for shelter. However, finding an immediately accessible parking garage can sometimes be a challenge. As a backup option, look for an overpass or other similar structures where you can safely park away from traffic. This can help prevent additional hail damage to your vehicle’s metal panels, windshields and windowpanes.

Park at an Angle and Protect Yourself

Once you have found a safe place to park, stop your car at an angle. This will make it more likely that any dents from hail will be targeted towards the front of the vehicle. Though this may seem counterintuitive, your windshield is more capable handling impacts than other windows. If large enough, hail stones can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Even so, you are safer inside your vehicle than outside and unprotected. If the hailstorm is severe, lie down in your vehicle and cover yourself with a blanket or other similar covering if you can to protect yourself in the event of broken glass.

Inspect for Auto Hail Damage and Seek Prompt Repairs

After the storm, inspect your car for hail damage in decent lighting. If you notice any dents, you’ll need to have your vehicle fixed or risk driving with a reduced vehicle value. Those with a comprehensive coverage under their auto insurance policy can file a hail damage repair claim to have their damaged assessed and estimated to receive compensation for repairs. It’s advisable to receive a professional estimate from a local paintless dent repair (PDR) shop, which offers repair solutions that restore vehicle value and appearance quickly and cost-effectively. While the assessment and repairs process can seem time-consuming and difficult, there are many PDR shops that offer free estimates and help customers navigate the hail damage repair claims process from start to finish.

It can be a challenge to prevent damage to your vehicle if you live in a hail-prone area. By following these tips, you can significantly minimize the extent of potential damage and save yourself time and money. If you have vehicle hail damage, contact your local Dent Shop today to inquire about a free estimate for our paintless dent repair services. Our team of certified PDR technicians can efficiently assess and repair your vehicle and quickly get you back out on the road again.

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

The Step-by-Step Process to Getting Hail Damage Repairs

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hail damage repair

When your car sustains damage from hail, it’s crucial to seek hail damage repairs promptly. You may already know the importance of doing so, but if you’re unsure how to get started here is a step-by-step guide to getting hail damage repairs.

Seek Vehicle Hail Damage Assessment Services

Even before you consider having the dents repaired, you should first assess and establish the extent of the damage to determine the appropriate repair method. There are two ways to go about this.

  • You can document your car’s hail damage by taking clear pictures of the dents from hail
  • You can visit a dent repair shop and have professionals inspect the hail dents

This is important for insurance purposes, as your insurance company will require evidence of hail damage before they process your claim. When you take pictures of the hail damage, you may also share them with a dent repair technician. Having the technicians assess the auto hail damage is faster and more effective as they will be able to examine the extent of the damage more accurately. Additionally, hail damage repair professionals will tell if the hail damage can be fixed using paintless dent repair (PDR) or other methods.

File Your Insurance Claim for Auto Hail Damage

Now equipped with an accurate assessment that outlines the best repair method and the extent of the hail damage, you can file your insurance claim. The time it takes to get a claim number will depend on how fast your insurance adjuster will work on your claim. Therefore, having a well-documented hail damage report will help your insurance to process your claim faster. That’s why seeking hail damage assessment services is important. Additionally, some dent repair shops may help you complete the insurance claim process so that you can get your claim number faster.

Obtain A Hail Damage Repair Estimate

Ideally, it’s recommended to seek a repair estimate from a certified hail damage repair technician instead of one from an insurance adjuster. If you are not satisfied with the estimate you get from your insurance adjuster, you can shop around for more quotes. An estimate completed by an industry professional will likely be more accurate than one from an insurance adjuster; this is why it’s important to select a PDR shop that works with insurance companies and assists with hail damage repair insurance claims. In most cases, the dent repair professional who conducted the hail damage assessment will give you a free estimate for the hail damage repair.

Seek Professional Vehicle Hail Damage Repairs

After receiving your claim number and selecting a reputable, local dent repair shop, it’s time for the hail dents to be repaired. Here’s what you need to know about hail damage repair.

First, the most effective way to repair dents from hail is through paintless dent repair (PDR). PDR is the most preferred method as it is cost and time-effective, and more importantly, also preserves the original finish of your car. PDR is a systematic process that can take up to two hours when properly done by massaging out the dented metal. A certified dent repair technician may recommend PDR or other car dent repair methods after inspecting your vehicle’s hail damage. If the hail dents have not cracked and damaged the factory finished paint, then paintless dent removal can be used to repair the hail damage.

Secondly, don’t make the mistake of waiting much longer to have the dents from hail fixed. A second hailstorm, a collision or other damage to your vehicle can be problematic when it comes to filing an insurance claim or seeking the proper repairs. More extensive damage to your vehicle may necessitate invasive repairs that require repainting (which lowers vehicle value) or costly part replacement. Additionally, when you wait to have hail damage repair, you may have a problem with your insurance. Existing hail damage may negatively impact the insurance adjuster’s assessment of the repair costs, may invalidate a future claim or can reduce the amount of compensation your insurance policy is required to pay. Keep in mind that if the cost of multiple repairs exceeds the estimated value of your vehicle, your insurance company may deem your vehicle prematurely totaled. In summary, don’t postpone your repairs and risk additional damage impacting the already lowered value of your car.

To get the best hail damage repair services, you should trust an experienced professional from a top dent repair shop. Certified technicians rely on their training and expertise to provide quality PDR services to fix your hail damage thoroughly and efficiently. For high-quality hail damage repairs and top-notch customer service, contact Dent Shop today to get started.

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

Need Hail Damage Repair Work? Try Paintless Dent Removal

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hail damage repair

When hail wreaks havoc on your car, you’ll need expert repair services to remove the damage. One option for your hail damage repair work is paintless dent removal, also known as paintless dent repair. This blog post answers common questions about what paintless dent removal involves and why it’s a great choice for the hail damage repair process you need completed on your vehicle.

What Is Paintless Dent Removal?

Most automobiles that have hail damaged panels can be repaired by paintless dent removal. Paintless dent removal is a repair method where trained technicians use industry-grade tools to apply pressure to the underside of the dent cavity, patiently pushing until the dent is gone. Hail damage to your car causes dents that vary in size, width and depth. Because of this, the certified technicians begin by examining the dented panels under powerful lighting to assess the extent of the hail damage. Only after a proper assessment can they decide if the damage should be repaired with paintless dent removal.

Why Choose Paintless Dent Removal?

One of the biggest advantages of paintless dent repair is that it is one of the most environmentally friendly methods of repairing dents to your vehicle – no paint removal and repainting necessary. Another plus to choosing this repair method is that it is often a lot less expensive than more conventional types of auto body repair. The process itself is usually completed within about two hours or so for regular dents, and only a day or two for hail damage dent removal, which makes it a lot less time-consuming than traditional repairs. So if you look at the big picture of paintless dent removal, you’ll see that this environmentally friendly repair method will save you time and money. These reasons alone make it quite a sensible and compelling choice!

Does Insurance Cover Paintless Dent Removal?

Protecting yourself and your investments is certainly a top priority at all times. A car is certainly one of the more valuable assets that you own. With this in mind, be sure to examine your auto insurance policy very carefully and make certain that you consider a policy that includes comprehensive coverage. Usually, comprehensive coverage will take care of you in the event of non-collision related events or storm damage that necessitate repair work to your car. Comprehensive coverage can give you peace of mind so that when the unexpected happens, such as a hailstorm, you won’t have to be worrying about the cost of repairs and dent removal work to your vehicle.

It’s true that vehicle repairs can be an expensive undertaking. In fact, the market for collision repair in the automotive industry is expected to exceed $280 billion by 2024. But remember –even if you are not in a collision with another vehicle and sustain damage from a hailstorm instead, bills for hail damage repair work can be quite high. Paintless dent removal makes the repair work smoother, quicker and less expensive.

At Dent Shop, our team of PDR technicians have the years of expertise needed to complete fast and easy hail damage repairs for your vehicle. To get back on the road again quickly with your hail damage in the rearview mirror, contact Dent Shop today for a free estimate to get started on your repairs!

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

Four Benefits of Getting Vehicle Hail Repair Right Away

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vehicle hail repair

When your vehicle sustains hail damage, you should seek hail damage repairs without delay – don’t be tempted to wait until the hail season is over. Here’s why you should have your vehicle hail damage repaired as soon as possible after your car has been through a hailstorm.

Prevent Further Damage From Hail

The first round of hail damage may leave small dimple-like dents and dings that can be quickly fixed through paintless dent repair (PDR). According to PDR experts, 90% of dents can be fixed using paintless dent repair techniques. Unless the hailstones were larger than the size of a golf ball, it’s likely that the hail damage merely dented the exterior panels without disturbing the original factory finish paint job. Without paint damage present, technicians can use PDR methods to skillfully and swiftly fix the hail damage without having to repaint or replace parts of your car.

The temptation to wait until the end of hail season to get vehicle hail repair may stem from two common reasons.

  • You believe the damage isn’t noticeable enough to significantly reduce your vehicle value, and does not require immediate repairs.
  • You don’t have time in your schedule to get hail dent removal services before the end of hail season.

However, waiting to seek repairs can cause significantly greater problems. Getting caught in another hailstorm will likely worsen the damage to your vehicle, to the detriment of your wallet and insurance payout.

Keep Hail Damage Repair Costs at a Minimum

Having hail damage repairs completed promptly will save you from future dent repairs that will cost you more. Subsequent damage from a second hail event can worsen dents to the point where they can’t be fixed using paintless dent removal. This means you’d need either replacement panels or expensive auto body repairs to fix the damage. Instead, visiting a PDR shop for a free evaluation can determine if this cost-effective method can fix your damaged vehicle. Luckily, most dents from hail can be fixed using PDR, and many PDR shops can work with insurance companies to provide accurate estimates that ensure a proper payout for the repairs. Hail dent removal using PDR is also fast, so you’ll be out of the dent shop in no time. In the event your vehicle cannot be fixed with PDR, these dent shops will recommend a trusted auto body shop instead.

Ensure You Receive An Accurate Repair Claim Payment

Immediately after your car sustains hail damage, take clear pictures of the hail dents and send them to your insurance company so that they can start processing your claim. A claim adjuster will estimate the extent of damage and repair cost, and will likely advise you to seek out a PDR shop for fast and cost-effective repairs. Insurance companies prefer a smaller payout for PDR repairs as opposed to contributing larger amounts toward expensive, lengthy traditional repairs and a loaner car. You can bring your vehicle in for an evaluation and repairs at your local dent shop, and your car is ready to go a day or two later. However, waiting to file a claim or delaying repairs is not advisable. Without reporting and fixing the hailstorm damage, you may have violated your policy, thus reducing the amount your insurance company is liable to pay in the event a second hailstorm occurs or you’re involved in a collision.

Restore the Value of Your Car

Fixing your car hail damage using paintless dent repair methods is preferred because it’s minimally invasive and preserves your car’s original paint. PDR will effectively fix the dents from hail without the need for further repairs, and restores your vehicle’s value to its pre-damaged condition. It’s important to have repairs completed quickly, since the hail damage may have reduced your vehicle’s value by thousands of dollars. Don’t risk your investment in your vehicle by driving around with a reduced vehicle value. In the event of a second hail event or a collision, you want to ensure your vehicle is not at risk of being prematurely totaled. In addition, when your car sustains additional damage that cannot be fixed with PDR, that means you’ll need traditional repairs. This solution fixes your vehicle’s appearance, but does not restore your vehicle value, since it involves repainting and invalidating the factory finish warranty. Repainting and replacing parts of your car panels depreciates the value of your car by a big margin. That’s why you should seek vehicle hail repair services right away so you can reap all the benefits of PDR.

All in all, it’s crucial to seek vehicle hail repair services in good time, to ensure the damage is accurately assessed and reflected in your claim payment, and is fixed quickly and thoroughly. To protect your vehicle value, time and money, opt for paintless dent repairs for your vehicle hail damage. Contact Dent Shop today to schedule your free estimate.

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair

Your Go-To Guide to Vehicle Hail Damage: Who Is At Risk? Is It Preventable? How Can I Fix It?

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car hail damage

Think you’re in the clear when it comes to hail storms and hail damage in Virginia? Think again – hail storms have been known to occur in our state at any month in the year. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia averages about 100 reports of severe hail in a year.

Unfortunately, too many drivers in Virginia assume their risk of hail is minimal, or only worry about it during colder months. Operating under that assumption can lead to serious, costly vehicle hail damage for the unprepared.

Learn when to worry about hail, how to prevent damage and how to fix vehicle hail damage when it happens.

Do You Have To Worry About Hail Damage?

To be safe, Virginia residents should be prepared to deal with the impact of hail and hail storms at any time of year. Avoid car hail damage by knowing the facts about hail and hail-related weather in Virginia. What are the facts?

Severe thunderstorms are common in Virginia. At times, strong updrafts from these storms can move raindrops upward, into higher levels of the atmosphere that are below freezing. These raindrops freeze and grow as more rain comes into contact with the expanding hail, until the hailstones grow heavy enough to fall through the storm’s updraft.

If hail grows to the size of a quarter or more, the National Weather Service (NWS) must issue a severe thunderstorm warning. While not all storm warnings include potential hail fall, it’s wise to prepare for hail damage in the event of any severe storm on the radar.

Preventing Hail Damage In At-Risk Areas

Ideally, prevention is your best bet. Protect your vehicle(s) from car hail damage by parking in your garage whenever possible or investing in a carport for your driveway.

Other prevention options include parking in a public parking garage, parking under an overpass for especially nasty weather or using heavy blankets or tarps to shield your vehicle from harm. Stay on top of the weather and listen to the most recent weather reports to know when to cover your car.

While a typical driver spends $400 on routine car maintenance and repairs, vehicle damage and the subsequent hail damage insurance claim runs as high as $3,000 on average. This is why prevention of such damage is key – protect your vehicle whenever possible.

Traditional Methods Vs. Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

In the past, vehicle hail damage meant paying for either replacement panels or costly auto body shop conventional repairs. Nowadays, car hail damage can be repaired at a much more economical rate, thanks to paintless dent repair (PDR). Paintless dent repair is faster, more affordable and it is a more practical method that restores vehicle value and retains the original finish and structure of your vehicle.

What type of repair is best for you? Answer these questions to find out.

  • What kind of car insurance policy do you have? Depending on your insurance plan, car hail damage may or may not be covered at all. Paying for both repairs and a loaner vehicle out of pocket is not ideal, which is why you should select a faster and more cost-effective repair method that returns your fixed vehicle to you quickly. In many cases, paintless dent repair costs markedly less and is completed much more quickly than traditional repair methods.
  • Do you want to preserve the factory finish paint and exterior of your car? Conventional dent repair methods involve replacing panels of your car, or pumping the dent full of putty or filler to artificially create a smooth surface, then painting over affected areas. PDR avoids doing either of these things. Instead, technicians access panels from the opposite side and gently push and massage the dented metal back into place. This negates the need for a new panel, filler or new paint. Unless your paint has been scratched, maintaining the factory finish paint is important to retain vehicle value since an intact finish is guaranteed by the manufacturer to last for years.

All in all, your vehicle is a valuable piece of property that should be taken care of and protected in the event of potential hail storms and hail damage. If you live in Virginia, car hail damage needs to be on your radar. Follow the tips and tricks above to prevent hail damage or to repair it after a particularly nasty or unexpected hail storm. If you have questions about fixing vehicle hail damage or navigating the hail damage repair claims process to get started on repairs, contact Dent Shop today for assistance!

Posted in Hail Repair, Tips and Tricks