Category: 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

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

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

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

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

Auto Hail Damage 101: Protect Your Vehicle Value

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Hailstorms can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior and devalue its worth. Hail damage repairs can be expensive if you don’t have a comprehensive insurance policy. According to insurance.com, the average claim for hail damage repair is around $3,000 on average in 2020. Compare that to the $305 average vehicle repair cost for other forms of damage. There are steps you can take to minimize the effects of car hail damage on your wallet and protect your car’s value. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know about to prepare for and deal with auto hail damage.

How Hail Damage Devalues Your Car

If a hailstorm leaves behind auto hail damage and you choose not to repair it, the value of your car will go down by the amount it would cost to fix each dent. This is typically around $3,000 for average damages. However, the value of your car won’t decrease at all if you file a claim under comprehensive coverage and take your vehicle in for paintless dent repair. Since comprehensive insurance policies cover not at-fault incidents or damage from weather, filing a claim will not drive up your insurance costs.

Yet if the cost of the damage is less than your deductible, it may not make sense to file a claim because you’ll have to pay for the repairs. If your vehicle is old and not worth much, your insurance company may deem the total value of the vehicle lesser than the cost of repairs, in which case they will determine the car as totaled. You’ll have to weigh the value of your car, the repair costs and your deductible amount to determine whether or not to file a claim.

Another crucial consideration regarding vehicle hail damage is that your car will be significantly devalued until it’s fixed. This is important to remember because if you get into an accident, your insurance company will weigh the vehicle value against the costs of collision repairs and hail damage repairs, which can sometimes cause your vehicle to be prematurely totaled. Driving around with hail damage in a now devalued car is a risk to your investment in your vehicle, which is why you should seek repairs as soon as you’re able.

How to Prevent Hail Damage

The best way to protect your car is to prevent hail damage in the first place. Watch for local weather alerts and park your car in a garage whenever possible. Check your insurance policy to make sure it includes comprehensive coverage, since a policy change after a hailstorm will not apply to hail damage incurred before. Your vehicle is not only your mode of transportation, but a big investment that should be protected as much as possible; taking necessary precautions to mitigate hail damage is well worth your time and effort.

How to Fix Hail Damage

The best way to repair auto hail damage is with paintless dent repair. Paintless dent repair is not only more cost-effective for repairing hail damage, but it’s also less harmful to your car. With traditional dent repair, you end up with a Carfax report that devalues your vehicle, since it documents repairs made that lower the worth of the vehicle. Conventional repairs fall under that category because it’s a cosmetic repair method that fixes the appearance of the vehicle by filling in and repainting over dents, meaning the damage is still there, but now it’s covered with a coat of paint that may not last or match the rest the vehicle after some time has passed. Instead, choose paintless dent repair to fix your car’s hail damage for a faster and more cost-effective solution that protects your investment in your vehicle.

Dealing with auto hail damage can be frustrating. Hail not only dents your car, but your wallet as well. If you need help fixing hail damage on your vehicle, call Dent Shop today to get a free evaluation.

Posted in Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair

Five Reasons PDR Is The Best Solution for Repairing Dents from Hail

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repair hail dents

During a hailstorm, your vehicle may sustain hail damage on the roof, side panels, or on the hood or trunk. You should get a reputable dent removal technician to evaluate and repair these dents from hail stones, using the most effective hail damage repair method: paintless dent repair (PDR). Here’s why.

PDR for Hail Damage is Minimally Invasive

Typically, dents from hail impacts are prime candidates for paintless dent repair. According to the National Weather Service, for hail to extensively damage your vehicle, it would take a hailstone larger the size of a golf ball (1.75 inches). As such, in most cases you can repair hail dents using PDR methods. Paintless dent repair is quick and minimally invasive as it doesn’t require sanding, painting or filling as with traditional auto body repairs.

PDR Ensures Efficient Hail Damage Repairs

A PDR technician will use special mirrors and lighting to inspect the extent of the auto hail damage. Your PDR technician will then access the dented panels from the backside. Only the interior panels need to be removed for this inspection, which means it’s a relatively quick process. Once your technician can access the dented outer panel, they use specialized tools and techniques to gently unbend it and work the metal back to its original shape. When expertly done, PDR can take less than two hours to complete.

PDR for Hail Damage is Cost-Effective

Compared to traditional auto body repairs, paintless dent repair is cost-effective because it utilizes fewer repair materials, less labor and less time. Save yourself a great deal of money and time with PDR as opposed to conventional repairs. Car owners who aren’t familiar with PDR may get in over their heads when their vehicles get dented by hail. They start thinking of the downtime and inconvenience they’ll have to endure when the hail damage is getting fixed, as well as the repairs cost and the hassle of renting a vehicle for use while their car is in the shop. It’s far preferable to avoid such stressful situations by choosing PDR repairs, as opposed to conventional repairs art a busy auto body shop. When you use paintless dent repair techniques, you’re investing in a much more cost-effective solution to your dents from hail.

PDR Offers an Easy Time with Insurance

Auto insurance adjusters recommend PDR for auto hail damage. Since PDR is a fast process, they usually don’t have to send a courtesy car. In addition, the claim process is also relatively quick. All you have to do is document the extent of the hail damages by taking clear pictures of the dents and dings, and then send them to your insurance company. Once you get a claim number, your PDR technician can proceed with the vehicle hail damage repairs to return your car to its original condition and value.

PDR Preserves Your Car’s Factory Finish

This is perhaps the main reason that most vehicle owners are drawn to PDR. The admiration and preference of PDR cuts across the auto industry, from high-end sports cars to more affordable car brands. Nobody wants to repaint or replace any of the body panels of their cars, as that decreases the market value of the car by a significant margin. Whether the hail-damaged vehicles are new or pre-owned, they are all prime candidates for PDR repairs that maintain vehicle value.

Don’t panic when your car sustains dents from hail – cost-effective PDR techniques will repair the hail damage in record time. To determine if your vehicle’s hail damage is a candidate for PDR, text us photos of your hail damage for a free evaluation or stop by for a free drive-through estimate. To get the best auto hail damage repair in Rapid City or Northern Virginia, contact our team at Dent Shop today.

Posted in Dent Repair, Hail Repair, Paintless Dent Repair