The Ultimate Guide to Auto Hail Damage Repair
Seamless & Easy Auto Hail Repair
Severe storms can wreak havoc on your house, car, and city. A car can easily be pummeled with unsightly dents due to hail damage.
Hail damage can be frustrating to deal with. Depending on the intensity of the storm, the size of the hailstones, and where your car was located during the storm, hail can cause varying degrees of damage. Knowing what to do after the storm is important.
The Hail Shop USA has created this guide to help make the auto hail repair process as stress-free as possible.
If you are ready to schedule an appointment, call us at 866-943-2141 or schedule online.
How Is Car Hail Damage Repaired?
We use the paintless dent repair technique. With the use of PDR tools that include a series of long metal push rods of varying sizes, a technician can carefully wedge between (or remove) the vehicles interior panels/moldings and the outer metal panel and gently push the dented area back to it’s original shape.
Dents more difficult to access require the use of a dent removal tool that uses a gentle adhesive tab to pull the dent from the topside of the panel.
By using a combination of these auto hail removal techniques and tools plus 25+ years of industry experience, our master team of technicians are able to restore the vehicle to its pre-damaged condition without damaging the paint.
Is Hail Damage Repair Covered By Insurance?
Auto insurance will generally cover hail damage if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your policy but only before the damage was sustained.
Comprehensive coverage usually comes with a deductible, the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before repairs begin. The average deductible cost for auto hail damage repair is $500. In most cases, The Hail Shop can take care of the cost of your deductible.
If you notice damage to your car after a hailstorm, it is best to report the claim to your insurance company as soon as possible.
read our comprehensive insurance claims guide here for answers to your FAQ about hail claims, filing instructions, and more!
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Hail Damage On A Leased Car
With most car leases, the leaser will require that you get a comprehensive insurance policy for the life of the lease. This protects both you and the leaser the expense of repairing what could be a very large repair bill.
If you have a leased vehicle, and it is time to return it, make sure you allocate enough time to get the vehicle inspected for any body damage BEFORE you turn it in.
Auto hail damage is often overlooked upon the delivery of a leased vehicle. Some hail damage might not be visible to the naked eye so if you have any suspicion of damage, schedule a free inspection at a local auto hail repair shop. Search Google for “Auto Hail Repair Near Me” to find one in your area
If you return your leased vehicle and it has damage, as long it isn’t excessive damage, most leasing companies will not charge you for the repairs. Everyday ‘wear and tear’ is to be expected if you have been leasing a vehicle for a long-term duration. The ‘excessive’ body panel damage is what you need to be concerned about. If the dealership has to cover the damages, it could be costly.
Hail Damage On New Car
Hail storms don’t care about your new car.
In fact, car dealerships tend to get pummeled by hail storms on a regular basis, especially if they are located within Hail Alley. If you happen to be one of those unlucky new car owners that are dealing with hail damage, we can help and hopefully ease your mind. First of all, most hail damage does not cause paint damage. Because of this, paintless dent repair is an option.
The first step to take if your new car has been damaged in a hail storm is to call your insurance company. You will need to file a hail claim to get the process started. The sooner you file a claim, the better.
How Much Does Auto Hail Repair Cost?
The cost of auto hail repair will vary dependent upon the following 3 main factors:
1) The location of the dent.
2) The size of the dent.
3) The amount of dents per panel.
A majority of the vehicles we repair carry a comprehensive insurance coverage policy. These costs to repair hail damage on these vehicles are paid for by the insurance company. Insurance companies use a matrix system to determine the cost to repair. You can see the State Farm PDR Cost Matrix here. The only expense to the vehicle owner is the deductible.
If you do not have comprehensive coverage, you can look at the cost matrix or use our hail damage car repair cost calculator.
The Auto Hail Repair Process.
After The Storm.
File Claim
Contact your insurance company to file a hail claim & then schedule an inspection with insurance adjuster.
Call The Hail Shop USA
We will schedule a time to repair your vehicle at a state-of-the-art paintless dent repair shop near you.
The Repair Process
The hail repair process takes approximately 3-5 business days. Once repaired, your vehicle is washed & detailed.
Lifetime Warranty
Upon final inspection, you will be given a written lifetime warranty. All paintless dent repairs are 100% guaranteed.
1. File a hail damage claim with your insurance company.
The first step in the hail damage repair process is to file a claim with your insurance company. The first way to file a claim is to call your insurance company. Your insurance card or paperwork should have this information. The phone number is usually on the back of the glovebox card. If you can’t find the phone number, you can visit this page to find claim numbers to most auto insurance providers. The second claim method would be to visit your insurance companies website and file a claim online. The links to these online filing web pages can be also found on this page.
You will need the following information when you file your claim.
- The date of the occurrence.
- The vehicle(s) that were damaged. It is helpful to have the vehicles make, model, year, and VIN just in case this information is requested.
- The insurance policy number and the name of the insured.
Once you file a claim, you’ll get a claim number that will help you track your claim. You will be assigned to a local claims adjuster. This is a good time to seek out a local paintless dent repair shop to get a repair estimate. A local claims adjuster will reach out to you and schedule a time to inspect the vehicle. The adjuster will determine whether your insurer will pay for repairs or if your car is totaled. A car is considered totaled if repair costs exceed its depreciated value.
2. Find a local paintless dent repair facility.
If you don’t already have a repair facility in mind, you can search google for “paintless dent repair shop near me” to find a reputable PDR shop in your area. Sometimes an estimate from a paintless dent repair facility will be enough and you will not need to meet with an adjuster. An inspection from a PDR shop will be much more comprehensive than the inspection from the adjuster. PDR shops have special lights designed specifically for locating even the smallest dents on a vehicle. If the PDR estimator finds additional hail damage that was not accounted for on the insurance adjusters estimate, the PDR shop will request a supplement to cover the cost of the additional damage.
3. The paintless dent repair process.
Finally, your vehicle will need to be scheduled for repairs. This is typically scheduled after the inspection by the PDR shop. With most insurance policies, a deductible will be need to be paid before repairs begin. Some PDR companies will cover the cost of the deductible. Once the deductible has been satisfied, your insurance company will mail a check to either you or the PDR shop to cover 1/2 of the repairs. Once the car is in for repairs, it will be reinspected and the dents will be repaired using the paintless dent repair technique. You can learn more about PDR here. A typical auto hail damage repair takes anywhere between 1-3 days to complete. Once the hail damage has been repaired, the unpaid balance will be mailed to cover the final bill.
4. Lifetime warranty for repairs.
Upon completion of the repair, you will receive a written lifetime warranty. Paintless dent repair is guaranteed and the dents will never return. The warranty will protect you from having to pay for any dent that might have been overlooked in the repair process. Read warranty here.