Everything you need to know about diagnosing and repairing auto hail damage
If you live in a hail-prone area like Denver, you’re probably used to the seasonal hailstorms and know what it takes to protect your car. However, if you’re new to hail storms—or if a storm catches you off guard—you might end up with some serious damage.
There are plenty of options to have your car restored to its pristine state, so you can just sit back and relax even if your car has recently sustained hail damage and are unsure of what to do next. Here are some basics you need to know about how to fix hail damage.
Car Dent Repair Cost
Hail damage usually comes in the form of dents, and the way dent repair is priced varies on a few different factors. Paintless dent repair, or PDR, is the most common method of repairing hail dents because such a method is usually able to retain the car’s original paint and value. The breakdown of PDR costs are as follows:
Damage Location
Location plays a huge role in PDR. This process involves removing the sheet metal, pushing out the dents, and then putting it back on. Depending on the dents’ location on your car, this process may involve more or less extensive tools and labor. Fixing the roof, for example, is usually priced higher than other locations on the vehicle.
Damage Sharpness
The nature of the dent also plays a role in cost. Bigger dents are more expensive to fix than small ones, but the sharpness or severity of a dent plays a role too. The deeper and more jagged or uneven a dent is, the more difficult it will be to push back out. Also, if a dent is sharp enough, it might even damage the paint. This would call for additional costs of repainting the area on top of repairing the dent. While repainting is typically not the goal of PDR, it is sometimes necessary for certain dents.
Damage Accessibility
Where your dents are on a certain panel is just as important as what panel they’re on. Because of how easy or hard they are to access, some dents are more difficult to repair than others. In general, the closer a dent is to the middle of a panel with no bracing behind it, the easier it is to fix, while the closer a dent is to the edge, the harder it is to fix. If a dent is on a railing or a super hard-to-access area, it may require more tools or labor to fix—and would consequently cost more.
Hail Damage-Specific Repairs
When you get hail damage, you’re not dealing with a typical dent repair. Along with choosing PDR over traditional dent repair, there are a few more things you have to keep in mind when you’re dealing with hail damage.
Comprehensive Insurance Coverage – Automotive Insurance Claims
If you live in an area prone to hail such as Denver, it is highly advised that you get comprehensive insurance coverage. This kind of insurance coverage covers weather-related events like hailstorms, and can almost completely cover your bill if you get hail damage.
Most shops experienced with hail damage repair know how to work with insurance companies and negotiate a good rate, provided you have a comprehensive insurance coverage plan.
Aluminum Dents
While most cars are made of steel, there are a few kinds that have aluminum panels on either a portion or the entirety of the car. If the dented area is on an aluminum panel, it will cost about 25% more to repair and may take more time than the average repair. This is because aluminum is more difficult to smooth out than regular metal.
Prompt Auto Hail Repair Shop Inspection and Consultation
If you are looking for a car hail damage repair company, it is important to choose a reputable shop that is experienced in hail damage and PDR. Not only will a reputable shop be able to provide you with superior service, they will also know how to navigate insurance and special damage easier.
When you go to an experienced shop, they can offer you a prompt inspection and consultation, so you know exactly what kind of damage you’re dealing with and what it will cost to fix it. From there, you can get your car repaired and get back on the road in no time.
