CONCERN #1
“It’s only super light hail damage. I can hardly see it… it’s probably only a few hundred dollars damage, so I do not think I will worry about it.”
Yes, it’s only cosmetic, and maybe it doesn’t bother you. But what many people fail to discover in time, is that very light hail damage is still devastating to your vehicle’s value. $4,000-$7,000 in damage is very typical, even when you can barely see it.
CONCERN #2
“Does paintless dent repair work on hail damage?”
If no paint damage is present, then paintless dent repair is the top choice for car hail damage. In fact, 80% to 90% of dents from hail can be repaired using paintless dent repair methods. This modern technique of hail dent removal can provide a number of advantages.
Highly-skilled technicians use specialist tools like body picks and metal rods to push the dent out from the inside. The PDR technician will first assess the damage. The goal is to find out how big the dent is, how it can be accessed, and whether PDR will work.
CONCERN #3
“If I see hail damage on my car, the first thing I should do is call my insurance company and file a claim, then do what they tell me.”
After a hailstorm damages a large number of vehicles in an area, insurance companies are often inundated with claims. Sometimes you’ll wait weeks or even months before an adjustor actually inspects your vehicle, creates an “estimate”, and offers a settlement check.
Keep in mind, depending on their situation, many people will take the money and run… and the insurance company is counting on this.
Let’s say you understand the value proposition and you definitely want to repair your vehicle. Your insurance company will be happy to provide you with names of repair shops that are on their “Preferred Vendor” list. It is your choice to select a repair shop to perform the repairs on your vehicle. If fact, your choice is protected by Minnesota State Law.
CONCERN #4
“If I file a claim for hail damage, they are going to raise my premium, and it’s just not worth it.”
It will depend upon your state’s laws and insurance carrier’s ratings system, but generally comprehensive claims of this nature don’t affect your rates. There are even some states that don’t allow surcharges for comprehensive claims or claims where you are not at fault.
Claims for damages caused by natural events typically are not held against you, since they are unforeseeable and out of your control. But you should check with your insurer to be certain.
CONCERN #5
“Does hail damage affect the title of the car?”
Hail damage will be noted on your car’s title only if the following are both true:
– The insurance company has declared it a total loss.
– Your state allows hail damage as the sole reason for a salvage title.
Many states have a “hail” designation to distinguish hail-totaled cars from wrecked or flooded ones. Others simply mark the title as “salvage.”
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Your Car Sustains Hail Damage
When your car gets damaged by hail, seek hail damage repair right away –Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a non-invasive and methodical process that can restore your vehicle’s worth. In most cases, PDR is the best solution for auto hail damage repair, saving many drivers considerable time, money and hassle when compared to traditional repair processes. Due to the cost and reduction in value that occurs from using traditional hail repair methods, many individuals have made the following common mistakes, which should be avoided whenever possible.
Here’s what not to do when your car is damaged by hail.
1. Attempting DIY Dent Removal
The dents from hail on your vehicle may seem small, but certainly pack a punch in terms of how much they reduce the value of your vehicle. When there’s not much visible damage, you may be tempted to repair them on your own. You may wonder, why pay for dent removal costs when you could easily watch a YouTube repair video or buy a PDR kit and repair the dents yourself? Here’s why that’s detrimental. For starters, there’s no guarantee that the DIY methods you’ve seen on the internet will prove successful. Worst case, you may chip, scratch or dislodge the original factory paint on the car. When this happens, PDR may be no longer applicable, and without repairs, rust will form and spread on your vehicle.
2. Waiting Until the Hail Season Is Over to Seek Dent Repair or Claim Insurance
PDR experts advise car owners to seek paintless dent repair as soon as their cars get hail damage. When hail damage occurs, be it on the roof, hood, or trunk, you should start searching for paintless dent repair near me. If you wait for the hail season to end, another round of hailstorms will worsen the existing dents and increase your costs. If the second round of damage results in cracked paint, rust will begin time form and spread, eating into the metal panels.
3. Neglecting to Get an Estimate for PDR Hail Damage Removal
The biggest mistake people make is not getting their vehicle evaluated for PDR repairs after hail damage happens and instead taking their vehicle straight to an auto body shop for traditional repairs. When the hail dents are repaired by a top PDR technician, your car will not be left with incomplete seals, imperfect color matches, over-spray, or damage to adjacent painted panels that comes from traditional repair methods. PDR preserves your vehicle’s factory finish to ensure that your car keeps its value while getting its appearance restored. It’s faster, more cost-effective, preferred by insurance companies and more beneficial for your investment in your vehicle.
