When your car has hail damage, there are simple steps that you can take to get it repaired quickly and correctly. These steps will go in order to make your auto hail repair go as smooth as possible.
We’ll assume that you have full-coverage insurance as hail damage is covered. It is not covered with liability only. Note: An auto hail repair claim will not increase your rates. It is seen as a “No-fault” or “Act of God” claim.
To get your hail damage repaired, you will need to do the following:
- Contact your insurance company
- Choose a quality Paintless Dent Repair Shop
- The Estimate
- Drop off your vehicle for repair
- Pay deductible (See Tip!)
- Take delivery
1. Contact Your Insurance Company
For an auto hail repair claim, you will need to contact your insurance company first to get the ball rolling. They may ask a few straightforward questions such as when and where you were when the damage took place. They will issue you a claim number. This number will be needed before any other steps can be taken. It is important to file your claim ASAP. When hail hits a populated area, repair shops fill up quickly and adjusters take longer to get to your claim
Estimate Note:
You do not need to get an estimate or several. In many cases, it is time-consuming as each one can take an hour or more to complete. An adjuster may come out and do an estimate for the insurance company. Try not to miss that appointment as it could take a week or two for them to come back. Otherwise, one will be written at the shop of your choice.
Beware of “Steering”
Oftentimes, the insurance companies will suggest one of their “Preferred” repair shops. This is known as “Steering”. They are not supposed to do it but it happens all the time.
Usually, it is very subtle such as:
Adjuster: “I see you are in [Your location]. We send our vehicles to AcmeXYZ Shop by you all the time. They do good work.”
It is not in your best interest to take your vehicle to a shop “Preferred” by the insurance company. These shops are usually chosen because they save the insurance company money. You can take your vehicle anywhere you want for repairs. We talk more about that in our “I was sent to a body shop for auto hail damage?” blog.
2. Choose a Quality Paintless Dent Repair Shop
For auto hail damage, Paintless Dent Repair is the best way to go. Find a reputable PDR shop in your area and do a bit of research. See how long they have been in business, read reviews…etc. Most importantly, make sure they specialize in hail damage. Once your mind is made up, give them a call to set up an appointment.
3. Drop Off Your Vehicle
When you drop off your vehicle to be repaired, you will be given an estimated time of completion. If the shop does not provide rental or loaner cars, you will have to make arrangements before dropping off your vehicle.
4. The Estimate
The shop will do a thorough inspection and write up an estimate for the insurance company. This is where things get dicey and why you should choose a reputable shop. They will be on your side, not the insurance company. If an adjuster did an initial estimate on your vehicle, it is almost always lower than the actual cost of repairs.
Adjusters often miss small dents or they underbid the job, completely. They don’t do it on purpose, they just don’t have the equipment to spot them all. A good repair shop will document everything and deal with the insurance company directly to make sure your vehicle is repaired right.
5. Pay Your Deductible – Tip!
You will have to pay your deductible before taking delivery of your vehicle.
Pro Tip: Bring your vehicle to The Dent Company and we will cover $500 of your deductible for our Auto Hail Repair Service.
6. Take delivery
When the auto hail repair is complete, you will be contacted to pick up your vehicle. Before taking delivery, take a few minutes to inspect your vehicle. Look for any missed areas or imperfections. If the vehicle needed to be painted, make sure it matches. No previous hail damage should be visible and your car should look like it did before the hail. If there are visible imperfections, now it the time to address them. You will have some paperwork to sign and you’ll be on your way.
The Easy Way to Get Hail Damage Fixed
If you happen to be in our Service Area, simply give us a call once you have your claim number. We’ll get you in and take care of all the paperwork for you. No muss, fuss, or running all over town. We will walk you through the entire process and get you back on the road ASAP. We have free rental and loaner cars available to our customers.
About The Dent Company
At The Dent Company, we are the Auto Hail Repair Experts and our paintless dent repair process is the industry-leading standard.
Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Every vehicle we repair comes with a Lifetime Warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee. Word of mouth has made us who we are today and we never forget that. We want to be your go-to dent company and the one you tell your friends about.
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6260 W 52nd Ave #112 |
11450 Huron St. Ste. D |
Thank you for providing us with this information. Very well detailed and informative!
Thank you, Michelle!