How do I know if my vehicle has hail damage?

A recent storm in our area caused hail damage on thousands of vehicles. To the naked eye you may not notice that your car is damaged, but take a close look at the surfaces of your vehicle. If you see small indentations similar to the picture on the right then you probably have hail damage. Dents and other imperfections caused by hail are often much smaller than the dents in the photograph.

Is Hail Damage covered by my Insurance?

If you have comprehensive coverage on your automobile hail Damage is considered an "act of nature" by most major insurance companies. This means "Yes" it is covered and because it is an "act of nature" your insurance premiums cannot go up because of hail damage repairs.

How is hail damage repaired?

All major insurance companies now endorse paintless dent repair for automobile hail damage, unless the damage is too severe to be repaired with this method. When paintless dent repair is performed by a professional PDR technician, it is the best method of repair available. Using paintless dent repair allows you to retain your vehicle's factory finish, rather than having a body shop repair it with aftermarket replacement panels and repainting the damaged area. Your vehicle is restored to pre-loss condition. There is nothing that reduces the value of your vehicle more than having to repaint the factory finish.

What if my insurance carrier suggests another shop?

When your insurance company inspects your vehicle's hail damage, most often they will give you a list of several body shops they recommend you go to for repairs. These shops have agreements with the insurance companies commonly called Direct Repair Programs. The body shops depend on the insurance companies to direct work to them and usually agree to give them discounts on parts and labor. Some may be good shops, but the bottom line is they are under pressure to keep repair costs down to remain in good standing with the insurance companies they are aligned with. It is ultimately your decision where you take your car for repair.

How long will the repair take?

Paintless Dent Repairs take only a few days, but the recent storm has brought a lot of volume to local auto body shops. Speak with a representative at Direct Paint & Collision to schedule a pick up date. We also offer rental and loaner vehicles while your vehicle is under repair.

Can I get a check from my Insurance instead of repair?

This greatly depends on the insurance company but in some cases you can receive a check from your insurance company to cover the damages. In any case you will need to get an estimate on the damage so bring it in to Direct Paint & Collision. We can work with you and your insurance company to get you the best deal.