Definitely not. Damage from hail falls under what is termed a comprehensive claim, often referred to as an “Act of Nature.” These are events beyond anyone's control and cannot be anticipated. As such, insurance providers do not penalize policyholders with these types of claims on their records by raising their insurance rates. Your insurance representative can confirm the same when you inquire about comprehensive claims.
The cost of repairing hail damage on vehicles can fluctuate widely based on various aspects, such as the vehicle's condition and the extent of the damage. Minor damage often starts at approximately $3,000, whereas more significant harm requiring the replacement of panels and parts can surpass $15,000.
Nonetheless, hail damage falls under the umbrella of comprehensive insurance coverage. Choosing The Hail Group for your repair needs typically means you won't face any direct costs, covering everything from repair bills and insurance deductibles to rental car fees. For those without comprehensive insurance, we encourage you to contact us at (855) 666-4245 for tailored pricing options. Rest assured, our pricing is always equitable and clear.
Should your insurance policy not include rental car coverage and your vehicle requires an extended stay at our facility for repairs, The Hail Group will provide up to $35 daily towards a rental car. Considering the average rental car expense is around $17 per day, this allowance should sufficiently meet the needs of most of our clients.
Furthermore, for added convenience, we're happy to meet you at the rental agency to facilitate a smooth transition!
Absolutely. Upon request, we'll keep you informed with photos and updates, ensuring full transparency throughout the process.
A key advantage of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is its durability; once the metal is reshaped to its initial form, it remains so for the vehicle's lifespan. Should you encounter any issues with your car in the future that you suspect are linked to our repair work, don't hesitate to reach out. We're committed to rectifying the situation!
Our approach to customer service is guided by the principle of treating others as we'd like to be treated ourselves. This philosophy has earned us an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, something we take great pride in.
For customers who prefer not to travel all the way to our location, we provide a complimentary valet service for complete auto hail damage repairs.
When you opt for our valet service to the The Hail Group facility, a customer service representative will be dispatched to collect your vehicle. We will handle all communications with your insurance regarding the damage assessment and updates on the repair process. Upon completion of your vehicle's repairs, your representative will bring it directly back to you. Moreover, if The Hail Group has supplied you with a rental car, your representative will also take care of its return, at no extra cost to you!
Damage assessments can be quite subjective and may differ significantly. Moreover, identifying hail damage can be challenging in bright outdoor light, hence our reliance on specialized lights for paintless dent repair.
As experts in the field of auto hail damage repair, we are adept at addressing and settling such discrepancies. We will engage directly with your insurance provider to secure any extra funding (referred to as "supplements") required to restore your vehicle to its original condition before the loss.
Typically, you're allotted one year from the date of an incident to file a claim and get your car repaired. However, this timeframe can differ depending on the specifics of your insurance policy, so it's wise to initiate your claim and address the damage promptly.
It's important to note that the initial repair estimate is calculated based on the current costs of labor and parts. These prices are subject to change over time.
Opting not to repair hail damage on your vehicle and instead settling your insurance claim with a cash payout will lead to a limitation being placed on your policy regarding the unrepaired damage. This decision can lead to complications for several reasons.
Consider this scenario:
This discrepancy often arises because the initial insurance estimate typically (in 99.9% of cases) fails to cover all the actual damage. Thus, when you ponder over the real value of that $2,500, especially when it ends up costing you $10,000 in trade-in value, it's a significant loss.
This scenario isn't speculative; it's a common occurrence we've witnessed repeatedly.
Should you decide to proceed with the hail damage repairs at a later stage, it's crucial to inform your agent to lift any imposed restrictions on your policy.
This method is a sophisticated approach to fixing dents in your vehicle, known as "paintless" because it repairs dents without the need for repainting, which is the traditional way of addressing such issues.
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) employs unique tools to meticulously coax the dent back to its original form while preserving the integrity of the paint.
Achieving mastery in PDR necessitates specialized training and extensive hands-on experience.
One of the significant advantages of PDR is that it restores the vehicle's appearance without sanding, filling, or repainting, thus retaining the vehicle’s original paint warranty.
The effectiveness of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) can vary depending on the damage. For instance, PDR might not be feasible if the dent's center has cracked or missing paint.
Occasionally, a dent may be so extensive that it stretches the metal, preventing it from returning to its original shape. Such dents may exhibit an "oil can" effect, where the surface pops in and out and fails to remain smooth. Despite the expertise of seasoned PDR technicians, this outcome can be inevitable for certain dents.
Moreover, it's important to note that PDR is not applicable to plastic panels, rocker panels, or bumpers, regardless of whether they are made from plastic or metal.
The PDR method is designed to preserve the vehicle's paintwork. Accessing the dent from behind the panel to rectify it from the inside out doesn't harm the paint. Similarly, the "glue-pull" approach, which involves attaching a special glue tab to the panel and pulling it to adjust the metal before carefully tapping it back into place, does not damage the paint either.
However, the initial impact from a hailstone can stretch the paint significantly, leading to situations where, despite repairing the dent, the metal cannot be completely smoothed out.
This issue tends to arise with particularly large dents, which we at StormWise affectionately refer to as “soup bowls.” In cases of “soup bowls” caused by severe hail storms, even our top-notch PDR technicians may find it challenging to completely flatten the dent. In such instances, we aim to make the panel as smooth as possible before proceeding to sand it down and repaint it to achieve a flawless finish.
At The Hail Group, we back the excellence of each dent repair job with a lifetime warranty, underscoring our commitment to quality workmanship.
Reach out to us to determine if PDR is the suitable method for your car's damage at (855) 666-4245.
Alternatively, for your convenience, we now provide a Virtual Inspection option!
The cost of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) can vary widely. Prices start from $100 for tiny (dime-sized) dents and can escalate to $1,000 for a particularly challenging larger dent.
The price is also influenced by the amount of removal and installation (R&I) work needed to reach the dent. Since PDR necessitates access to the panel's reverse side, the R&I effort varies based on the dent's location, its depth, and our ability to create access for the repair.
For instance, gaining access might sometimes require removing a car door and stripping its interior panel entirely, which would be costlier compared to simply inserting a tool via a wedge placed between the window and its molding to repair a dent on the same door.
At StormWise, when we evaluate the damage, the price we quote is comprehensive, including all the factors mentioned. You can rest assured there will be no unexpected costs when you collect your vehicle.
Absolutely, we can work with aluminum! Given its thicker composition, aluminum poses a greater challenge to repair than traditional high-strength steel panels. As the automotive industry increasingly turns to aluminum for its lightweight benefits and eco-friendliness, we encounter this question with growing frequency.
However, it's important to note that not all large dents in aluminum can be rectified using the paintless dent repair (PDR) technique. The best course of action is to bring your vehicle to us so our skilled technicians can assess the damage firsthand.
Additionally, it's crucial to be aware that aluminum panels incur a 25% mark-up. This is because smoothing out aluminum to perfection takes significantly longer compared to steel panels.
The Hail Group is dedicated to informing people about hail damage and its remedies. Indeed, hail damage can often be addressed and covered under a comprehensive insurance claim.
For vehicles valued at $10,000 or more with minor damage, hail repair is typically feasible through a comprehensive insurance claim, and such claims usually do not result in higher premiums. Conversely, for a vehicle worth around $6,000 that has suffered extensive damage from a hail storm—such as a cracked windshield, shattered rear glass, cracked paint, and damaged headlights and taillights—the repair costs, which might exceed $10,000 depending on the vehicle's year, make, and model, could lead the insurance company to deem the vehicle a total loss rather than cover the repair costs.
The most effective way to ascertain whether your hail damage can be repaired is to reach out to us for an evaluation. We can often determine the repairability of the damage and provide a rough cost estimate within just 5 minutes.
Definitely! Our expertise lies in handling automotive claims, particularly for paintless dent repair (PDR). We're more than willing to serve as your primary point of contact with your insurance company, sparing you the hassle.
For individual dent repairs, it's possible that the repair costs might fall below your insurance deductible. We cannot bypass deductibles for straightforward dent repairs, so we recommend getting an estimate from us first to determine if filing a claim is justified. If the dent is eligible for PDR and you're facing the standard $500 deductible, often the repair expense will be less than the deductible, making a claim unnecessary.
The solution really hinges on your expectations. Occasionally, customers come to us with dents that also feature a scratch or some form of paint damage. In these instances, they might simply want the dent removed. Subsequently, either they or we apply touch-up paint within the scratch to minimize the visual discrepancy between the scratch and the surrounding car paint.
It's important to note that this approach doesn't yield a flawless result—it's merely a touch-up. Naturally, this option is significantly less costly than the comprehensive repairs involving fillers and repainting offered by full-service auto body shops.
On the other hand, if your aim is to have a dent and its accompanying paint damage (such as scratches or cracks) repaired to pristine condition, then consulting with a full auto body shop is your best bet.
Regrettably, that's not possible. Bumpers are commonly constructed from plastic, and paintless dent repair (PDR) is not effective on plastic materials in the same manner it is on metal. Repairs on bumpers generally require the use of paint and filler for proper restoration.
In cases where the bumper is metal, it's often made from a very thick metal that is also incompatible with PDR techniques. For bumpers crafted from such materials, replacement is usually the only viable option when dealing with dents or other forms of damage.
Google Reviews
"Fine group of staff! Initially, I met Ben and Joe! I was sold on the service because of their professionalism! Later, I met Logan and Adrian. Great group to work with. I love the way my car turned out. It was worth the wait!"
"Completely awesome and great customer service. this is the second place i’ve been to trying to fix the hail damage on my car and they were the ones who could fix them the best!! like it never even happened!! awesome job!!"
"Amazing people and great service!! They were able to help get the dents out of my vehicle from a recent storm that had passed. Absolutely loved the experience, highly recommended!"
