My Car Has Hail Damage. Now What?
In Colorado, the spring and summer bring sunshine, budding trees, rain, and at least a few hefty hail storms. These frozen water bits range in size, from small beads to golf balls. Depending on the length of the storm and the size of the hail, they can cause serious damage to your home and vehicle. According to the Insurance Information Institute, two states, Texas and Colorado account for 37% of insurance claims related to hail damage. Dents are the most common form of hail damage on cars, which in many cases can lead to a total loss of your vehicle.
You might be asking yourself, “My car has hail damage. Now what?” Typically, you’ll need to work with an auto collision repair facility to fix the dents. Read on for some questions and answers surrounding what to do when your vehicle has been damaged from a hail storm.
How Do I Spot Hail Damage on My Vehicle?
If your vehicle was left outside during a hail storm, there may be damage. After the storm, make sure to check your vehicle for small or large dents on the body, including the hood, side panels, trunk, and doors. Also, be sure to look at your windshield to see if there are any new cracks. It’s also possible that the hail was severe and caused broken or damaged side mirrors, water damage inside the vehicle, or stuck doors.
Will My Insurance Company Cover Hail Damage?
Whether or not your insurance company covers hail damage will depend on the insurance company and your specific policy. If you live in an area that has a risk of hail storms, it’s important to have hail coverage. If you do not know whether your insurance company covers hail damage, you should take a look at your policy. If you have complete auto insurance, your policy does likely cover damage from natural disasters, hail included. Make sure to partner with an auto collision repair facility that you can trust, one that will deal with your insurance provider for you.
How Can I Prevent Hail Damage?
Avoiding hail damage can save you thousands on out-of-pocket expenses and/or deductibles with insurance claims. And although the easiest solution would be to park your vehicle in a garage when you’re not driving, this is not realistic for many people. If you know a storm is coming, do your best to park under a carport or enclosure like a parking garage or a bridge if possible. You can also purchase a hail-proof cover for under $1,000, or cover your vehicle with a heavy utility blanket to help weaken the impact.
When Should I Schedule My Estimate for Hail Damage?
You should schedule your hail damage estimate as soon as possible after the damage occurred. If you had hail damage after a storm, likely thousands of other drivers in your area did as well, meaning it could be difficult to get into an auto body shop quickly. When you take your vehicle in for an estimate, make sure that the vehicle is clean. This gives the estimator the ability to clearly see all the damage. This will ensure that your estimate is accurate which will avoid any potential delays in the repair process. During the estimate process, the pre-loss condition of your vehicle will be considered. This means that any non-hail damage will be noted and not covered in the repair.
What Is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) and Does It Fix Hail Damage?
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a procedure used to avoid repairing or replacing panels on the vehicle. The auto body technician uses special tools to remove the dents, restoring the panel to its previous condition. PDR typically only works for minor damage. For larger dents and dings from hail damage, it’s more likely that panels will need more extensive repair or replacement. It’s best to get an estimate from your trusted auto collision repair facility to determine whether your damaged vehicle can qualify for PDR or not.
How Long Will It Take To Fix My Vehicle from Hail Damage?
The time it takes to repair your vehicle from hail damage depends on the severity of the damage. Lighter repairs that require small dent removals can take 1-3 days, where larger repairs with more extensive replacements and bodywork can take 3-4 weeks. Double-check with your insurance provider whether or not they offer car rental coverage within your existing policy for the more extensive repair processes.
Hail storms are abrupt, dangerous, and can be costly. To ensure you’re ready in the case of a hail storm, call your auto insurance provider to make sure hail damage is covered in your policy. When you need auto collision repair services in the Colorado Front Range area, make sure to give Colorado Coach Auto Body a call.
