5 Costly Auto Hail Repair Mistakes Car Owners Make

You might think you know what to do when a hailstorm strikes, but the truth is most people don’t have any experience with these types of storms and their unpredictable nature can lead to some common mistakes. 

For example, when a storm strikes, it often causes damage to properties like roofs and cars. The importance of timely and proper auto hail repair is sometimes downplayed by car owners. They may think that the small dings don’t need immediate attention because of their relatively negligible size compared to larger, more prominent dents and scratches. Hopefully, you won’t fall into the same trap because this way of thinking will lead you down a path where no car owner would ever want to go.

#1 Underestimating the Damage

The first stop in this path towards greater car damage is underestimation. Some car owners may think the damage isn’t as serious as it actually is—probably because it really doesn’t appear to be a huge dent or scratch. However, it’s better to assume that it needs immediate professional attention. Even cosmetic issues greatly impact your car’s total value, not to mention, small damage that accumulates over time will fetch for bigger repair prices.

Any damage on your car needs immediate inspection because further damage must be avoided. Damage always equates to repairs, which then equate to spending money. You will likely have to spend money on your car’s damage, but you have the chance to avoid spending more than necessary—by getting it checked by a professional right away.

#2 Waiting Until Hail Season is Over

Yes, hailstorms can happen multiple times in a year, so your car may have to go through such a weather condition more than once (or twice). Regardless of how many times your car may have to endure ice pellets being hurled at it, it’s not advisable to wait for the hail season to end before heading to a trusted hail damage car repair shop.

Your car can only endure so much mangling before you end up with irreparable dents. An already-dented surface, when dented further by a second (or even third) hailstorm, only invites more complications with insurance claims and repair costs. Avoid getting into hot water by practicing due diligence as a car owner. Get your hail-damaged car inspected and repaired today.

#3 Immediately Filing an Insurance Claim

Although this may be the initial step that most car owners would take—which makes sense when it comes to other types of auto damage, like collision repairs—there’s actually a better alternative: reaching out to a trusted auto hail repair shop. Why? Think about it, your insurance company won’t likely pay you as much and as fast as you need. The aftermath of a hailstorm involves dozens (possibly hundreds) of insurance claims due to car damage.

You may end up waiting for weeks and months before you can get the assistance you need, then get only about 50% of the actual amount of the damage’s value. You can’t afford that and you deserve better than that. Remember that the longer you wait, the greater the repair costs would be and higher chances that your car will sustain more damage. It’s a good thing that there are car repair shops that can negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf.

#4 Avoiding Hail-related Damage Repairs Due to Fear of Getting a Higher Premium

This fear is unwarranted because it’s not your fault your car got damaged during a hailstorm. It’s a simple logic: you didn’t hit the hail, it hit you. This means such damage won’t lead to an increased insurance premium, unlike when you get into a car accident because you drove into a wall or a street post. Comprehensive insurance coverage—if you have it—will take care of the auto hail repair costs.

If you’ve ever heard of the terms “Act of God” and “no fault” claims, hail damage actually falls into such a category. There’s no need for you to delay a comprehensive inspection because there are PDR specialists that can expertly assess the damage, identify the best non-intrusive repair method, and talk to your insurance company to ensure the right claim is filed. 

#5 Thinking All Auto Repair Shops are the Same

Every auto repair shop has a unique way of approaching different types of car damage. Of course, if your vehicle has hail damage, your best bet is to get in touch with a service company specializing in auto hail repair. You can’t expect the same level of care and gentle firmness from a typical car repair shop because special methods are used to get rid of the dents caused by hail.

Hail damage must be handled by paintless dent repair professionals. They are trained to detect and assess dings and dents, fix these without using fillers, sand paper, paint, and other typical tools, and restore your car’s surface to its former glory. Don’t leave your car’s hail damage to chance and don’t delay repairs. You won’t be saving money in the long run, just incurring an even bigger expense.