Of course, we’d prefer that you avoid hail damage altogether. Getting your car repaired after a storm isn’t usually a lot of fun. It can be a hassle to get everything squared away with your insurance company and then have your car out of commission while being repaired. So when you receive alerts or hear of an upcoming storm, the best option is to move your vehicle into a garage or under a carport if you can. However, if that’s not an option and your car does sustain hail damage, here is a checklist for where to start and what to do next to get your car hail damage repair taken care of quickly and efficiently.
Step 1: Contact your insurance company
The first call you need to make when dealing with cars with hail damage is your insurance company. Call the number on your insurance card to make a claim. They’ll have questions about the damage, so be prepared to discuss that. If you have questions or need help remembering important details to discuss, consider writing them down before calling. Remember that more information is better during this conversation.
Step 2: Assess and document the damage
You’ll want to assess and document the car hail damage for yourself, but also, your insurance company will send out an appraiser to assess your vehicle and determine how much damage it has. Take clear photos of the damage for your own records, and keep them in a safe folder where you’ll easily be able to access them later. You’ll want to compare the before and after to judge how well the dents were removed during the repair process. If you have any pictures of your vehicle before the hail damage, add those to the folder as well. When the insurance company sends out an appraiser, make sure you can be there for his or her visit. Take notes about what the appraiser says, and be sure to ask about the deductible, which you will be responsible for paying. Your conversation with the appraiser should help you determine what repair work needs to be done and what kind of repair shop you need to choose.
Step 3: Choose the repair shop
When choosing the right shop to handle your hail dent repair, you’ll want to schedule several estimates from local body shops. Don’t just look for the best deal. Make sure you’re looking at how the business handles repair work, and be very wary of pop-up shops. During hail season in Dallas-Fort Worth, people flood the market with temporary hail repair shops that promise great deals but then close up as soon as the season ends, which means they’re not held accountable in the long-term to their customers. Choose a reputable dent repair company like Bodyguard that will be here long after hail season ends. Make sure you’re asking good questions when sussing out the best repair shop. By the time you have to make a decision, you should have a solid understanding of what your out-of-pocket expenses will be, how long the expected repair will take, how each business operates, and what guarantees they offer. You’ll have a timeframe to get the repair work done, so take some time to consider the shops, the estimates, and your deductible. Cost is important, but it’s not the only factor. When making your decision, weigh the importance of warranties and the other things that make each shop stand out from the rest.
Don’t forget! Keep copies of receipts and warranties.
It’s good to keep records of any repair work done on your vehicle so you can refer back to it later. Scan the paperwork to have digital copies to put in the same folder where you put your pictures that document the damage. If you don’t have a printer, look for apps on your phone or tablet that allow you to make digital scans. They’re good tools to have for tasks like this.
Why choose Paintless Dent Repair for hail damage?
When it’s possible to use paintless dent repair (PDR), we believe it’s the best option available to car owners because it’s cheaper, faster, and retains the car’s value much better. Traditional dent repair is a lengthy and involved process that requires sanding off the original factory paint, hammering the damaged material back to its original form, filling in any gashes with putty, the second round of sanding, and then finally repainting, which requires a primer, a base coat, and a final coat of paint. On the other hand, Paintless dent repair is exactly what it sounds like: returning dented material to its original shape while maintaining the condition of the factory paint. There is no sanding and painting involved in this process. Instead, a technician uses specialized tools to massage the material back into the correct position carefully. As the technician works, the damaged area will get smaller and smaller and then eventually disappear altogether.
BodyGuard is the best choice in DFW for paintless dent repair
Fixing hail damage without further damaging the material is a task that requires professional training, expert skill, and exacting precision. Not every bodyshop is equipped to handle the job efficiently and effectively. Bodyguard specializes in paintless dent repair, so if you’re looking for the best hail damage repair company to handle your vehicle hail damage, reach out to our team of professionals at Bodyguard. Beyond simply hail dent removal and fixing hail damage on cars, our auto hail specialists will give you the flawless customer service experience you deserve. We’re known and trusted in DFW for our top-quality care. Call us today to let a true automotive hail damage specialist handle your vehicle’s hail dent repair and auto hail repair needs. Go to our website at bodyguardpdr.com for more information, or call us today at 469-628-4910 to set up an appointment.