Carrie Atkins

There is an undeniable weight of anxiety and fear that lives in the shadow of a catastrophic hail storm. These are the top concerns Austin vehicle owners have mentioned when it comes to filing a hail damage claim and whether it is worth it.

Fear of a Total Loss From Hail Damage

We love our cars. We do our due diligence when seeking out the ‘perfect’ car to mirror our lifestyles. This fear rings very true for later-model vehicle owners.

For example, you want the best value for your money when purchasing a used vehicle. You know you could run down to your local dealership and purchase a brand new model but you are more than fine with a gently used quality vehicle. Therefore, you do your research and track down a car, truck, or SUV that has better-than-average ratings, good to great miles-per-gallon, and retains its resale value. After you find it, you purchase it and protect it with a comprehensive insurance policy. You are more than satisfied with your new-to-you vehicle and then it happens.

It hails and you might start praying. After the storm, you check for hail damage and sure enough, every panel seems to have damage. Now what? As most used car owners know, the value of their vehicle is more pride than monetary resale value.

The Dreaded ‘Total Loss’ Verdict

The dreaded ‘total loss’ phrase creeps into your mind. If the insurance company totals it, you still have a loan to pay off. You know that replacing it will be nearly impossible. Now you start questioning whether filing a hail damage claim is even worth it. This is a tough scenario to swallow.

The vehicle was purchased for $10k, and you have $3k left to pay on it. The insurance adjuster comes out and, unfortunately, calls it a ‘total loss.’ The cost to repair the hail damage exceeds the Kelly Blue Book value of the car after considering depreciation. A few days later, you get a settlement offer plus a buy-back option.

Option 1

Filing a Hail Damage Claim on Your Vehicle

• Settlement Offer: The car’s pre-loss value is $8,500, and minus your $500 deductible, you are left with $8k. You pay the balance on the loan. You are now down to $5k to purchase another vehicle, but now, you are $1.5k in the hole.
• Buy-Back Option: Your insurance company offers to let you keep the vehicle for $3.5k. After the $8.5K minus $3.5K minus the $500 deductible, you keep the car plus they write you a check for $4.5k. You pay off the remaining $3k owed to the bank, and you are left with $1.5k and the hail-damaged vehicle that now has a salvage title. You can’t purchase comprehensive coverage on a salvage-titled vehicle.

Option 2

Not Filing, Keeping Vehicle With Hail Damage

If you decide to skip filing a claim altogether, consider the following:

If you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle or it is a leased or rented car, you have a legal obligation to file a claim for hail damage in Austin.

If you own the title on the vehicle, it is up to you to do whatever is right for you. If you do have full coverage, you are paying for a service for events such as hail damage or any other act of nature that might have damaged your car. Filing a hail damage claim is your right and, in many cases, your best option. We will outline why in the next section.

Risks of Keeping Your Vehicle With Hail Damage

1. Resale value. If you plan on keeping the vehicle until it’s no longer mechanically sound and don’t mind the aesthetic of hail damage, this is your best bet. If you think you might want to sell the vehicle at a later date, expect to sell it cheap.
2. Future damage. This might not be a scenario you have considered but let’s say you get rear-ended. Hypothetically, you’ve just had it, changed your mind, and decided to file a hail damage claim, after all. An adjuster comes out to assess the damage. They tell you that the damage caused by the hail could have been repaired, and the vehicle wouldn’t have been considered a total loss, but now, with the additional damage, it is a total loss.

DIY Car Hail Damage Inspection

This is something you can easily do at home to get a pretty good idea of whether your vehicle has a pretty good likelihood of being deemed a total loss as a result of hail damage.

Do a quick wash of your vehicle. Move the vehicle into the sunlight. Look at every panel and count the number of dents you can see. Now add 20% to that number. If you see damage, we can almost guarantee there are some small dents that aren’t easily visible without proper PDR LED lighting. Do this for every panel.

You can download the DIY Hail Damage Inspection Worksheet PG 1 | PG 2 to make it easier.

Download FREE!

DIY Hail Inspection Worksheet

The Easy Solution

Austin Auto Hail Damage Inspections are FREE

…and without obligation. If you aren’t sure about your next steps and need some more information, consider calling Superior Dent Solutions for a free inspection at 512-999-7909. If you live in Austin or within 60 miles of our shop in Liberty Hill, we can come to you. We can pretty quickly determine if the hail damage on your vehicle is repairable or a ‘total loss’ if you decide to file a claim. We can also offer solutions and additional options.

Superior Dent Solutions has been repairing hail damage since 2016, and 95% of the vehicles come into our shop for repairs.

Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair – Complete Hail Repair in Austin

The Superior Dent Solutions Paintless Dent Repair FIRST Approach

Superior Dent Solutions opened its doors in 2016 as a specialty paintless dent repair shop specializing in auto hail repair.

In March 2024, Superior Dent Solutions added a full line of auto body repair services to its list of in-house dent repair capabilities. As a ‘paintless dent repair first’ shop, we only resort to auto body repair services when they are essential.

Before, PDR technicians were forced to subcontract the necessary auto body work to auto body shops in Austin, TX. This was a viable solution in the past, as auto hail damage could be repaired nearly 90% of the time with paintless dent repair only. Today, damaging hail storms in Austin have increased in severity & occurrence. What does this mean? Instead of just dents & dings, we are seeing vehicles that have broken and sometimes shattered windshields, large dents with paint damage, and car panels with such severe damage that they need a total replacement

As weather patterns have changed, so has the definition of auto hail repair. So have we.

PDR + Auto Body & Paint vs Auto Body Shop + PDR Services

What’s the difference?

Paintless Dent Repair + Auto Body & Paint Shop

Superior Dent Solutions fits into the repair shop’s paintless dent repair + auto body & paint category.

This concept is relatively new, so you won’t find too many of us in Austin, TX. Our technicians mainly consist of paintless dent repair technicians, as auto hail repair is our specialty.

We have added auto body repair, scratch repair, auto body paint, and extensive dent repair to our list of services, so we do not target vehicles that have been damaged in an automobile accident, fender benders, scratch repair, or paint jobs.

Our list of auto body repair services is only offered when a vehicle with hail damage in Austin can not be 100% repaired with paintless dent repair.

This does not mean that our Austin auto body repair services are not top-notch or comparable with those of other Austin auto body shops; it simply means that we do not have to outsource auto body work to another shop.

We have done this to save our customers money, repair turnaround times, and multiple engagements with their insurance company during the auto hail claims process. Selfishly, it saves us from a major logistical nightmare.

Auto Body Shop + Paintless Dent Repair Services

Most of your Austin auto body and dealership repair shops fit this category. We know this because when a significant hail storm hits Austin, we get many of THEIR hail-damaged cars into our shop for repairs.

An auto body repair shop service list typically includes the following:

• Repair dented, chipped or smashed bumpers and panels;
• Straighten bent doors, fenders, quarters, and bedsides;
• Replace windshields, headlight assemblies and mirrors;
• Remove scratches from exterior paint.

As anyone in Austin, TX knows, hail occurrences have become more frequent and have increased the severity of vehicle damage. As a result, Austin auto body shops have added paintless dent repair to their service list.

This is how most auto body & car dealership repair shops handle paintless dent repair when they want to make additional money during hail season.

• They hire a temporary paintless dent repair technician to their staff.
• They add a tent to their location that offers PDR services.
• They outsource auto hail repair work to an Austin paintless dent repair shop.

We are NOT implying that this degrades the quality of service that an auto body shop can provide for auto hail repair, we are simply informing you about how it works. If you want a quality auto body repair if your vehicle was damaged in a car accident or collision, call a local Austin auto body shop.

Why Superior Dent Solutions for Auto Hail Repair vs Auto Body Shop?

• All vehicle damage caused by a hail storm can be repaired in one place.
• Your vehicle repairs will not be outsourced.
• 100% restoration of your hail-damaged vehicle with a paintless dent repair first approach. Learn more about why this is important in this article.
• We are NOT a DPR (Direct Repair Shop). We are a customer-first paintless dent repair shop.
• All Austin auto hail repairs come with a limited lifetime warranty.
• Pay-no-deductible on auto hail repairs with comprehensive insurance coverage.
• Superior Dent Solutions has a fleet of loaner cars that are free to customers.
• You don’t need to leave your home. We come to you. We offer free home inspections and free vehicle pick-up and delivery.
• Hail claims assistance. We deal with the insurance adjusters to ensure ALL of the auto hail damage is repaired and covered by your insurance company.

Schedule Hail Repair Inspection – Austin, TX

Mobile Auto Hail Repair Inspections or Visit Our New Location!

The new Superior Dent Solutions is located at  115 Holmes Rd Liberty Hill, TX 78642. To schedule your FREE hail damage inspection, call 512-999-7909 or use our online scheduling form to choose a date/time that works for you. We are located in Liberty Hill but provide services to the entire ATX metroplex and surrounding cities.

Liberty Hill too far? No worries, we come to you. From free home inspections to complimentary vehicle pick-up and delivery after repairs, you can leave the driving to us!

We get it. Why get the hail damage on your car repaired when it’s only going to hail again?

Now that the ATX 2023 hail season has finally come to a close, you might consider just waiting until it hails again to get the repairs. After all, Austin, TX does seem to be Mother Nature’s new hotbed for severe hail storms. As practical as that may sound, Superior Dent Solutions will explain the pros & cons of waiting to file a hail damage claim & getting your auto hail damage repaired.

The Cons to Waiting to Get Your Auto Hail Damage Repaired.

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Read the top 5 reasons why waiting to get your ATX auto hail damage repaired could cost you more in the long run.

More Waiting Could Mean More Damage

If you have preexisting hail damage on your vehicle, a second hailstorm greatly increases the chance that your vehicle goes from repairable to totaled.  Your car’s metal can only take so much mangling before it’s impossible to get it back to its original shape. If a vehicle is declared totaled due to hail damage, you lose big every single time.

Inaccurate Inspection & Estimate to Repair

A majority of insurance adjusters do not specialize in hail inspections and will not quote the cost to repair you accurately. It is not uncommon at all for the initial estimate to be 40-50% of the actual damages to the vehicle. That means you end up with damage not accounted for resulting in out-of-pocket expense to you. Even if you don’t get your vehicle repaired now, we highly suggest scheduling a time to get your vehicle inspected by one of our paintless dent repair specialists to make sure ALL of the hail damage is accounted for and paid for by your insurance company.

Increased Repair Time

Estimating new hail damage on a vehicle with existing damage can significantly increase the amount of time your vehicle is in the shop. Not to mention, most insurance adjusters aren’t experienced enough to differentiate the damage. They do have enough experience though to know if the amount of damage is comparable to the hail damage of your neighbor’s damage. If you have preexisting auto hail damage and haven’t filed a claim from the previous storm, the situation becomes even more arduous. Expect much longer sitting around and “waiting” time while you jump through multiple hoops.

Accidents Happen

If you haven’t had your vehicle’s hail damage repaired, you are driving around with pre-existing damage. Let’s say hypothetically that you are involved in a minor car accident that results in a fender bender. Even if it wasn’t your fault, a repair that would typically cost $500-$1,000 to repair turns into a “total loss.” If you have pre-existing hail damage that bordered on that “totaled” precipice and then add the cost to repair the new damage, you run the risk of your insurance company deeming the vehicle unrepairable.

Multiple Deductibles

Your insurance company knows where your vehicle resides. They also know about any previous hail storms that have hit Austin and the many cities in and around Austin that had hail activity. Ultimately, they know about anything and everything that could potentially damage your vehicle. Insurance companies will collect wherever they can. After all, they are business and they will cash in anywhere they can to avoid costly payouts after a severe hail event. From charging multiple deductibles to under-estimating the hail damage on your vehicle, their #1 goal is preserving their bottom line.

The Pros to Getting Your Auto Hail Damage Repaired ASAP.

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NOW is the best time to get your hail damage repaired and here are 5 reasons why!

Get Into the Best Austin Paintless Dent Repair Shops

The sooner you file your auto hail damage insurance claim in Austin, the more options you have. The best auto hail repair shops in Austin fill up quickly after a hail storm. What makes one shop better than another? Austin has many auto body shops and dealership repair shops but not as many paintless dent repair shops.

Why? PDR shops are dent repair shops that work primarily and sometimes exclusively in auto hail damage repair. After a major hail event, auto body shops & dealership repair shops will either temporarily hire or contract with independent paintless dent repair technicians to take on hail repair work. Your BEST option ALWAYS is to bring your vehicle to an actual paintless dent repair shop for the highest quality of repairs, service, and price.

Accurate Hail Damage Repair Estimates

A majority of insurance adjusters do not specialize in hail inspections and will not quote the cost to repair you accurately. It is not uncommon at all for the initial estimate to be 40-50% of the actual damages to the vehicle. That means you end up with damage not accounted for resulting in out-of-pocket expense to you. At Superior Dent Solutions, we never start repairs until after we do a reinspection. As mentioned above, we typically recover thousands of dollars of missed hail damage by your insurance adjuster. When we discover additional damage, we submit a supplement request to your insurance company to make sure you do not pay any out-of-pocket expense for missed damage.

Faster Repair Time

After a severe hail storm accurance, especially in a large city like Austin, there will be hundreds of thousands of hail damaged vehicles. The sooner you file a hail damage claim on your vehicle, the faster you will get an adjuster out to estimate the damage and get your car in for repairs. If you get your claim submitted within 2 weeks of the storm, repair times typically only about 3-5 days. 2-3 months after the storm, repair times can go up to 7-10 days…sometimes longer.

Rental Car Availability

Procuring a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop for repairs can be tricky after a hail storm. If your insurance policy covers the cost of a rental car, we highly suggest you file your hail damage claim ASAP. When you do this, you will be provided a ‘rental code’ to mention to the rental car agency which will put you in line immediately to pick up a rental. At Superior Dent Solutions, we work with Enterprise & Hertz on a day-to-day basis and in many situations have to wait until a rental is available for our customer before we can start working on the repairs. If you have a secondary vehicle to use while your car is being repaired, that is going to be your best bet. If your insurance policy does NOT cover a rental, Superior Dent Solutions has a fleet of rentals that are complimentary for our customers to borrow while their car is in the shop.

Superior Dent Solutions Perks

Superior Dent Solutions is an Austin, TX local paintless dent repair shop. We have been in business for over 25 years. We also have an in-house auto body repair division that takes care of any paint damage, panel replacement, dents that can’t be repaired with PDR, and more. We pay up to $1000 of your deductible. We have a fleet of rental cars that are complimentary for our customers who do not have loaner coverage. Hail damage inspections are free and can be done at your location or ours. All repairs come with a Lifetime Warranty.

Most importantly, Superior Dent Solutions works for YOU, not your insurance company. We are NOT a Direct Repair Shop and never will be. We never cut corners, use after-market parts, or ask you to pay for anything that should be covered under your insurance policy.

We guarantee it.

Suggested Reading

Top 5 Reasons Vehicle Owners Wait to File Hail Damage Car Claims With Insurance Company