It’s been a rough stretch for Kansas City drivers lately. The region has been hit by a series of significant hail storms that have left car owners dealing with a logistical and financial mess.
The Dreaded “Totaled” Vehicle Equation
Things to consider if you are nervous about your insurance company declaring your vehicle as totaled due to hail.
- Existing hail damage: If your car was damaged by the first series of storms, don’t wait – file a claim. There is a huge misconception for many Kansas City car owners.
- Number one – if I wait until after the next storm and suffer a second round of hail damage, I will only have to pay one claim. This is not true. Different hail storms produce different damage. Insurance claims estimators have a keen eye for differentiating the damage.
- Number two – the first storm caused damage that likely could have been repaired with paintless dent repair, restoring the vehicle back to it’s pre-damaged condition. If you chose not to repair the damage from the first storm and wait until the next storm – the TOTAL damage from both storms could very likely “total” out your vehicle.
- Ignoring the hail damage: Believe or not, many car owners become so overwhelmed with the thought of ‘dealing with their insurance companies’ and the dread of jumping through the hoops of the auto hail repair process that they forego repairs.
- Number one – the auto hail repair process is Kansas CIty isn’t as scary as it may seem. We can honestly say, the stress of hail damage is the hardest part. Remember, you pay for full coverage for just this situation.
- Number two – an experienced KC paintless dent repair shop will handle the entire claims process from start to finish. Superior Dent Solutions make’s sure that every single dent, ding, broken glass, paint damage is all covered under your policy.
- Not being aware of your rights as the vehicle owner: You finally call your insurance company to file your hail claim. The insurance company tells you a whole lot of information that makes you question if you should have even called in the first place. This is what we hear the most from KC hail damage car owners.
- Number one – you need to get multiple quotes, inspections, estimates, ect. This is not true. You only need one. An experienced KC auto hail repair shop will be able to tell you pretty quickly an estimated cost to repair, if the vehicle will be totaled out, and how long the repair will take.
- Number two – low ball initial estimate from your insurance adjuster. This is very common and almost 100% of the time a reality. This doesn’t matter either. Once your vehicle is in the shop for repairs, Superior starts with a comprehensive inspection and cost estimate. If the number we come up with is more than the number your insurance provider gave you on their estimate, we submit a supplement (or request additional funds to cover damage that was not documented in their estimate). No matter what, if you are getting your hail damage repaired at a reputable shop, they will make sure all of the damage is accounted for an covered.
- The fear of insurance rate hikes: If I file an auto hail damage claim, my rates are going to skyrocket. This is a very understandable fear – these are the facts.
- Number one – it really depends on the amount of claims made in your area. For example, between April – June 2026, there were 3 damaging hail storms. This could effect your rates meaning everyone will see a slight spike – even if you didn’t file a hail claim.
- Number two – We will always go back to this – you pay for the insurance coverage for this very reason. With comprehensive or full coverage insurance, this is called “Acts of God”. This is the specific part of your policy that covers damage to your car from things other than a collision. In the insurance world, hail is often classified as an “Act of God,” and it falls squarely under this category.
- What it covers specifically for hail:
- Body Work: Dents, dings, and “pockmarks” on the hood, roof, and trunk.
- Glass: Cracked or shattered windshields, sunroofs, and side windows.
- Interior Damage: If hail breaks a window and rain or hail ruins the upholstery or electronics inside.
- Total Loss: If the cost to fix all those dents and glass exceeds the value of the car, comprehensive coverage is what pays you the “Actual Cash Value” of the vehicle.
Confused Or Nervous About Filing Your Auto Hail Damage Claim?
Superior Dent Solutions has been repairing hail damaged cars and dealing with insurance companies for nearly 20 years. We have heard it all, seen it all, and know the ins and outs of the auto hail repair process. We have streamlined our process and have adopted a failsafe method that works in your favor.
We work for you. Not your insurance company. We make the auto hail repair process stress free and easy but doing all of the heavy lifting.
Schedule your free inspection today by calling (816)762-7177 or using our online form. You can bring your vehicle by our shop located at 307 Tennis Ct, NKC, MO 64116 or we can send one of our inspection experts to your home or office.
