The Auto Hail Repair Process: The Ultimate Guide
Our ultimate hail repair guide is an indispensable resource, packed with invaluable tips, tricks, and insights gleaned directly from industry professionals with over two decades of experience in the paintless dent repair (PDR) field.
This comprehensive guide empowers you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the repair process, including understanding your rights when interacting with insurance companies and adjusters. Furthermore, it equips you to identify and avoid common pitfalls such as deceptive “fly-by-night” hail chasing companies that lack local presence and parking lot scams that often result in subpar repairs and unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses.
And if you’d rather leave it to the experts, we’re also available to handle the entire auto hail repair process for you, taking all the stress out of it.
Navigating Your Hail Repair: A Simple Guide
Dealing with hail damage is rarely convenient, but getting your vehicle repaired can be straightforward. We’ve developed this guide to simplify the process, helping you save time, navigate the necessary steps with less stress, and ensure you pay nothing out-of-pocket for hail repairs.
For over two decades, Superior Dent Solutions expertise has been dedicated to restoring vehicles efficiently and effectively, minimizing disruption to your life. This package details our approach to seamless and transparent auto hail repair.
Step 1: Filing Your Car Hail Claim
What Happens:
Your repair journey begins with your insurance company. You can file your claim online or by calling the number on your insurance card. Be prepared to provide key information such as the date of the hail occurrence, your policy number, the number of vehicles damaged, and where the vehicle was located during the storm.
What Happens Next:
Once your claim is filed, you’ll be assigned an adjuster who will reach out to schedule a time to look at the vehicle. Some insurance companies may even offer a video inspection. No matter where or how this initial inspection takes place, know that the estimate to repair will commonly be 20% or more below the actual cost to repair the damage. Don’t worry about this discrepancy; this step is simply required to get the hail repair process officially underway.
Pro Tip: Filing your hail claim ASAP ensures an expedited hail repair process. If you wait, you can expect to be put on a waiting list for repairs and even for an adjuster to provide that initial estimate. Getting this done promptly means a faster path to a fully restored vehicle..
Step 2: Prepare for the Adjuster Inspection
What Happens
Your assigned adjuster will reach out to set a time and date to inspect your vehicle for hail damage. This inspection might happen in person at your location, or some insurance companies may offer a video inspection.
How To Prepare
Before your inspection, it’s crucial to document the damage yourself. Take clear pictures and video of your entire vehicle. Get close-up photos of each panel to show the size and density of the dents, and also capture wide-angle pictures of each panel. If you notice any hairline paint cracks, broken glass, or other damage you believe is hail-related, photograph it. Finally, take a slow, comprehensive video walking around your entire car, making sure to include the hood, bumpers, and side mirrors. (See below)
What Happens Next
This preparation is vital. Having your own thorough documentation ensures that you have a clear record of the damage. While initial adjuster estimates often fall short of the true repair cost (sometimes 20% or more), your detailed photos and videos help protect you by providing undeniable proof of all damage. This step is required to get the hail repair process officially underway, and your documentation will support our efforts to ensure you’re not left paying for overlooked damage.
đź’ˇ Documenting the Hail Damage: How-To Guide
Capturing clear photos and videos of your vehicle’s hail damage is a crucial first step. This visual evidence not only helps us assess the full extent of the damage accurately but also strengthens your insurance claim, ensuring nothing is overlooked. Follow these simple tips to document your vehicle effectively.
đź’ˇ Expert Tips: Know Your Rights
- Be there during the adjuster hail damage estimate. While it’s not always strictly required for you to be present when the insurance adjuster is at your house estimating hail damage on your car, it is highly advisable to be there. * While the adjuster is there to assess the damage, remember they work for the insurance company. Being present allows you to represent your own interests effectively. Here’s the top 3 reasons why:
- Point out all of the damage.
- Ask questions & discuss concerns.
- Avoid miscommunications & misunderstandings.
- It’s YOUR right to choose. You do not have to use the repair shop your insurance adjuster and company suggest. This is a common misconception, and it’s important to know your rights as a consumer.
- It’s your car, your choice: In all 50 states, you have the legal right to choose any reputable auto body shop or repair facility you want for your car’s repairs. Insurance companies cannot legally force or coerce you into using a specific shop.
- Anti-steering laws: Many states have laws specifically preventing “steering,” which is when an insurance company tries to pressure you into using a particular repair shop.
- How to steer-clear of PDR scams. PDR scams (paintless dent repair scams) are on the rise in Austin, TX, making it essential to know how to spot and avoid them. This knowledge is key to ensuring your auto hail repair doesn’t end up costing you more money in the long run. Learn more here.
