3 Things
You Should Do
When Your Car Gets
Hail Damage
#1 Call your insurance company
Just do it already. Everyone else has. Unless it was just a bunch of pea-sized hail that didn't have enough gumption to bend the metal, you're looking at a pretty big repair cost. As long as you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance company will pay for the damages (minus your deductable).
#2 Get an insurance company repair estimate
Your insurance company will require a repair estimate performed by one of their claims adjusters. This will likely be less (sometimes substantially) than the actual cost to repair the vehicle. Don't panic! All reputable repair facilities will only need to submit a supplement repair estimate to the insurance company to receive the full and fair repair cost. You will only be responsible for your deductible.
#3 Choose a reputable hail damage repair facility
You have the right to choose where you want your vehicle repaired. Some insurance companies might strongly encourage you to go to their "qualified" shops, sometimes saying it's the only way to guarantee the repair. Their suggestion might be a perfectly good solution for you. But it may not. It is ultimately your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Hail Damage Repair
OMG What do I do first?
Look UP! Call your insurance company. This is the reason you have comprehensive insurance in the first place.
Won't my insurance rates go up if I make a claim?
No. Damage from a hail storm is considered an "Act of God" and should not affect your insurance rates.
Do I have to get my hail damaged car repaired, or can I just keep the insurance check?
The answer to this question lies with your individual insurance carrier. The best course of action would be to talk to them about what your options are regarding the money.
My car looks pretty beat up. How will they be able to fix it?
Vehicles with mild hail damage repair can often be fixed entirely using Paintless Dent Repair. A skilled PDR technician can remove most hail dents without destroying the original finish, once given the okay to start the work. If your car is heavily damaged, it may need a combination of traditional body repair and paintless dent repair. Many hail damage estimates are written this way, although sometimes a very talented PDR technician will be able to make repairs other can/t. There are also times when the car is just too damaged and will need either 100% traditional body shop repair and full paint job, or will be totalled out. Hail is a mean-assed bitch.
Why is it taking so long for my car to get repaired?
A lot of times, after a major damage event, insurance claims adjusters are extremely busy and find it hard to to keep up with the volume of work. The insurance supplement process is a little beaurocratic, in that many insurance companies want to visually approve the actual cost of the damage. This can take more time, as it relies upon an individual adjuster to get to all the shops with the supplements. A respectible repair shop would not begin work until after the supplement is approved.
How long will it take to repair my car/truck?
It depends on the repair facility and your insurance company. If the shop is very busy, it might take more time to get to your vehicle.
Do I have to get my hail damaged car repaired, or can I just keep the insurance check?
The answer to this question lies with your individual insurance carrier. The best course of action would be to talk to them about what your options are regarding the money.