If your car has been hit by a hail storm, you might be tempted to skip or put off getting repairs. After all, it’s just a few dents, right? Plus, hail repair can get pricey, especially if you have damage in unusual places.
On the other hand, failing to repair damage can cause issues with insurance, or make the damage worse over time. And, of course, it’s always worse to have unsightly dents on your car.
So what should you do?
What Are Some Methods Car Owners Typically Use to Fix Dents?
If you are a fan of DIY repair, you might be tempted to try to repair your car’s hail damage yourself. You may think it will save you money, and your results will be close enough to professional grade to get the job done.
If you’re wondering how to fix hail damage, there are several methods of dent repair that DIYers may use. Two popular techniques include patching the dent, and pushing the dent back out.
Patching a dent involves sanding down the surface on and around the dent, then applying a filler on top to give the impression of a smooth surface. You then spray the patched area with primer and paint. This method does not actually pull out the dent, it just covers it up so it looks smooth from the outside.
The second method involves applying various tricks to push the dent out. A simple plunger can accomplish this, or you can apply extreme temperatures to force the dent to pop out by itself. For example, you can heat a dent with a hairdryer, then cover the dent with aluminum foil and rub a small block of dry ice on it. This can make the dent pop out within a few minutes.
Should You Do It Yourself or Should a Professional Do It?
While DIY dent repair methods may sometimes work, it is usually a safer, easier, and more effective bet to get a professional to do it. This is especially true when it comes to damage that might be made of multiple dents, like hail damage.
Why You Should Not DIY
DIY methods are often clunkier and less effective than professional methods, and, in some cases, they may even make your car worse off than if you hadn’t done anything. Dents, especially big ones, may cause more extensive invisible damage, and it’s important for a professional to properly diagnose and repair this damage. There’s also the possibility of lowering the value of your car. Imperfect repairs such as patching, which involves scuffing the paint, may be perceived as further damage instead of a repair.
Why a Professional Car Repair Service Is Better
A professional car repair service is always a better option than DIY, as it is more effective and can deliver guaranteed results. Complex professional procedures that aren’t available to DIYers, such as paintless dent repair (PDR), can be far more effective than any DIY procedure, and also preserves the value and original paint of the car.
Professional car repair service can also be better because of these four reasons:
Low Cost
While traditional dent repair methods can be quite pricey, repair methods for hail damage usually aren’t. Most hail damage can be fixed with PDR, which can be as low as $75 for small dings, the kind that are usually caused by hail. Of course, the more dents there are and the bigger they are, the more expensive the repair will be. But generally, it is cost-effective enough to justify paying for a professional repair instead of doing a shoddy DIY job.
Insurance Coverage
Even if PDR may cost a few hundred dollars, you generally won’t even need to worry about paying for it. If you have comprehensive coverage, weather events such as hail are covered, and most shops that are experienced in hail damage repair know how to negotiate with insurance to get you the best rates.
Some shops, like Stormwise, will even pay your deductible for you, so you can walk away paying absolutely nothing for your repairs.
Generally Quick Turnaround
When you work with a quality hail repair company, you can get your car back again within two weeks or less. This means you don’t have to plan to budget for a rental car for a month or more. If no replacement parts are needed or if the repair job is small enough, it can take even less than two weeks.
Quality Service
When you choose a reputable, experienced repair shop that specializes in PDR and hail repair, you are getting a much better service experience than doing it yourself. You can get your car restored to its original condition and make sure all aspects of the damage, both visible and invisible, are accounted for and taken care of.
If you are looking for a quality shop that does car hail damage repair, consider going to StormWise. With years of experience in PDR for hail repair, they can give you the best service with the most convenience—they can even arrange to pick up your car for you.
