Should You Repair Hail Damage Before Winter?
Colorado’s summer hailstorms may be winding down, but plenty of vehicles around Colorado Springs are still carrying dents from storms earlier in the year.
If your vehicle has hail damage you haven’t repaired yet, you may be wondering whether you should take care of it before winter—or simply wait until next year.
There isn’t a rule that every hail dent must be repaired before the first snowfall. But fall is an excellent time to have the damage professionally inspected, understand how extensive it actually is and decide what you want to do before another season passes.
At Dentagon, we help Colorado Springs drivers evaluate and repair automotive hail damage using Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) whenever the damage is suitable.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HAIL DAMAGE REPAIR
Why Fall Is a Good Time to Deal With Hail Damage
Once summer ends, hail damage can become easy to ignore.
The dents may not affect how your vehicle drives, and after seeing them every day for a few months, you might barely notice them anymore.
But fall gives you an opportunity to deal with damage from this year’s storms before heading into winter.
Having the vehicle inspected now can help you determine:
- How extensive the hail damage actually is
- Which panels were affected
- Whether the paint remains intact
- Whether Paintless Dent Repair is appropriate
- What the repair process may involve
- Whether you want to involve your insurance company
- Whether Dentagon assistance programs may apply
Even if you don’t immediately schedule the repair, you’ll understand the condition of your vehicle instead of continuing to guess.
Can Winter Weather Make Hail Dents Worse?
This is where it’s important to separate fact from exaggeration.
A typical hail dent with intact paint doesn’t automatically become dramatically worse simply because temperatures drop or snow falls on the vehicle.
However, not all hail damage is limited to an intact cosmetic dent.
If an impact chipped or cracked the paint or created other damage, the affected area should be evaluated rather than ignored.
A professional inspection can help determine whether you’re dealing with straightforward PDR-suitable dents or damage that may require a different repair approach.
Why Is Hail Damage So Easy to Miss?
One of the biggest reasons to have your vehicle inspected is that hail damage can be difficult to see under normal lighting.
You might notice several dents on the hood but completely miss damage across the:
- Roof
- Trunk or liftgate
- Fenders
- Doors
- Quarter panels
- Roof rails
Professional PDR lighting and reflection systems make subtle distortions across a panel much easier to identify.
What looks like a handful of dents in your driveway may turn out to be more widespread damage once the vehicle is properly inspected.
What Is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a specialized repair method that can restore many hail dents without automatically sanding, filling or repainting the damaged panel.
Trained technicians use specialized tools and techniques to carefully manipulate the damaged metal back toward its proper shape.
When the damage is suitable for PDR, one of its biggest advantages is preserving the vehicle’s existing factory paint.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR
Can All Hail Damage Be Repaired With PDR?
No.
Whether Paintless Dent Repair is appropriate depends on the actual condition of the damaged panel.
Technicians consider factors such as:
- Dent size
- Dent depth
- Paint condition
- Metal stretching
- Body lines
- Location of the impact
- Steel versus aluminum panels
- Accessibility behind the panel
- Previous body or paint repairs
A vehicle can have some areas that are excellent candidates for PDR and other areas that require a different repair method.
That’s why an inspection should come before deciding how the vehicle needs to be repaired.
What If the Hail Damage Is Only Cosmetic?
Many hail dents are primarily cosmetic, particularly when the paint remains intact.
Whether you choose to repair minor cosmetic damage is ultimately your decision.
However, appearance isn’t the only consideration.
Visible hail damage may also matter if you plan to:
- Sell the vehicle
- Trade it in
- Return a leased vehicle
- Keep the vehicle in excellent cosmetic condition
Before deciding that the damage isn’t worth repairing, it’s helpful to know how much damage is actually there.
Can Hail Damage Affect My Vehicle’s Value?
Potentially.
Vehicle value depends on many factors, including age, mileage, mechanical condition, market demand, vehicle history and overall cosmetic condition.
Visible hail damage can be one of the factors a dealership or private buyer considers when evaluating a vehicle.
There isn’t a universal dollar amount that every hail dent subtracts from a vehicle’s value.
The impact depends on the vehicle and severity of the damage.
What If the Hailstorm Happened Months Ago?
Don’t automatically assume you’re too late to do anything about it.
Older hail dents may still be repairable, and Paintless Dent Repair may still be appropriate when the paint and metal are suitable.
Insurance is a separate consideration.
Policies and insurance carriers can have requirements regarding when damage must be reported and how claims are handled.
If you believe the damage may be covered but haven’t filed a claim, review your policy and contact your insurance carrier or agent regarding the requirements that apply to your specific situation.
Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
Hail damage is generally associated with the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy, subject to the policy’s terms, deductible and limitations.
If you’ve already filed a claim, your insurance company may have provided an initial estimate.
Dentagon can inspect the vehicle and review that estimate against the damage identified during our inspection.
If additional covered damage or necessary repair procedures are identified that weren’t included in the initial estimate, supplemental repair documentation may be submitted to the insurance company for review when appropriate.
LEARN ABOUT INSURANCE CLAIMS ASSISTANCE
What Is an Insurance Supplement?
An initial insurance estimate isn’t always the final repair plan.
Hail damage can involve many dents across multiple panels, and additional covered damage or necessary repair procedures may sometimes be identified during a more detailed inspection or as the repair plan develops.
A supplement provides additional repair-related documentation to the insurance company for review.
Dentagon can assist with documenting these repair-related items and communicating with the insurer when appropriate.
Your insurance carrier remains responsible for determining coverage and approving payment under your policy.
Do I Have to Use the Repair Shop Recommended by My Insurance Company?
Your insurance company may recommend or provide information about certain repair facilities, but you can choose the repair facility you want to work with.
That allows you to consider the shop’s experience, repair methods and specialization when deciding who repairs your vehicle.
If you choose Dentagon, our team can assist with the repair-related insurance documentation associated with your hail claim.
What About My Insurance Deductible?
Your deductible is generally the portion you’re responsible for under the terms of your insurance policy.
Dentagon offers up to $500 in Deductible Assistance on qualifying auto hail damage repairs.
Eligibility requirements and program limitations apply, so we’ll review the available assistance based on your specific repair.
LEARN ABOUT DEDUCTIBLE ASSISTANCE
What If I Need Transportation While My Vehicle Is Being Repaired?
Dentagon also offers Loaner Car Assistance for qualifying hail damage repairs.
If transportation is a concern, ask about it when scheduling your inspection. We can explain the available options and whether your repair qualifies.
Should I Wait Until Next Hail Season to Repair the Damage?
Waiting simply because another hailstorm might happen next year isn’t necessarily the best strategy.
There’s no way to know whether your vehicle will be hit again, how severe a future storm might be or where the vehicle will be when it occurs.
Meanwhile, the existing damage remains on the vehicle.
A better approach is to make your decision based on the damage you have now.
Have the vehicle inspected, understand the repair options and then decide whether repairing it makes sense for you.
Why Choose Dentagon for Hail Damage Repair?
Dentagon specializes in auto hail damage repair and Paintless Dent Repair in Colorado Springs.
Our team can help with:
- Free professional hail damage inspections
- Paintless Dent Repair when appropriate
- Insurance Claims Assistance
- Supplemental repair documentation when necessary
- Up to $500 in Deductible Assistance on qualifying repairs
- Loaner Car Assistance for qualifying repairs
- Final repair quality inspection
The goal is to make it easy to understand what happened to your vehicle, what it needs and what your next step should be.
SEE WHY COLORADO SPRINGS DRIVERS CHOOSE DENTAGON
Get Your Hail Damage Checked Before Winter
If your vehicle still has damage from one of this year’s Colorado hailstorms, fall is a great time to finally get it checked.
You don’t need to know how many dents you have, whether PDR will work or exactly how the insurance process works before contacting us.
Start with a free professional inspection.
Dentagon will evaluate the damage, explain your repair options and help you determine the appropriate next step.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE HAIL DAMAGE INSPECTION
