Hail Damage Insurance Claims in Colorado: What to Do Before Hail Season Ends
Colorado’s hail season can leave vehicles with anything from a few noticeable dents to widespread damage across the hood, roof, trunk, doors and other body panels. Sometimes the full extent of that damage isn’t obvious until weeks or even months after the storm.
If your vehicle was hit by hail this spring or summer and you still haven’t had it inspected, fall is a good time to take care of it.
Understanding how the insurance and repair process works can help you make informed decisions about your vehicle before heading into winter.
Dentagon helps Colorado Springs drivers with professional hail damage inspections, Paintless Dent Repair and the repair-related portions of the insurance claim process.
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Does Car Insurance Cover Hail Damage in Colorado?
Hail damage is generally associated with the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy, subject to the terms, deductible and limitations of your individual coverage.
Comprehensive coverage commonly applies to vehicle damage caused by events other than a collision, including weather-related events such as hail.
However, every insurance policy is different.
Your insurance carrier ultimately determines whether a loss is covered, what deductible applies and what benefits are available under your policy.
If you’re unsure about your coverage, review your policy or contact your insurance company or agent.
What Should I Do If I Find Hail Damage on My Vehicle?
Start by taking a close look at your vehicle, but don’t assume the dents you can easily see represent all of the damage.
Hail dents can be surprisingly difficult to see in normal outdoor lighting, particularly on roofs, body lines and lighter-colored vehicles.
A professional inspection can help identify the extent of the damage and determine which panels were affected.
Dentagon can also evaluate whether Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is appropriate for the damage.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR
Should I Get an Inspection Before Filing an Insurance Claim?
You can have your vehicle professionally inspected before deciding how you want to proceed with insurance.
An inspection can give you a better understanding of how much damage is present and what the repair may involve.
If you’ve already filed a claim, that’s fine too.
Bring your insurance estimate with you, and Dentagon can compare it with the damage identified during our inspection.
You don’t need to have the entire insurance process figured out before bringing your vehicle to us.
What Should I Document After a Hailstorm?
If you believe your vehicle was damaged during a hailstorm, it can be helpful to document the situation while the details are still available.
Consider keeping:
- Photos of the visible hail damage
- Photos from several angles
- The approximate date of the storm
- Where the vehicle was located
- Your insurance claim number, if you’ve already filed
- A copy of your insurance estimate, if you’ve received one
- Any claim-related correspondence from your insurance company
Your insurance carrier may request additional information depending on your policy and claim.
What Happens After I File a Hail Damage Insurance Claim?
The exact process varies by insurance company.
Generally, your insurance carrier will evaluate the reported damage and prepare an estimate or otherwise determine the amount it considers appropriate for covered repairs.
If you bring the vehicle to Dentagon, we can inspect the damage and review the repair-related information included in the insurance estimate.
From there, a repair plan can be developed based on the vehicle’s actual condition.
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What If the Insurance Estimate Doesn’t Include All of the Damage?
An initial insurance estimate may not always include every item ultimately needed to complete the repair.
Hail damage can involve numerous dents across several panels, and some damage can be difficult to identify until the vehicle receives a detailed inspection.
Additional repair procedures may also become apparent as the repair plan is developed.
When additional covered damage or necessary repair procedures are identified that weren’t included in the initial estimate, supplemental documentation may be submitted to the insurance company for review.
What Is a Supplement on a Hail Damage Claim?
A supplement is additional repair-related documentation provided to an insurance company after the initial estimate.
For example, a detailed inspection may identify additional hail damage or repair procedures that weren’t included in the insurer’s first estimate.
When appropriate, Dentagon can document those items and communicate the repair-related information to the insurance company for review.
The insurance carrier remains responsible for determining coverage and approving payment according to the policy.
Is the Insurance Company’s First Estimate the Final Repair Cost?
Not necessarily.
The initial estimate represents the damage and repair procedures identified at that stage of the claim.
If additional covered damage or necessary procedures are identified during a more detailed inspection or the repair process, supplemental documentation can be submitted to the insurer for consideration.
This is why an insurance estimate and the final repair plan aren’t always identical.
Can Dentagon Work With My Insurance Company?
Yes. Dentagon can assist with the repair-related side of your hail damage insurance claim.
Depending on the repair, that may include:
- Reviewing the initial insurance estimate
- Documenting hail damage
- Identifying necessary repair procedures
- Preparing supplemental repair documentation when appropriate
- Communicating repair-related information with the insurance company
Dentagon doesn’t determine insurance coverage, interpret your policy or decide what your carrier will pay. Those decisions remain with the insurance company.
Our role is to help make the repair process and necessary repair documentation as clear as possible.
Do I Have to Use the Repair Shop My Insurance Company Recommends?
Your insurance company may recommend or provide information about certain repair facilities, but you are not required to automatically choose a shop simply because it was suggested by the insurer.
You can select the repair facility you want to work with.
That allows you to consider the shop’s experience, repair methods, customer service and specialization in hail damage before making your decision.
If you choose Dentagon, our team can assist with the repair-related insurance documentation associated with your hail claim.
Will Filing a Hail Claim Increase My Insurance Premium?
There isn’t one answer that applies to every driver or insurance company.
Insurance premiums are based on numerous factors, and a repair facility cannot predict how a particular claim will affect your future premium.
For questions about rates, coverage or the effect of filing a claim, contact your insurance carrier or agent.
How Is Hail Damage Usually Repaired?
When the paint remains intact and the damage is suitable, Paintless Dent Repair is commonly used to repair automotive hail damage.
PDR allows trained technicians to carefully manipulate damaged metal without automatically sanding, filling and repainting the affected panel.
However, not every hail dent is suitable for PDR.
Dent depth, paint condition, metal stretching, body lines, previous repairs, panel construction and accessibility can all affect the repair method.
Dentagon evaluates the actual damage before determining the appropriate approach.
How Much Does Hail Damage Repair Cost?
There isn’t a standard price for hail damage repair.
Cost can vary based on factors such as:
- Number of dents
- Dent size and depth
- Number of damaged panels
- Location of the impacts
- Damage along body lines
- Steel versus aluminum panels
- Accessibility behind the panels
- Parts or trim that must be removed for access
- Paint condition
- Required repair procedures
Two vehicles damaged in the same storm can require very different amounts of repair work.
That’s why Dentagon recommends starting with a professional inspection rather than trying to determine the repair cost from a few visible dents.
What About My Insurance Deductible?
Your deductible is generally the amount you’re responsible for under the terms of your insurance policy before applicable insurance benefits are considered.
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 with you based on your repair.
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What If I Need Transportation During the Repair?
Depending on the repair and program eligibility, Loaner Car Assistance may be available for qualifying hail damage repairs.
If transportation is a concern, ask about it when scheduling your inspection so Dentagon can explain the available options and requirements.
Is There a Deadline to File a Hail Damage Insurance Claim?
There isn’t a single deadline that should be assumed for every Colorado auto insurance policy.
Insurance policies and carriers can have requirements regarding when damage must be reported and how claims are handled.
If your vehicle was damaged several months ago and you haven’t filed a claim, don’t automatically assume that you’re too late—or that you have unlimited time.
Check the requirements of your policy and contact your insurance carrier or agent if you have questions about reporting deadlines.
Why Deal With Hail Damage Before Winter?
By September, it can be easy to put summer hail damage on the list of things to deal with later.
But having the vehicle inspected before winter gives you a clearer picture of its condition.
You can find out:
- How much hail damage is actually present
- Which panels were affected
- Whether Paintless Dent Repair is appropriate
- What the repair process may involve
- Whether you want to pursue an insurance claim
- Whether Dentagon assistance programs may apply
Even if you ultimately decide to wait, you’ll be making that decision with a better understanding of the vehicle’s condition.
Get a Free Hail Damage Inspection in Colorado Springs
If your vehicle was caught in a Colorado hailstorm this year and you haven’t dealt with the damage yet, start with a free professional inspection at Dentagon.
We’ll evaluate the affected panels, explain the appropriate repair options and determine whether Paintless Dent Repair is suitable.
If you already have an insurance estimate, bring it with you and we can review the repair-related information. If you haven’t filed a claim yet, that’s okay too.
