How to Spot and Fix Hail Damage
If you live in an area that is prone to hail, then you know how much havoc it can wreak havoc on your personal property — especially if you’re caught unprepared.
Although it can sometimes be hard to see hail damage on car, hailstorms can cause thousands of dollars worth of dents, cracks, and other damage. It’s important to know how to spot the signs of hail damage and how to fix them.
How to Spot Hail Damage on a Car?
If you have accidentally left your car out during a hailstorm, you may be wondering if it sustained any damage. While storms with small hailstones may leave your car unscathed, it’s important to check for damage anyway, as hail can sometimes leave more damage than you expect. It only takes one-inch diameter hailstones to start causing damage on your vehicle.
Start by looking for dents on the:
- Hood
- Roof
- Trunk
- Doors
If you find any, use an auto-safe marker or painter’s tape to encircle each dent. Once you’ve found all the dents, take a step back and look at your car from different angles to see if you’ve missed any.
If the hailstones were large enough, they may have also cracked your windshield or windows. Take a close look at all the glass on your car to see if there are any:
- Cracks or chips.
- Moisture or fogging appearing on the inside of your windows — could be a sign of cracks you missed.
How to Fix Auto Hail Damage?
Once you’ve assessed the damage, it’s time to move on to repairs.
While you may find resources for DIY repair methods, it’s always better to take your car to a reputable repair shop that specializes in hail damage.
There are a few different ways that you can go about fixing hail damage, and the best option for you will depend on the severity of the damage. Traditional dent repair, for example, may be necessary for severe damage, but it’s costly, invasive, and devalues your car.
If you’re looking for a more affordable and effective hail damage car repair method, consider paintless dent repair (PDR). With PDR, a technician uses special tools to gently push the dented metal back into place.
This method is non-invasive, doesn’t require repainting, and can usually be done in a few hours—up to a few weeks, depending on the number of dents. It’s a great way to preserve the car’s factory finish and overall value. Such a repair procedure is also covered by comprehensive insurance coverage, so you may not even have to spend anything on the repairs.
Conclusion
Hailstorms can cause significant damage to your car, especially when those storms catch you by surprise. Fortunately, the damage is usually fixable. By spotting damage early and taking your car to a reputable shop immediately, you can help restore your car to its original condition.
