Hail damage on your car can cost you a lot of money. If your vehicle has been pelted by hail, make sure to avoid these mistakes so you don’t get caught in a storm of insurance nightmares and expenses!
Hailstorms happen infrequently enough that most Amarillo motorists don’t really have to worry about them, but when they do happen, they can cost a lot more than you expect. In fact, many unsuspecting vehicle owners may stumble into insurance pitfalls if they’re not careful, leaving them scrambling to cover exorbitant fees that could have been avoided! If you don’t want to be one of them, make sure you follow these auto hail damage repair tips so you pay as little as possible.
Hailstorms occur periodically in Texas, potentially costing motorists thousands of dollars in damages annually. Experts say that even light hail damage can decrease a vehicle’s value by up to $8,000, affecting sale price, trade-in prices, and accident claims, even if the damage is barely visible.
If your car gets caught in the hail, your first instinct may be to delay repairs or insurance claims until the season is over. Experts do not recommend doing this - if you attempt to address damage from separate events with a single claim, you’re engaging in a form of insurance fraud and face potential legal or financial consequences if you get caught.
Moreover, if your vehicle suffers additional damage from subsequent hailstorms or accidents, insurance companies may deem it totaled - and that’ll cost you more money in the long run. That’s because, until that point, you would’ve been considered driving a vehicle with “pre-existing damages.”
Anyway, that’s why experts always advise drivers to get their cars repaired as soon as they notice hail damage.
So, the next step is finding a shop that can actually repair your vehicle, and fast. But what’s the best method? Experts say you should go with paintless dent removal (PDR) where possible.
To give you a better idea of what it entails, PDR is a service wherein technicians use specialized tools to massage warped metal from the underside, returning it to its original shape. Because this process does not alter factory paint or finish, it will effectively restore the vehicle to its full book value, making it the recommended option over conventional paint jobs. Of course, this can’t fix everything, and sometimes you may need traditional auto body repairs - but the good news is most places that offer PDR have the facilities for other types of repairs too.
Worried your insurance premium will go up because of the hail? Don’t be. Hail damage is classified under “no fault” claims, since no one can control the weather - also, the hail hit your car, not the other way around.
Additionally, companies like Elite Hail Systems will even completely cover deductibles of up to $1,000, which will save you even more money! Just note that to qualify for these services, you must own a vehicle valued at $12,000 or higher and have auto insurance at the time of the damage.
Don’t make the costly mistake of leaving hail damage for too long. Make all the right choices, and you’ll be able to deal with it in a way that doesn’t leave you scrambling to scrape the cash together.
