FAQ For Auto Hail Dent Repair & Paintless Dent Repair in Middleton, WI and the Surrounding Areas

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a great option for many people, but it doesn’t fix all types of dings and dents. Check out these frequently asked questions, and should you need additional answers or info, please contact Pro-Masters Auto Hail Center. We’re always happy to provide you with the info you need to make an informed decision regarding your vehicle.

Top Ten Questions About Auto Hail Damage

1. How is hail damage to a vehicle repaired, otherwise known as paintless dent repair, or PDR for short?

a. Due to common misbelief, heat, ice, electromagnetics or suction cups are almost never used. 

b. Specialized technicians use different tools to massage the dents from the back side of the panels, usually massaging the dents from 360 degrees around the center of the dent. then from the finished side tap it down with specialized hammers to recreate the factory finish. access to the back sides of the damaged panels are needed. in order to create access interior trim panels such as headliners, door trims, lift gate interior trim panels.. etc are removed otherwise known as remove and install or r&i for short. 

c. On areas such as roof rails where there isn’t great access to the back side of the panel, the technicians use a process called glue pulling. They use a special tool, plastic pull tabs, and glue. They glue the tab to the center of the dent, hook up their tool and pop out the dent. in most cases they will still need to tap it from the finished side to match the factory texture.

2. How long does it take to repair hail damage?

a. Most technicians work in teams of 2 or 3 and can finish an entire car in anywhere from 2-5 days. Typically waiting on insurance to approve the estimate takes longer than the actual repair.

3. How much does paintless dent repair or auto hail repair cost?

a. Although repairing a vehicle via paintless dent repair is less expensive than conventional repair. It is still a cumbersome process performed by skilled technicians. It is more expensive than most people believe. It isn't uncommon for repairs to range from $4000.00 to $20,000 depending on the severity of the storm and size of the hail. Even minor hail damage can be an expensive fix.

4. Does my insurance cover hail damage?

a. Absolutely! if you have comprehensive or otherwise known as full coverage, less your deductible of course. In some areas you may find paintless dent repair shops that assist with deductibles. 

5. Do auto hail claims affect my premiums or increase my insurance payments?

a. Insurance companies would lead you to believe that they do? However, a hail claim or comprehensive claim seldom increases your premium. Unlike an at fault collision claim, a comprehensive claim (hail claim) is a not at fault claim. it is an act of nature and therefore does not have any affect on your rates. more likely the insurance company will do loss ratio analysis of the area that you live in and raise rates across the board. so, whether or not you make a claim, it is likely if you live in an area that is prone to hail or recently hit by hail your rates will increase. 

6. How much does hail damage decrease the value of my vehicle?

a. A good starting point for minor hail damage is $4000.00 and goes up from there.

b. If you are lucky and selling to a private party that is uneducated about the cost of hail repair you may only devalue your vehicle $1000.00

c. If you are trading your vehicle into an experienced dealer they will more then likely hit your value back at least 100% of what the repair cost would be. 

d. We've seen auto dealers start at $5000.00 for minor hail and move up from there.

• Dealers have a harder time selling cars with damage
• It takes dealers longer to get a car to the front line if they plan on repairing the vehicle. time is money in the used car game. 
• Dealers are very savvy when it comes to the true costs of fixing hail damage. 

7. Should I make an insurance claim for auto hail damage?

a. Absolutely!! unless you like losing money long term!

b. You pay your insurance premiums like clockwork. Insurance companies have no problem taking it. This is exactly why you pay for insurance. they exist to indemnify you and make you whole when you experience a loss.

c. Since hail claims do not raise your payments or rates and in many cases you can find shops that work with your deductibles it is really a no brainer even for minor hail damage. 

d. In almost every case the damage far exceeds the deductible amount.

8. Are all hail dents visible to the naked eye?

a. Some dents are very obvious to even an untrained eye. However, a trained eye can see damage where many cannot. 

b. Most experienced shops use special lighting in order to identify all imperfections caused by hail. 

c. Again, some used car managers have trained eyes and can pick out even the lightest of blemishes. 

9. Who should I use to repair my auto hail damage?

a. In many states hail damage repair is a relatively unregulated industry. leaving an open door for fly by night companies. Many companies come in from neighboring states, stay for a few months and then leave, never to return.

b. Choose a local company with a good track record and experience. you want a company that is still going to be around months after your vehicle leaves. 

c. Choose a company that guarantees their work. a great hail company will guarantee paintless dent repair work for life. 

d. Choose a shop that specializes in paintless dent repair and not a traditional collision center. Most collision centers do not employ dent repair technicians full time and usually sub out the paintless dent repair work. 

10. Should I have my hail damage repaired to my automobile?

a. 100% yes!!!!! in the long run it is going to put more money in your pocket. 

b. Insurance companies are smarter than we are. That's why they rarely go out of business. when a hail storm strikes they are in money saving mode. you make your claim they come out or have you do a virtual inspection. They prepare what is called a preliminary estimate. typically that estimate is about 1/3rd of what the repairs actually cost. They are hoping that you take the money and run. I know a $2000.00 check is enticing. when the repairs are probably more like $6000.00. when you go to trade in your car you’ll find out the hard way you just cost yourself $4000.00. furthermore, if you don’t repair the vehicle and settle for a $2000.00 check you deferred your right to file a claim on the next storm without proof of repair, which can even be more costly

c. In many areas that experience hail you can find local established companies with great reviews that will assist with deductibles, rental and deal with insurance companies on your behalf making the experience hassle free and in the end $0.00 out of pocket. 

d. Fixing your vehicle is always the smarter financial decision.

If you have additional questions about PDR or would like to find out if paintless dent repair in Madison, Middleton, WI and the surrounding areas is the right option to fix auto dents damage on your vehicle, please call Pro-Masters at 608-710-4245. We are happy to provide any information you need to make an educated decision regarding your vehicle.