The Hail Shop USA

Auto Hail Repair Denver

Does Paintless Dent Repair Reduce Vehicle Value?

Does Paintless Dent Repair Reduce Vehicle Value?

There is a lot of chatter when it comes to Paintless Dent Repair, it’s effectiveness, and the question if PDR will lower the resale value of a vehicle. If you live in Texas or Colorado, hail dent removal is a commonality and some vehicle owners have not only had their dents removed with Paintless Dent Removal once but a few times.

In this article, we will explore the different dent repair techniques available for vehicle owners and dive deeper into the question of vehicle degradation depending on the technique used.

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless Dent Repair is a technique all it’s own. When your vehicle is dented, what comes to mind when you are brainstorming where you would take your vehicle to get small these dents or dings removed? Most would associate this repair with a body shop. Makes sense. If there is a cosmetic defect with a vehicle, you take it to an auto body repair shop. You would not be incorrect but there is an area of expertise between mechanical repairs & body repairs.

Body shops are the place to go when you have body damage that involves metal creasing, crinkling or folding, paint chipping or scratching, rusting, broken side mirrors, and panel replacement.

In that grey area between mechanical repairs & severe body damage are Paintless Dent Repair. Paintless Dent Repair, or sometimes called Paintless Dent Removal, is reserved for the door dings, hail dents, and any body damage that has not fractured the paint. PDR is really more of restoration process that returns a vehicle’s body back to its original condition.

Molecular Memory or Shape-Memory Alloy

Specially trained Paintless Dent Removal technicians use a variety of tools, most of which do not require electrical power, to carefully push, pull, and carefully manipulate the metal back to its original shape. The metal used to construct the panels for a vehicle have what is called a molecular memory. Once a panel has been shaped or molded and placed on the vehicle for sale, it basically holds a “memory” of its original shape and construct.

Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators have drawn much attention and interest due to their unique and superior properties. The key advantage is that SMA actuators do not require bulky and complicated mechanical design to function, where the active element (e.g. SMA wire or spring) can be deformed by applying minimal external force and will retain to their previous form when subjected to certain stimuli such as thermomechanical or magnetic changes.
Read entire publication below or download here.

Shape Metal Memory Alloys

So back to the question of vehicle degradation if repaired with PDR is simple. No, Paintless Dent Repair – if done properly by a trained technician, will not lower the value or resale value of your vehicle. As we mentioned earlier in this article, the metal is literally restored to its original shape. This is why insurance companies prefer the PDR method for repairing hail damaged vehicles, door dings, and collisions that do not harm the integrity of the vehicles original paint application.

Sometimes, Its Not The Metal – It’s The PDR Technician

PDR Pushed Too Far

PDR - Pushed Too Far
PDR – Pushed Too Far

Think about it like this. To every dozen eggs, there is a chance a few might be broken. This is same when it comes to picking out your Paintless Dent Repair shop or technician. PDR technicians are not all the same. There is no official “certification” a technician can get that will assure you that they are not a “broken egg.”

PDR is can be categorized as  more of an art form. A PDR technicians greatest tool is their experience, finesse, attention to detail, and craftsmanship. If a technician is weak in one of these areas the result has the potential to be a costly mistake. Metal does have a memory but there are some circumstances where metal memory can be distorted. If an unexperienced technician pushes the metal PAST its original form, the molecules are distorted and the “memory” is lost.

The result can cause the metal to stretch and cause extrusions in the vehicle panel. When this happens, the mistake can only be repaired using the traditional body shop method.

5 Costly Mistake to Avoid When Dealing With Auto Hail Damage

No ones plans on how to handle the costly effects that hail can cause to personal property until it happens. The only absolute you can expect, especially if you live in northern Texas, is hail during the springtime months spanning between early March and late June. This convergence of conclusions can seem like quite the paradox and the result is most often confusion and severe frustration.

In this article, we will provide you with some information and facts that will prepare you for hail damage to your vehicle that will hopefully prevent you from making costly mistakes in the aftermath of a hail storm.

5 Costly Mistake to Avoid When Dealing With Auto Hail Damage

  1. The hail damage isn’t that bad, I can live with it.
    Hail damage severity can range from a few minor, nearly undetectable dime-sized dents to completely totaled. The damage caused to a vehicle by softball sized hail destruction will require immediate attention because in most cases, the vehicle will be too damaged to safely drive. A light spattering of dent dimples will NOT have need of immediate repair and daily life can continue as normal. Soon, the light hail damage becomes seemingly non-existent as you are now used to minor imperfections.  It’s only cosmetic, right? True, but…your vehicle holds value. The phrase, “Moment on the lips, Lifetime on the hips” holds a similar meaning with light auto hail damage because a little bit of hail damage can result in thousands of dollars of depreciation to your vehicle. What seems harmless today can be super costly tomorrow UNLESS you intend on driving it until it’s death. If this is not the case and you hope to sell it for an upgrade in the future, save yourself the headache and thousands of dollars and get the hail damage repaired as soon as possible. Side note: If you carry comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, hail damage repair is covered under your policy. Your only financial obligation is the deductible which is covered by The Hail Shop USA.
  2. I can repair the hail damage myself.
    When we live in a world dominated by the world wide web and countless DIY youtube videos that claim you can repair your hail damage at home, we highly recommend you DON’T DO IT. The Hail Shop USA has now officially denounced DIY hail repair videos and placed them on the DDIY (Don’t do it yourself) list of how-to’s. You can read about all of the debunked DDIY dent repair videos you can find online  here (DIY Dent Repair Done Wrong).
  3. Relying solely on my insurance adjusters cost estimate for auto hail damage repair.
    Schedule a time for the adjuster to inspect your car and write the estimate to repair the damages. Keep in mind, the estimate may not be 100% accurate, as it is just an estimate. Schedule a time with a paintless dent repair company near you to get a second inspection. If there is a discrepancy between the insurance adjusters estimate and the PDR shops inspection results, any difference between the amount of the estimate and the final invoice will be resolved between the repairing vendor and the insurance company by means of a supplement.
    What is a supplement? Car insurance companies frequently issue funds and pay damages before all hail damage have been discovered. When additional funds are needed to cover the damages resulting from a hail storm after settlement, the claims are known as supplemental claims.
  4. Choosing the auto body shop that your insurance company highly suggests.
    This is called “steering.”  Insurance companies will find paintless dent repair shops and auto body shops that will “work” with them on the cost of repairs. In return, they will “steer” their customers towards these shops. Learn more about steering and direct repair shops here and whom they benefit (hint, hint…it’s not you.)
  5. Letting some random person in a parking lot “pop” those dents for you at a reduced rate.
    If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. In the paintless dent repair industry, we like to call them “dent gypsies.”  They carry their equipment in the back of their vehicles, and they will jump out and fix your car in less than an hour. They only take cash. Don’t believe us, search the phrase, “dent fixers approaching people in parking lots” and set aside a few HOURS to read more than many nightmare stories about these “dent magicians.” You will soon learn that the only thing good they are known for is making your money disappear after they destroy your vehicle.

 

Quality Repairs With No Surprises

The Hail Shop USA has over 25 years in the auto dent removal industry. Our PDR technicians safely remove dents without the use of harmful chemicals, fillers, or paint.

We take the necessary time and effort with each individual customer so that on the day of their appointment, they walk away feeling confident with their decision. We use a variety of modern techniques and hand tools to safely remove dents caused by hail damage. We offer PDR for all vehicle makes / models and work with all insurance companies.

For a free inspection, call us at 866-943-2141 or schedule online using this form.

10 Million Dollars in Austin Auto Hail Claims Makes 2021 Catastrophic Says Insurance Companies

March 25th in Austin, TX

Why is March 25th such a significant date for Austin, TX? Oddly enough, Austin has been hit on 4 different occasions by catastrophic hail storms on that exact date over the last 25 years. Weird, right?

It almost seems like March 25 should somehow be recognized, or at least circled on the calendar, as a weather phenomenon day in south Texas. I here now do solemnly declare March 25th as the official “Do NOT remove your vehicle from the garage, no matter what” day.

Here’s a breakdown of the four March 25th’s in question:

March 25, 1993: 2-inch diameter hail (egg-sized) in north and west Austin caused $125 million in damage
March 25, 2005: 1-2-inch diameter hail (quarter- to egg-sized) across much of the city caused $100 million in damage
March 25, 2009: 1.75-inch diameter hail (golf ball-sized) during the evening rush hour caused Austin’s costliest hail storm in history at $160 million in damage.
March 25, 2021: Nickel sized to golfball-sized hail plus 65 mph updraft wind speeds hit south, central and northeast Austin like a sledge hammer causing millions of dollars in roof and automobile hail damage claims.

What to if your vehicle was damaged in the March 25 Austin hail storm?

By now, you probably know if your vehicle has hail damage and if you haven’t yet filed a claim with your insurance company, now is the time.

If you have never made an hail damage claim, don’t be intimidated – it’s not difficult. First, find your auto insurance card and locate the claims phone number. If you can’t find your card, visit here for filing options for all insurance companies. Second, take a few minutes to capture some photos of the damage with your cell phone. Make sure to photograph every panel, including the roof. Finally, schedule your free hail damage inspection appointment with The Hail Shop by calling 866-943-2141 or you can also schedule online by filling out our online form.

After the inspection, we can make an appointment to get your vehicle repaired. Most repairs take between 2-3 days depending on the severity of the damage.  If your insurance policy doesn’t cover a car rental while your vehicle is being repaired, we will put you in one of ours at no cost to you.

 

 

 

Is Comprehensive Coverage the same as Collision Coverage?

What is the difference between a Comprehensive Insurance & Collision Insurance Policy?

In this article, we will explain the difference between comprehensive & collision coverage on your vehicle.

Cadillac Escalade Hail Damage RepairWhat does Comprehensive Insurance Policy cover?

A comprehensive insurance coverage plan on your vehicle covers damage that is not from a collision, wreck, or car accident. If you’re financing or leasing your car, your lender likely requires comprehensive coverage. The coverage limit is determined by the actual cash value of the vehicle being covered.

Some examples of what IS covered:

  • If your vehicle is stolen.
  • Damage from fire.
  • If your vehicle was vandalized.
  • Damage caused by a falling object.
  • Damage caused by natural disasters or an “Act of God” including wind (falling tree), hail damage, and flood damage.
  • Hitting an animal with your vehicle. More specifically, swerving to miss an animal and crashing into oncoming traffic or a tree is considered a full coverage claim.

Examples of what is NOT covered:

  • Collision with another vehicle.
  • Collision with an object, such as a fence or guard rail.
  • Single-car rollover accidents.
  • Damage to another person’s vehicle
  • Medical bills incurred by you or another person.

What does a Collision Insurance Policy cover?

A Collision insurance Policy is a coverage that helps pay to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in an accident with another vehicle or object. If you’re leasing or financing your car, collision coverage is typically required by the lender.

Examples of what IS covered:

  • Damage to your vehicle as the result of a single car accident (if no other motor vehicle was involved) involving a roll-over.
  • Damage to your vehicle as the result of hitting an object such as a tree, guard rail, house, fence, etc is covered.
  • Damage to your vehicle as the result of collision, accident, and wreck that involved another vehicle.

Examples of what is NOT covered:

  • Damage caused as a result of a natural disaster such as hail damage, wind damage, and flood damage.
  • Theft of your vehicle.
  • Vandalism of your vehicle.
  • Damage to another persons vehicle or personal property.
  • Medical bills incurred by you or another person.

What is Full Coverage Insurance Policy?

A full coverage auto insurance means you have coverage for your own car AND the other driver’s. A full coverage policy combines liability (pays for injuries and damage caused by YOU) collision, and comprehensive insurance.

 

What are the Paintless Dent Repair disadvantages?

Paintless dent repair is widely considered the most cost-effective, quickest, and most environmentally friendly solution to vehicle dent repairs by both insurance companies, insurance adjusters, and car owners.

So, what are the drawbacks of paintless dent repair? Is it all that it’s hyped up to be?

A question we hear frequently is, “Will PDR damage my paint?” Rumor has it that paintless dent repair will somehow loosen the paint due to the manipulation of the metal. If dent repair is performed by an experienced technician, this is simply not the case.

There are, however, a few circumstances when PDR is not a good option.

  • Huge dents, such as dents caused by a collision, can stretch the metal, weaken the paint, and run the risk of damaging the paint.
  • Dents that have cracks or chips are not good candidates for PDR.
  • Paintless dent repair can get pricy in the event of a catastrophic hail storm BUT if you have comprehensive insurance coverage – auto hail repair is covered. The only cost obligation you will incure is the deductible which is covered at The Hail Shop USA.

Learn more here.

If you’re considering using a paintless dent repair service, choose a company with plenty of experience and great customer service.