The Hail Shop USA

Auto Hail Repair Denver

How is Artificial Intelligence Supported Hail Claims Taking Over the Insurance Industry?

CCC Quick Estimate Mobile Photo Estimating Solutions

COVID-19 is changing the way the insurance industry is processing auto hail damage claims. Although the technology has been in existence since 2018, the use of the CCC Quick Estimate, an artificial intelligence supported claims processing tool, has expanded at an exponential pace as a direct response to COVID-19.

Social distancing and work-from-home protocols have been the driving force behind the digital revolution in auto hail claims, led by smart phone photo estimating.

What is CCC Mobile Quick Estimate Tool & How Does it Work?

What is the CCC Mobile Quick Estimate Tool?

From CCC Information Services:

CCC Mobile TM Solutions – Quick Estimate app will help expedite your claim by allowing you to upload images for your recent claim and receive an estimate. The app will guide you through steps needed to capture the pictures of your vehicle’s damage and submit it for review. You can achieve all of this without having to drive to a repair facility or leaving the comfort of your home.

Apple CCC Moible Quick Estimate APP Download | Android CCC Moible Quick Estimate APP Download

How does the CCC Mobile Quick Estimate Tool work?

Note: You will need to utilize your smart phone camera.

  1. Upon filing an auto hail claim with your insurance company, you will receive a text message or email with a direct link to auto populate your claim information into the app. Find filing options for your insurance company here.
  2. The app will then walk you through the quick estimate process while utilizing your smart phone camera. For example, the first screen starts with your driver side front door. A graphic of the driver side front door will accompany the directive, “Fit your vehicle into the outline as shown in the example. Make sure the entire vehicle is visible in the photo. Then capture the photo.”
  3. After you have completed the photo documentation process, will have the opportunity to review your photos before you submit them to the insurance company. You will have an opportunity to take more pictures and also video of the damage to your vehicle.

What are the Pros & Cons of the CCC Mobile Quick Estimate Tool for Estimating Auto Hail Damage?

The pros and cons provided in this section come directly from the reviews section of the actual APP. Some of the reviews come from customers and others from actual repair facilities.

Pros

To use the app is quite easy.

The VIN auto-scanning is a nice feature.

The fact that I could given a written description of any damages was a nice option.

Quick & easy.
It takes about three to four minutes to complete the whole process. Then press submit and you’re all done!

Note: Most professional auto hail damage estimates take a minimum of 15 minutes to accurately estimate.

Cons

Not much instruction on how to use the app.
A brief paragraph before beginning would have been handy to be sure I had plenty of clearance and light for pictures.

Does the APP effectively replace the  “in-person” insurance adjuster estimate? 
Many customers worry that the pictures, even if they provide very good quality photos, will lead to an under estimation of the cost of damage to their car. Shaky and blurry photo submissions are a common issue and tend to slow down the hail claims process.

Isn’t having an actual insurance adjuster come do the estimate what I pay my insurance for?
In short, yes.

30 seconds is not enough time to verbally report damage.
Customers are given the opportunity to “verbally express” any additional information or issues concerning their claim.

Problems with under-estimations & partial reimbursements.
Review from repair shop. Most “mobile quick estimates” don’t cover half of what  should have actually been reimbursed. This isn’t a problem for a paintless dent repair facility because the shop can supplement the missed damage but if you are looking to “cash out,” then you are probably due more money.
Review from customer.  I like the fact that you get all the pictures and then are able to take video and additional pictures if needed. However, I would not…repeat, NOT rely on this for a final payment. The fact that you can’t get a true feel for the exact damage due to lighting or atmospheric conditions it may leave possible questions still unanswered and could effect the proper reimbursement.

A Faster, More Accurate Approach to Estimating Auto Hail Claims

Most every paintless dent repair shop or auto body shop offer free hail damage inspections. With the use of industry specific LED lighting and  the professionally trained eye of a PDR technician will make the process easier, faster, and most importantly, 100% accurate.

Call the dent repair experts at The Hail Shop today to schedule your FREE hail damage inspection. We can come to you or you can bring your vehicle to one of our shops near you. We offer a minimal contact experience and take your and our health very seriously. Read our COVID-19 response statement here.

Auto Hail Repair During COVID-19 Season

Bad News, Mother Nature Is Still Considered Essential

As the world continues to battle the Coronavirus, Mother Nature is working overtime. Massive hail storms, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are still on the COVID “essential list” and don’t seem to be slowing down. So what happens if your car gets damaged in a hail storm one of the other multiple repair issues comes up?

Can You Get Your Vehicle Repaired During Pandemic?

Good News. Paintless Dent Repair Shops, Body Shops, and Auto Repair Shops has been deemed an essential service by the government.

Many auto repair locations are operating with reduced staff and repairs may take longer than usual.  It is always best to call ahead if you have concerns about repair times.  Most auto body shops and repair facilities are offering minimal contact, on-location inspections and estimates. Wearing a face mask is recommended.

The Hail Shop USA is operating with a full staff and normal repair times. We do suggest you call if you have any specific questions about insurance, inspections, and expedited repair times. The average shop time for an auto hail repair is 2-5 days but most hail damage vehicles are in the shops for 2-3 days.

What Could Slow Down Repair Times During Pandemic?

The biggest change vehicle owners will find is how the insurance companies and insurance adjusters have changed their claims procedure to better protect their agents and customers. Adjusters are inspecting vehicles remotely and relying heavily on your photography and video skills to document hail damage.

  1. Asking customers to take photos of all panels.
  2. Requesting a video walk around of the entire vehicle
  3. Uploading images and videos to their website

Sounds super easy, right? Well, kind of. With every solution, there will be challenges.

Many customers are struggling to capture images that accurately show the severity of the damage causing estimates (and payouts) to run short.

What we are seeing and hearing from our customers in San Antonio is a lot of over complication and excessive frustration. For example, we had a customer that had scheduled a repair with check / estimate in hand from the insurance company but didn’t have the funds to repair all of the hail damage. We re-inspected the vehicle and documented ALL of the dent damage and initiated the supplementation process to recover the funds needed for a full repair. Unfortunately 5 extra days were expended to complete the filing and repair process.

  1. Technical Issues. Another hurdle for car owners to overcome is more on the technical side.  Issues such as photo and video uploading issues of too large a file or timing-out issues from the insurance companies website.
  2. Faulty Photos. When a customer finally gets the media uploaded, they photos and videos don’t accurately show all of the damage. When a customer sends in images that fail to show certain parts of the damage, the repair facility then must take and submit a second round of photos to the adjuster. These photos then must await a second review before approval is given to begin the repairs.

The Hail Shop USA Is Here To Help You

Let one of our experienced paintless dent repair technicians guide you through the entire hail claims process or better yet, we can take care of the entire process while you carry on with your regularly scheduled life.

From inspecting and estimating your hail damage for free and at YOUR location to submitting all pertinent media, estimates, and supplements to your insurance adjuster, The Hail Shop is here to work for you and make the process as stress free as possible.

If you need auto hail repairs, claims assistance, or just assurance that you are “doing it right”, we are here and with enhanced safety measures. Call us today at 866-943-2141 or schedule your inspection or repair using our online form.

Why RIGHT NOW is the best time to get your hail damage repaired.

Auto Hail Damage Repairs in the time of COVID-19

The Hail Shop USA - San Antonio Paintless Dent Repair Location
You are not alone if you are wondering if RIGHT NOW is actually the best time for anything. You are probably working from home, making endless meals for your family or yourself, coming up with creative ways to spend your free time, and wondering WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END?

There are some things you can do that have most likely been placed on the back burner of priority and life for quite some time. Getting your hail damage repaired is probably one of those tasks. In this blog, we will go over how to get those unsightly dents removed during this time of uncertainty and hopefully answer some of your questions about the paintless dent repair process.

To begin, getting your hail damage repaired does not require you to be face-to-face with anyone at anytime unless you so choose. You can read more about The Hail Shop USA’s COVID-19 protocol here.

  1. File auto hail damage claim. The first step is to get ahold of your insurance company to file a claim. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, auto hail repair is covered 100%. A deductible will be the only cost your insurance company will require you to take care of before any repairs begin. At The Hail Shop USA, we do not require you to pay this deductible. Some insurance companies offer an online filing option on either their website or APP. We have compiled a list of the bigger insurance companies along with their claims phone numbers and links to their online filing page if they have one. You can find that list here. You also might want to check out our complete auto hail damage claims guide here.
  2. Schedule an inspection with insurance adjuster. You will be assigned a local claims adjuster that will be responsible for following up with you about your vehicle. They will schedule a time to inspect and estimate the cost to repair the hail damage on your vehicle. The biggest COVID-19 change you will see when it comes to insurance claim inspections is their contact-free estimating approach. San Antonio has adopted this approach and you can read more about  the pros & cons of this NEW auto hail damage estimating approach here.The following quote comes from the KSAT online news publication,

    Many of those were filed online or through the company’s app, which the San Antonio-based company encourages because it is more efficient. Adjusters will be sent to see properties as needed, but there’s a good chance the policyholder won’t need to see the adjuster.

    “We have, actually, through this COVID(-19) crisis, gone to a lot of virtual estimating,” said Jim Syring, president of USAA Property and Casualty Group. “We can do it all online through photos and digitally.”

  3. Call The Hail Shop USA. To find a location near you, visit here. When you call The Hail Shop USA, we walk you through the entire auto hail repair process.  We start with an inspection to make sure not damage was overlooked in the initial inspection done by the adjuster. If we DO see additional damage that was not accounted, we make sure you get the additional funding needed to cover the cost of the entire repair. The Hail Shop USA is a paintless dent repair facility and all repairs come complete with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

With paintless dent removal plus a properly trained and experienced PDR technician makes all the difference between your vehicle being repaired correctly or not. The Hail Shop USA has been repairing hail damaged cars for over 25 years. Don’t trust your vehicle to just anyone! Call The Hail Shop USA at 866-943-2141 to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation “contact-free” inspection!

San Antonio Hail Storms Introduces New Approach to Estimating

Insurance Companies are Integrating the Power of Cell Phone Multimedia Driven Apps into the Claims Process

Recent Hailstorms Cause Damage to Vehicles & Homes in San Antonio.

A massive hail storm that effected nearly 40,000 residents in the counties of Atascosa & Wilson in Texas are still reeling from the catastrophic damage left behind by this enormous storm cell. Winds nearing 70 mph, dangerous lightning, and baseball sized hail left behind piles of hail a foot tall, broken windows, damaged roofs, and vehicles covered with hail damage.

The hailstorm that swept through the San Antonio area and elsewhere in Texas has been declared a “claims catastrophe” by insurers. The good news for auto insurance policy holders is that a “claims catastrophe” accelerates payment on storm-related damage claims.

Insurance companies are harnessing the power of technology in attempt to facilitate & speed up the hail claims process. Cell phone cameras & video recording have become an integral part of the claims process.

This advancement is both a blessing and a curse. Policy holders are being asked to take pictures of the dent damage on their vehicles and then send the images to claims adjusters for estimates. Claims adjusters then use these images to write their estimates. Checks are mailed to the policy holders and appointments are scheduled with Paintless Dent Repair shops for repairs.

The problem with this expedited process is that estimates are being underwritten by the insurance companies and San Antonio auto hail repair companies are in-turn submitting supplement requests to cover the cost of the missed damage not documented in the customer photographs and videos.

Oftentimes, this process is delaying the actual repair by an average of 2 weeks. 

If you are OK with this 2 week waiting period, this new approach to hail damage estimates could be for you. If not, The Hail Shop USA can help expedite the estimating and auto hail repair San Antonio process. Instead of 2 weeks, vehicle owners can get their vehicles repaired and back on the road in 2-3 days.

Call us today at 726-999-0108 to schedule a time for a free estimate. You can also schedule online. With our contactless inspection process, vehicle owners can be as involved in the process as much as they choose. You can either bring your car to the shop for an estimate or we can send one of our estimators to your location. The inspection process typically only takes about 15-20 minutes.

We will hand you your estimate on-the-spot and guarantee its accuracy 100%.If you have any questions, we can fix your vehicle and work directly with your insurance company regarding the claim.

All repairs come with a Lifetime Warranty.

 

 

OEM vs Aftermarket Parts: Auto Body Repair

The Hail Shop USA Only Uses OEM

99% of all dent damage (with no paint damage) can be repaired with paintless dent repair. If the dents and dings can’t be repaired with paintless dent removal, The Hail Shop USA only uses OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts.

Why? The Hail Shop USA stands behind their 100% restoration claim by only using OEM parts if the vehicle panel can not be restored back to its pre-damaged condition. Even if your insurance company will only cover the cost of an Aftermarket panel, we will ALWAYS make the upgrade and cover the cost to replace an unrepairable panel with an OEM part.

There are only a handful of repair shops that use only OEM parts. Typically, a dealer’s shop will work with OEM parts, and an independent auto body shop will work with aftermarket parts. 

What is the difference between OEM & Aftermarket Parts?

OEM parts are exact replicas of the original parts put in your vehicle. Aftermarket parts, however, are designed only similarly are typically cheaper. In some instances, aftermarket parts can function as well and sometimes better than OEM parts BUT sometimes they don’t. If you aren’t 100% sure about your own car and its parts, aftermarket parts might seem like an acceptable exchange for the more expensive OEM parts.

What are the pros and cons of aftermarket parts?

Here we go over some of the biggest pros and cons with aftermarket parts. Ultimately, when it comes to insurance companies, they will only cover the cost of aftermarket parts if a panel needs to be replaced due to severe hail damage.

OEM Parts Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy to choose – unlike aftermarket parts, they are usually only offered in one type.
  • Guaranteed quality – OEM parts are designed to function exactly like the original part.
  • Lifetime Warranty – dealerships and automakers offer warranties for their parts.

Cons

  • Higher cost – compared to aftermarket parts, OEM parts will cost considerably more.
  • Limited availability – these parts are purchased through an automaker or select suppliers.

Aftermarket Parts Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Lower cost – Aftermarket parts are typically less costly than OEM parts.
  • Increased variety – increased variety of parts mean more functionality, and a range of prices.

Cons

  • Potentially worse quality – these parts also might not function as well as OEM parts.
  • More selection – increased choices could be overwhelming, and increases quality risk.
  • No warranty – some of these parts are sold without a warranty, depending on price.

In the end, OEM parts are all created equal and with 100% consistency. Aftermarket parts are not created equal and quality can greatly vary. To be safe, The Hail Shop USA chooses to 100% restoration. Restoring your vehicle to it’s original condition is our goal.