The Hail Shop USA

Auto Hail Repair Denver

What makes paintless dent repair environmentally friendly?

Paintless Dent Repair is “Paintless”

Car Painting Environmental ImpactPDR is a auto dent removal process that eliminates the need for painting because dents & dings are gently lifted from the metal panel by using a unique set of tools that allow a technician to get behind the panel and push them out. The paint is not disturbed, therefore, no painting. Why is this important for our environment?

Paint is composed of four basic types of materials:

solvent — The liquid that carries the solid components of paint. It must be present to allow the paint to be of correct consistency for application by brush, roller, spray or dipping.  The most common solvents used in architectural paints are water and organic solvents.

binder — The binder or resin is one of the most important components of paint. It is the basic solid film former that remains after the solvent has evaporated and which binds the pigment particles together into a cohesive paint film.

pigment — This is the component that gives paint its other most important properties of color and opacity. The pigments used in paint are normally present as fine solid particles that are dispersed, but not soluble, in the binder and solvent.

additives — Additives are the specialist components of paint.  They are used in small quantities to improve production and storage properties of the liquid paint product as well as application and other performance properties of the paint film (e.g., anti-marring agents, anti-mold agents).

The most important environmental impact from paints is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the drying process after the coating is applied. Virtually everything but the solids in a typical paint formulation is released to the air. Once in the atmosphere, VOCs participate in the formation of ozone. In the presence of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sunlight, VOCs react with oxygen in the air to produce ozone, the most toxic component of the form of pollution commonly known as smog. Ozone attacks lung tissue, and is very injurious, even in very low concentrations. To prevent the formation excessive levels of ozone, the VOC content of paint, and its conditions.

Reference: International Journal of Research.

Car Panels in JunkyardNo Discarded Panels

Instead of discarding panels and depositing them in landfills, the damaged panels are repaired.

When you repair, you  prevent the panel from being discarded into an already jam-packed junkyard where it will eventually rust away with thousands of other discarded panels.

Additionally, when these discarded parts begin to decay, they release hazardous substances into the environment.

Golf-Ball Size Hail Causes Major Auto Hail Damage in Fort Worth, TX

In late April and early May 2026, Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding cities—including Tarrant, Johnson, and Wise counties—were battered by a series of supercell storms. Residents woke up to “chunky ice” covering the ground and discovered their vehicles were peppered with significant dents, or worse.

If the paint is cracked or chipped (which can happen with the baseball-sized hail reported in some areas this May), PDR can still remove the dent, but touch-up work may be required. Fortunately, for the golf-ball-sized hail common in the recent Fort Worth storms, PDR is usually the perfect, 100% restoration solution.

If you aren’t sure if the damage warrants a claim, call us at 866-943-2141. Because hail can be difficult to see on certain paint colors or under flat lighting, The Hail Shop provides free, professional inspections. We can even come to your home or office to provide an estimate.

You can learn more about our specialized auto hail repair services here.

The Hail Shop has been restoring hail-damaged vehicles for over 25 years. We are fast, professional, and our work comes with a Lifetime Warranty.

To schedule your free 2026 storm damage inspection in Fort Worth or Hurst, call us today at 866-943-2141.

COVID-19 Response

To Our Customers:

At The Hail Shop USA, the safety and health of our customers, teammates, and family is our highest priority. We will continue to follow the guidelines and advise set out by the CDC, WHO, and local public health officials as we adjust our business practices in order to address current challenges. The following are a few of the steps we have taken to align with those guidelines.

Those with an appointment or in need of paintless dent repair can take advantage of the following options:

No-Contact Dropbox: Our no-contact dropbox gives you the option to drop off your  vehicle and key without having to come into the shop or interact with others. Following your service, we will make arrangements for you to come back and get it or we can drop-it off for you.

Vehicle Pick-Up and Drop-Off: With this service, you can have your car serviced without ever stepping foot in the shop. Our team will pick your vehicle up from your home or workplace, and we’ll bring it back when it’s done, free of charge.

Mobile Communication: Whether we need to communicate with you about the status of your vehicle, your insurance company, or you need to ask us questions about your service, everything can be done over the phone via text or call. There’s no need for you to wait in the lobby until your repairs are complete.

Vehicle Sanitization: Upon completion of any repair, the interior of your vehicle will be detailed and sanitized including disinfecting and cleaning all door handles, upholstery and plastic surfaces.

Additionally, here is what we’re doing to keep our shop clean:

  • We are cleaning our facilities with EPA-recommended cleaning products multiple times per day.
  • We are taking steps to protect the welfare of our staff. We have instructed all employees who feel sick or who are running a fever or exhibiting Flu or COVID-19 symptoms to stay home  until they are fever/symptom free without the assistance of fever-reducing medication for at least 14 days.If you have an existing appointment with us, we look forward to serving you.

We want to reassure you that we are doing everything in our power to ensure a safe and convenient auto care experience. Again, our primary focus is to continue to serve you, while prioritizing the health and safety of our great nation. We want you to know that we are taking the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic seriously.

Thank you for trusting our team.

Hail damage on my brand new car

I signed & drove, then it hailed.

Hail Damage on a Brand New Car

So here’s the story. You just drove your very first brand new car off the car lot. You get a few good days of driving in and it happens. A freak hail storm for the ages. Hail stones the size of golf balls are falling from the sky and you sit helplessly inside wondering why you didn’t have the mind to PUT IN A GARAGE before you purchased a BRAND NEW CAR! Ouch.

This is when all of the questions start flooding your cranium. Will my insurance cover the damage? How much will it cost to repair hail damage on a brand new car? Do I have a deductible? How long will it take to repair the hail damage? Will repaired hail damage reduce the value of the car? What do I do next? I wonder if I run outside now and try to move my car to shelter, will hail the size of golf balls knock me out? Do I take my car back to the dealership for repairs?
New Car Hail Damage

Let us help calm your mind just a little, answer some of these very important questions, and assure you that you are not alone.

Will my insurance cover the cost to repair the hail damage on my new car?

It really depends on the type of insurance coverage you have. Unless you purchased the car outright, which usually isn’t the case, you probably have comprehensive coverage because your lender requires it. Most insurance companies that insure vehicles to people living in “hail alley,” will require you to carry comprehensive coverage. Why? Comprehensive coverage covers the cost to repair auto hail damage or any other damage caused by an “act of nature.” Learn more about the benefits of upgrading your insurance policy here.

How much will it cost to repair hail damage on a brand new car?

As we mentioned above, the cost to repair hail damage is covered under your comprehensive insurance policy. If you DID buy your new vehicle in cash, the type of coverage you have on your vehicle would be up to you.  Insurance policies such as liability and SOME full coverage policies will not cover the cost to repair the hail damage on your new vehicle.

Do I have a deductible?

More than likely, yes. The average deductible cost is $500. To find out how much your deductible will cost you, contact your insurance company and ask. We have created a list of contact and claim numbers for most insurance companies here.  As an independent Paintless Dent Repair facility not contracted with an insurance companies, otherwise known as a Direct Repair Facility, we have the options of covering the cost of your deductible.

How long will it take to repair the hail damage?

It depends on how your insurance adjuster has written up the quote to repair. If the hail damage has not damaged the paint, the repairs can be completed at a Paintless Dent Repair shop. On average, your car will be in a PDR shop anywhere between 1 to 3 days. If the damage is severe, it is STILL repairable but might require 3 to 5 days in the shop. To get a more definitive answer, schedule a free inspection and we can give you a better idea on how long your vehicle will be in our shop for repairs.

Will repaired hail damage reduce the value of the car?

No. The difference between an Auto Body Shop repair and a Paintless Dent Repair is that we  reverse the damage rather than “repair” it in traditional Auto Body Shop way. With Paintless Dent Repair, there is no drilling, fillers, sanding or repainting. The dents are gently massaged away as though they had never existed. The hail damage will not be reported on the vehicle VIN CARFAX because the damage was literally reversed.

What do I do next?

Wait until the hail stop falling, take a deep breath, and assess the damage. Take pictures and video of the damage. Next, call your insurance company and file a claim.

I wonder if I run outside now and try to move my car to shelter, will hail the size of golf balls knock me out?

Don’t ever go out into a hail storm. Hail stones the size of golf balls will hurt you. Safety first.

Do I take my car back to the dealership for repairs?

Some car dealerships will have a Paintless Dent Repair technician on staff. Most dealerships will partner with local PDR shops and commission them to do their PDR. After a major storm, this is VERY common. You can ask if the dealership can do the repairs or you can call a local PDR shop to complete the repairs.

Paintless dent repair is cheaper & faster

2 reasons PDR is easier on the wallet & your schedule

Paintless dent repair is a popular and more cost-effective alternative to full replacement repairs at auto body shops. Here’s why.

  1. Damaged panels are repaired, not replaced. In the more traditional auto body repair setting, a dent is removed by drilling a hole(s) into the damaged area and pulled out. Next, the hole is repaired by filling it with a plastic filler called “Bondo.” The “Bondo” is then sanded and the area is painted.  If the damage is too severe, or the cost to replace is cheaper than the cost to repair, the entire panel is removed and replaced with a new panel. This level of repair is better suited for more severe auto body damage primarily caused by an automobile accident where the metal or paint has been damaged. For smaller dents or dents that have not caused paint damage, such as hail damage, paintless dent repair is a more cost effective repair.  For smaller dents without paint damage, the dent is tooled from the underneath the damaged panel. A PDR technician will gently coax the metal back to its original shape leaving no trace that the dent ever existed. If the panel needs to be replaced, The Hail Shop USA only uses OEM parts. Most auto body shops will replace the damaged panel with after-market parts to cut costs.
  2. Shorter repair times. As explained in #1, you know that the paintless dent repair process requires less steps and therefore, the repair times are significantly decreased. On average, the time required to repair one dent is less than 30 minutes. For more severe damage, such as dents caused by hail, repair times increase to 2-3 days. This is still nearly half of the time needed compared to the same type of repairs in an auto body shop.