HAIL DAMAGE

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Hail can easily damage a vehicle that is left in the elements during a bad storm. If a storm pops up while away from your garage, or, you leave your car parked on the street, you can end up with hail damage.

Hail dents can affect the resale value of your vehicle, and larger dings can be unsightly to a proud vehicle owner. Hail of any size can cause damage to your vehicle, but it's hail measuring at least one inch in diameter that causes the biggest damage.

Dents are the most common form of hail damage. A major hail storm can also crack your glass, mirrors or lights.

If your car is damaged by hail, it is not recommended to attempt to repair the damage yourself. Vehicle owners may be tempted to try DIY techniques, including suction cups, hair dryers or even dry ice but these improper techniques cause more harm than good.

It is best to leave hail damage car repair to a professional.

If your car is caught up in a hailstorm The Dent Bully can help. Our expert technicians provide industry-leading hail damage paintless dent repair to restore your vehicle to its pre-storm condition.

Here's how it works:

1. Contact your auto insurance provider to see if hail damage repair is covered. Typically, comprehensive insurance includes coverage for hail damage, but every insurance company handles hail claims differently. Follow up with your insurance agent if you do not know how to file a claim.
2. File an insurance claim with your provider. Get your vehicle's damage appraised through your insurance agency's claim drive or field inspection. The Dent Bully can also provide a damage appraisal once the vehicle is dropped off at our facility for repairs and a claim number has been provided.
3. Make sure the exterior of your vehicle is clean. This will ensure an accurate estimate is given. Repair costs vary based on the extent of hail damage.
4. Tell your adjuster that The Dent Bully is your repair shop of choice.
5. Schedule your hail damage repair by calling 912-348-0408 or booking here.
6. Drop your vehicle off with your claim number during business hours M-F 9-6pm. Transportation to and from our local Enterprise Rental in Rincon is available if needed. 
7. Pay your insurance payment and deductible once the estimated repairs are made. The Dent Bully provides a limited lifetime warranty for your hail damage repair.

Trust your vehicle to the leaders in PDR and in total auto reconditioning with the peace of mind that comes with:

• Highly trained technicians. The Dent Bully Technicians receive ongoing training that allows them to use the latest innovative methods in vehicle hail damage repair.
• 100% satisfaction-guaranteed repairs. Each of our repairs comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
• Maintain Your Vehicle’s Value – Dents and dings decrease the resale value of your vehicle. Paintless Dent Repair returns your vehicle to the original factory condition without affecting the factory paint finish.

You may have many questions about the hail repair process. Below are some of the most common questions customers have about hail damage repair. For further questions or clarifications, call 912-348-0408 and we will be happy to assist you!

A standard insurance written hail repair estimate typically takes 30-45 minutes. During this time, the estimator follows a systematic format. Your adjuster will identify the severity and quantity of dents on all body panels. The estimator will take this time to answer any questions you may have about the repair and gather information about your vehicle. The initial estimate is commonly lower than the actual repair amount. The Dent Bully will write a supplement estimate for insurance to accomodate for the difference in cost once the vehicle is dropped off at our facility for repairs.  

A clean vehicle allows the estimator to clearly see all visible hail damage. Dust and dirt can often mask damage. This causes inaccurate estimates and delays in the repair process. Please clean the vehicle prior to the initial insurance estimate as well as before the vehicle is dropped off at our repair facility. 

During the hail estimate process, any non-hail damage is noted. The condition of the car, including this damage, is considered the pre-loss condition of the vehicle. Any damage not caused by hail will not be covered.

At the time of the estimate, photos will be taken of the vehicle. Any of these conditions will be noted in the estimate.

Schedule here for your vehicle to be dropped off at our repair facility. Be aware that there are many people just like you after a large storm. Depending on the number of claims in your area, it could be several weeks before your repair can be scheduled. We are the only retail Paintless Dent Repair and Hail Damage Repair Company in the Savannah area. 

If a supplement is required, it may extend the time needed to repair your vehicle. The supplement will be explained to the customer along with an adjusted pick up date.

Depending on the severity of your vehicle's hail damage, The Dent Bully can provide two types of repairs on your vehicle.

Paintless Dent Repair: The first method of hail damage repair is to completely repair your vehicle utilizing the Paintless Dent Repair process. From drop off to pick up, repairing hail damage with PDR normally takes a few days to complete. 

PDR + Conventional Repairs: The second involves the use of both the PDR process and conventional body shop repairs. This process is referred to as a Combination Repair. The time frame for this type of repair may take several days or longer depending on the severity of hail damage. Conventional body repair often replaces the panels on a car or truck and requires painting to match the factory finish.

The Dent Bully will work with you to determine your repair time following your estimate. 

Depending on the severity of the storm and the damage on your vehicle, repair times can vary. For light to moderate hail damage repairs, it may take 1 to 3 days. For severe damage that needs body shop participation for panel replacement and paint work, repairs may take 2 to 3 weeks.

Supplements are additional operations or parts necessary to complete your repair. These often go beyond the original estimate. In some cases, the original estimate is insufficient to perform the repairs.

When a vehicle is dropped off for repairs, a second inspection is done to determine if all the damage was documented for repair. If all damage was found and written on the original estimate, no supplement is needed. If some damage was overlooked on the original estimate, a “supplement” is needed to document the necessary operations or parts needed to properly repair the hail damage.

If a supplement is required, it may extend the time needed to repair your vehicle. The supplement will be explained to the customer along with an adjusted pick up date.

Paintless Dent Repair is a specialized, meticulous process for returning dents to their original shape without having to paint any part of the vehicle.

The PDR process requires the technician to push and massage each dent in a very technical and precise manner. To do this, each dent is worked back to its original shape using metal rods varying in size and shape. The dents are worked from the underside of the metal using access points on each panel. The result is a dent-free vehicle where the finished metal looks like it came from the factory.

R&I is an acronym that stands for Remove and Install. When a car starts the repair process, an R&I technician loosens, and sometimes removes, the interior panels and parts. This allows access to the underside of the metal panel. When the PDR repairs get completed, the technician replaces the parts and re-installs the interior panels (like the headliner and hood liner).

The Dent Bully has a Quality Control Process to ensure that all parts are replaced properly. This means your vehicle is returned to you in the same condition as we received it.

By now, you should know everything you need about filing a hail damage insurance claim and scheduling a repair with The Dent Bully. To recap, here are some terms that will help you fully understand the repair process:

• Pre-loss condition – The condition of a vehicle prior to hail damage including damage not caused by the hailstorm.
• Supplement – Additional operations, parts or repair needs necessary to complete the repair of the vehicle above the original estimate.
• PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) - A specialized and meticulous process returning dents to their original shape without having to replace or repair the metal surface.
• Conventional body repair - Using traditional body shop actions to replace or repair metal panels.
• R&I – This is an acronym that stands for “remove and install.”

There was a recent hail storm near Savannah and Richmond Hill. If your car has been hit with hail, The Dent Bully's technicians can help. The Dent Bully is here to help return your car to its factory appearance. To learn more about our hail damage repair process, get in touch with a local hail representative by calling 912-348-0408