Hail damage repair cost, If you live in an area where hail is particularly severe, hailstorms can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior.
Hailstorms can happen anywhere but inhabitants of the Great Plains or the Midwest are more likely to experience hail damage. Unless you have comprehensive coverage, you’ll have to foot the bill for the damage. This can be quite costly. The average hail claim is about $2,500.
Comprehensive coverage may be less expensive than you think. If you desire to protect your vehicle in the event of a storm, your best chance is to compare personalized rates for comprehensive coverage across insurance providers.
Car Insurance and Hail Damage Repair cost
Even though you can fulfill your legal requirement for auto insurance with liability insurance coverage, you’ll only be covered in the event of a collision. Even then, liability will only pay for the damage you caused to the other party’s property. To protect against the financial implications of acts of God, you’ll need comprehensive insurance coverage.
Keep in mind that hail damage will lower the value of your car. So if you have a $1,000 deductible, but your car is now worth only $2,000 due to hail damage, it’s probably not worth spending the money to repair it.
Again, if your car is still relatively new and the hail damage was moderate, it’s best to file a claim.
Thus you should consider the repair cost, your deductible amount, and the value of your car when making a decision as to whether you should file an insurance claim and risk driving up your insurance rates in cases of hail damage.
For example, if the cost of repairing minor hail damage doesn’t exceed your deductible, it’s not worth claiming. This is because you’ll pay for the repairs anyway. And if your car is totaled, your deductible is high, and your car is old and not worth much anyway, you’ll be better off purchasing another vehicle than filing a claim.
Will your insurance rise if you file a claim for hail damage repair cost?
Hail damage won’t directly raise your rates in most cases. Some states don’t even allow premium increases if the damage wasn’t the driver’s fault. Nevertheless, the number of claims made against your policy could still affect your rates. Therefore, if you’ve been involved in recent accidents, it may be wise to avoid filing a claim, especially if the damage is minimal.
How much does it cost to fix hail damage yourself?
The answer depends on the severity of the damage. If the damage is minor, you may be able to fix the car yourself rather than taking it to a repair shop. Note however that at-home techniques such as hot air and dry ice are not always successful. Even when you improve the appearance of the vehicle, you might be left with remnants of the dents. You can also try a dent repair kit, which will cost about $30–$50.
If you take your car to a body shop, they’ll likely charge about $30–$75+ per dent, depending on the size of the dent.The average cost of hail damage repair is about $2,500. But if you have only a few small dents and the repair cost doesn’t exceed your deductible amount, it’s not worth filing a hail damage claim.
How to Prevent Hail Damage to Your Car
In order to prevent hail damage, one should always be aware of local weather forecasts. This is necessary so that you know when a hailstorm is coming. If you live in an area that gets frequent hail, always keep your car parked in a garage. You should also use a covered parking spot if possible. If you happen to be driving during a hailstorm, you should pull over into a covered area.
Ultimately, severe weather can strike your car despite your best efforts to prevent damage, and you should be prepared with comprehensive coverage. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pay a higher premium.
To what extent does hail damage devalue your car?
Hail damage won’t impact the value of your car if you file a claim and take your car to the body shop for paint less dent repair. This is so because the damage won’t be listed on your vehicle’s CarFax report because it has been corrected.
If you don’t repair the damage, each dent will devalue your car by the same amount it would cost to get it fixed (about $2,500 total, on average).
How do you fix hail damage?
There are different methods to fix a hail-damaged car. However not all these techniques will work for all types of damage. You can apply hot air or dry ice to the dent. Alternatively, you can simply leave your car in the sun for an extended period of time. You can also buy a dent puller or dent repair kit and repair the damage by following the instructions. As a last resort, you can take your vehicle to a repair shop.
How is hail damage assessed on a car?
Generally, your insurance company will send an insurance adjuster to estimate the extent of the damage to your vehicle.