Have a dent repair related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!
No, filing a claim for auto hail damage will not cause your rates to increase. Auto insurance claims are classified into two different categories:
1. Collision
2. Comprehensive
Hail damage is considered a comprehensive claim and is considered an act of God, which, by insurance standards means the event was beyond your control. In most cases regarding collision, both parties have a percentage of fault. It is illegal for insurance companies to raise your rates based upon an act of God. Instead, they will use a loophole by raising rates on the entire zip codes in affected areas, so chances are your rates will already be going up, regardless of if you are fixing your vehicle or not.
In most cases, insurance checks are valid for 180 days. However, your estimate is based on current labor and parts rates, which are subject to change. Waiting to fix your vehicle will also increase your risk for "unrepaired damage" complications. The definitive answer to the question is; there is no time limit for filing a comprehensive claim. It is worded in the policy as filing "within a reasonable time", which can have many interpretations.
A restriction of "unrepaired damage" will go into effect on your insurance policy, and any future claims will be denied until your hail damage is repaired. Depending on the year, make, and model of the vehicle, you also take a chance on having an accident. In this case, the hail damage and collision damage would be combined, possibly causing your vehicle to become a total loss. You are also taking a chance of being hit by another hail storm, which can exacerbate damage beyond what is repairable by paintless dent repair. In turn, it can result in body work or conventional repair being your only option, devaluing your vehicle tremendously in the process.
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is best used to repair damage caused by hailstorms, or similar types of dents that may occur due to an object striking the surface of the panel. This method of dent removal is recommended by all insurance companies and is the most viable option to repairing hail damage, dings, and dents that have not caused damage to the finish of the vehicle.
Our highly qualified and trained technicians use special tools to apply pressure to the backside of the dent, gradually pushing it outwards and elevating it to its original position. At times, a bonding tab can be placed directly in the center of the dent to pull it up. With these methods, the dent is repaired seamlessly without any evidence of repair or disturbance to the finish. The results are spectacular, and the vehicle owner no longer has to worry about replacing parts or refinishing/repainting the vehicle's surface. In turn, the vehicle's value never diminishes because of the PDR repair method, saving the factory parts, panels, and paint job. When possible, paintless dent repair is the most viable repair process when it comes to repairing hail damage.
The answer is NO. If the paintless dent repair cost on a panel exceeds the replacement cost of a panel, the insurance company will always fo the most cost-effective or cheaper route to save themselves money. This is the reason that insurance companies may write to replace your roof hood and decklid (or trunk) panels at replacement cost rather than paintless dent repair on your estimate. The work you choose to have done on your vehicle is your choice, and your choice alone.
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is the most non-invasive, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method of auto hail repair available for returning your vehicle back to its factory condition after a hail storm. We use specialized, paintless dent removal tools to massage the back of the dent, eventually causing the dent to smooth out and coaxing the metal paneling into returning to its original, undamaged state.
The answer is NO. By law, where you choose to have your vehicle repaired is your decision. In fact, multiple insurance companies have had questionable practices in the past of "steering", and some currently still do. Sadly, some insurance companies will participate in steering because it allows them to cut corners on repairs and save money. If you do choose to have your vehicle repaired at a "preferred shop", you will be required to pay your deductible, as the preferred shops are contractually obligated to do so by the insurance companies. "Preferred vendors" of insurance companies are locked into pricing agreements by the insurance company.
No, we will work with you on your deductible to perform PDR/Auto Hail Repair to your vehicle or vehicles. To repair the hail damage to your vehicle or vehicles (or perform paintless dent repair), we will help to ensure that you pay our of pocket very little or nothing at all. We know that money can be an issue when having paintless dent removal performed on your vehicle. That being said, we guarantee that your out-of-pocket cost will be minimal, if not zero dollars, for the PDR we perform on your vehicle. We can discount repairs in a plethora of different ways ensuring that you pay out-of-pocket as little as possible.
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