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3 Reasons Not to Wait to Repair Hail Damage

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For as much effort as we take to protect our cars, the truth is that they are exposed to a huge variety of potential sources of damage. Accidents can happen at any time, and dings and scrapes from minor parking lot incidents are almost inevitable. As if this wasn't enough, mother nature herself is constantly threatening to ruin a pristine paint job or do even more serious damage.

Hail is one of the most frustrating ways that a car can get damaged. While it's easy to think that hail is something that you can easily protect against, storms can crop up quickly and there may be no time to move your car into a garage or other shelter. If the damage from hail seems to be minor, it can be tempting to simply ignore it. Unfortunately, this has the potential to be a costly mistake for a variety of reasons.

Your Insurance May Cover It

If you have comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy, then the damage from hail is almost certainly covered. In this case, it will pay to begin a claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to make a claim for the full extent of the damage. The one exception is if you have a very large deductible on your comprehensive coverage. If this is the case, it is still important to repair the damage, but it may be worthwhile to obtain an estimate before filing a claim. If the total cost of repairing the damage is less than your deductible, paying it out of pocket is usually a better option.

The Full Extent of the Damage May Not Be Obvious

Many car owners are not prepared for the amount of damage that hail can cause. You may only see a few dents, but it is possible that panels have been damaged in ways that may necessitate replacement or repainting. Although it is rare with hail, if the metal on your car's panels has been creased then this can provide an avenue for rust to form. Once rust takes hold, it is difficult to remove and a panel that could previously have been repaired may now require replacement.

Because damage of this kind is generally not noticeable to untrained eyes, getting your car professionally evaluated by a body shop as soon as possible will likely save you money over the long run.

It's Probably Not as Expensive as You Think

While hail has the potential to cause serious damage, often it simply dents panels without creasing the metal or causing any damage to the paint itself. If this is the case, then the damage to your car can likely be fixed with paintless dent repair methods. These techniques do not require panels to be stripped and repainted, which can drastically reduce the cost of the overall repair. In addition to being cheaper, paintless dent repair will usually restore a panel back to its original condition. This will both keep your car looking good and help to maintain its resale value.

To learn more about your options, contact automotive hail damage repair services.


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