Nebraska drivers are no strangers to severe hailstorms each spring and summer, but try as you might, sometimes you simply can’t protect your vehicle from the elements. A severe hailstorm can leave your car covered in hail dents, making the surface look like a golf ball. While a vehicle with hail damage is usually still drivable, those dents can affect your car’s appearance, resale value, and even long-term condition.
If your car has been caught in a storm, you may be wondering whether hail damage repair is worth it and what your options are. This popular post from 2021 has been updated to provide some helpful tips about hail dent repair, insurance coverage, and why Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is often the best solution.
Should I Repair Hail Damage on My Car?
Because hail dents are often cosmetic, deciding whether to repair hail damage depends on your situation.
One of the first things to check is your auto insurance coverage. If you have comprehensive coverage, hail damage is usually covered by your policy. In many cases, insurance will cover most or all of the cost of repairs after your deductible.
However, if you do not have comprehensive coverage—or if your deductible is high compared to the value of your vehicle—you may decide not to repair minor dents.
Even so, repairing hail damage can help maintain your vehicle’s resale value, protect the paint, and restore the original appearance of your car.
How Much Does Hail Dent Repair Cost?
The cost of repairing hail dents varies depending on several factors, including:
The number of dents
The size and depth of the hail damage
The location of the dents on the vehicle
The make and model of the vehicle
The best way to know the cost is to get a professional hail damage estimate. At Eustis Body Shop, our team can quickly assess your vehicle and provide a detailed quote so you can decide whether to move forward with repairs.
DIY Dent Repair: Should You Try Fixing Hail Dents Yourself?
If you’ve searched online for DIY dent repair, you’ve probably seen countless videos claiming you can fix hail dents using tools like:
Hair dryers
Dry ice
Suction cups
Dent pullers
Boiling water
While some of these methods may work on very minor dents, DIY dent repair rarely produces professional results. Many attempts can actually make the damage worse by stretching the metal, cracking the paint, or creating larger dents.
Hail damage often involves dozens or even hundreds of small dents, which require specialized tools and expert techniques to remove properly.
If you want your vehicle restored correctly the first time, it’s best to have a trained technician perform Paintless Dent Repair.
What Is Paintless Dent Repair?
For many types of hail damage, the preferred repair method is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR).
Paintless Dent Repair is a specialized technique where a highly trained technician carefully massages the metal from behind the panel to return it to its original shape—without sanding, fillers, or repainting.
Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair include:
Preserves your vehicle’s original factory paint
Faster repair time than traditional body work
Lower cost compared to conventional dent repair
Environmentally friendly (no paint or chemicals)
Ideal for hail dents, door dings, and minor dents
At Eustis Body Shop, our experienced technicians specialize in Paintless Dent Repair for hail damage, helping restore your vehicle quickly and effectively.
Get a Hail Damage Estimate from Eustis Body Shop
If your vehicle has hail dents, the best next step is to get a professional evaluation. Our team can inspect the damage and determine whether Paintless Dent Repair is the right solution for your vehicle.
While DIY dent repair videos might make hail dent removal look easy, professional Paintless Dent Repair ensures the job is done right the first time.
Bring your vehicle to Eustis Body Shop for a hail damage estimate, and we’ll help get your car looking like new again. Our collision repair technicians can handle larger repairs as well.
Stop by one of our locations or give us a call today to schedule your estimate!