Fix Hail Damage with PDR vs. Replacement Parts

If you live in one of the states that constitute “Hail Alley,” you need to know your best options to fix hail damage. Also, you need to be ready at all times because hail can happen anywhere when there is a severe thunderstorm. 

At Hail Specialists, you can trust us to fix car panels damaged by hail and restore them to its pre-loss conditions.

There are two ways to repair hail damaged panels and to remove dents: 

• Paintless dent repair (PDR)
• Replacing panels with new parts

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)

PDR is an advanced technique where experts carefully massage the interior behind the dented area. Our technicians will push the metal until it returns to its pre-loss look. The PDR technique is a faster method to fix hail damage than conventional methods. It can remove various sizes of dents, dings, and body creases too. 

Replacing Panels with New Parts

This can take up to several months—the technicians need to order the parts first before starting on your repair. The replacement process can take a long time too. Usually, insurance companies want you to replace every roof and hood, and, unfortunately, replacing a roof can take 30-60 days. Body shops will give you a timeline of two months at a minimum to complete all replacements. 

However, we offer you a better advantage.

At Hail Specialists, we can fix hail damage within 1–3 days when we use the PDR technique. 

Replacing Auto Body Panels Can Be Expensive

Your decision to use PDR or replacement parts to fix hail damage will be influenced by the following factors: 

• Your personal preference.
• The recommendation of the repair shop.

The final estimate for replacing auto body panels also depends on the following:

• The time for labor, both for fixing and painting your car.
• The materials and parts your car would need.
• The total number of dents.
• Whether the panel parts are small or large.

The costs for replacement parts can vary as described below:

• Belt moldings: $50–$200+ depending on the brand.
• Quarter glass: $300–$1200+. The glass on the quarter panel of a vehicle usually has moldings. The moldings on the doors that open can be replaced without replacing the glass. However, the moldings attached to quarter glasses cannot be changed. You have to change the entire assembly, i.e. the glass and the molding,
• Hood replacement: $400–$1000+ for the part, and an additional $400-1000 for the paint, depending on the paint code.
• Roof replacement: $2000–$4000+ depending on your car’s year, make, and model.

At Hail Specialists, we reduce costs by using PDR instead of replacing these parts when we fix your hail damage. The only parts excluded when utilizing PDR are the belt moldings and quarter glass; we replace those as they are not fixable. 

What if I Have Comprehensive Insurance?

If you have comprehensive insurance, you won’t need to worry about the hail damage repair cost—your insurance company will fully cover these expenses as federal law prohibits insurance companies from penalizing insured individuals covered under a comprehensive plan. 

Plus, at Hail Specialists, we even pay your deductible. This would cost you $0 out-of-pocket to fix your hail damage.

Fix Hail Damage with Paintless Dent Repair to Avoid Replacing Panels with Aftermarket Parts

Having discussed how expensive replacing auto body panels can be, what can we do to save your car’s original panels and prevent the extreme costs for replacements?

This is where PDR comes in. PDR helps us retain the original panels and avoid expensive aftermarket parts when fixing hail damage. 

As a rule of thumb, we tell our customers to use PDR to repair as many panels with hail damage as much as possible to save both time and money, especially if they do not have comprehensive insurance. 

Fix Hail Damage with Paintless Dent Repair to Save Your Car’s Original Factory Paint

The original paint gives your car a greater monetary and utility value than new paint. This is why at Hail Specialists, we strive to keep your car’s original factory paint.

One major advantage of using the state-of-the-art PDR method is that it saves your car’s original factory paint and, hence, protects the value of your car. By utilizing PDR, there is no need to bond, sand, or repaint your car. PDR is the best technique for retaining your car’s original value even after fixing it for hail damage.

Fix Hail Damage with Reliable PDR Experts at Hail Specialists

If you find out that your panels have been damaged by hail after a hail storm, do not try to repair them by yourself. Our PDR experts have over 600 years of combined experience in auto hail repair. 

We put our customers at the core of our business and our goal is to take care of everything so you don’t have to.

Not only are we excellent at restoring auto panels damaged by hail, but we also handle your insurance process, pay your deductible, offer a lifetime warranty, and pay for your rental car if needed -all with a speedy turnaround. 

For all your auto hail damage repair needs, contact us today.