It’s easy to get on the wrong train of thought when it comes to car repairs. There are a ton of tales and myths out there that can easily pass as the truth—even if they’re anything but. Believing such ideas can lead to more inconvenience than benefits in the long run, so it’s important to bust the myths and learn the facts:
Myth #1: The Car’s Paint is Damaged When Hail Damage is Fixed
Automotive paint used in modern cars are generally elastic, which means they don’t chip away easily even when the panel is dented. Older car models are not as resilient when it comes to paint chipping, though, so it mainly depends on the type of vehicle you have and the type of paint used on it. Yes, paint serves more than an aesthetic purpose on your car; it’s also a layer of protection from the harsh elements.
Many car manufacturers use water-based acrylic polyurethane enamel paints, which have proven to be more stretchable than your run-in-the-mill car paint. This type of coating also has its limits, though, so if a hail pellet the size of a golf ball hits your car, some of the paint will likely get chipped away.
When a well-trained auto hail repair specialist works on your car, a method called “Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)” can be the initial choice to get rid of the dents. This process won’t lead to scratches and further damage because it mainly involves gently massaging the dented area’s backside to bring it back to its original shape. Such a procedure won’t scrape or bruise the car’s factory finish.
Additionally, the damage will be assessed by the specialist first before choosing the most ideal repair method. If it’s determined that the paint was actually chipped upon hail impact, another repair procedure will be chosen—likely involving filling, sanding, and repainting the damaged panel.
Myth #2: Car Insurance Does Not Cover Hail Damage
One of the most important questions involves cost—and who pays for the repair. Those who have comprehensive car insurance can rest easy because hail damage is covered, so it’s highly probable that you won’t have to pay for anything.
There are a couple of things that should be noted here, though. Firstly, insurance companies do not usually let car owners get comprehensive auto insurance right before an expected severe storm. They of course need to protect themselves from making huge payouts after every single extreme weather condition.
Car owners looking to add it to their current insurance coverage must act quickly and wisely. Being in a hailstorm-prone location calls for constant preparedness, especially because of the unpredictable nature of such a weather phenomenon.
Not only does comprehensive car insurance cover hail repair costs, but insurance companies also cannot raise the premium because this kind of damage is out of people’s control. There are car hail damage repair service providers that go beyond providing top-notch PDR services. They also talk to your insurance company on your behalf, allowing for a more accurate damage estimation and inspection, which usually leads to full repair cost coverage.
Myth #3: The Sun Can Fix Hail Damage
If only this were true, then anyone can actually get rid of the dents on their car without professional assistance—by simply leaving their car in an open lot. Sadly, it’s not. There are those who have tried this “Sun hail fix”, but no noticeable changes were achieved.
Introducing heat to a car’s panels won’t yield the results you may be looking for. Whether it’s a high-power hair dryer or dry ice, extreme temperatures won’t do much to the dents. What will most likely happen would be chipped paint, weakened panel structural integrity, and a couple of burns here and there for whoever’s using the extreme heat.
Generally, paintless dent repair services offered by reputable auto repair shops can take the dents out of your car’s body panels in as quick as a few days, and the sun doesn’t even need to get involved. PDR specialists are well-trained to make the repairs, and they can also conduct the inspection themselves before advising you on the next steps.
Busted Myths, Better Decision-Making
Getting the facts straight empowers car owners to make the best decisions for their hail-damaged vehicles. Although it can be easy to fall for false information about hail damage and its corresponding car repairs, it’s also easy to reach out to reliable service providers. So leave the myths behind and visit a trusted and established auto repair shop today.
