Looking to buy a new car, and are eyeing the discounted hail damaged ones? Or, has your own car been through a hail storm recently? Hail damaged cars are exactly what they sound like — a car that has been hit by a hail storm, and has suffered damage as a result. But not all hail damage is created equal.
Depending on the size, speed, and the number of hail stones that hit a car, hail damage can range from minor and cosmetic to severe.
Similarly, the cost to repair hail damage can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of hail damaged cars.
Cosmetic Damage With Intact Paint
This type of damage is the best-case scenario. It means that the hail stones that hit the car were small and had relatively low force. As a result, there are just a few small, round dents on the body of the car that don’t even go deep enough to scratch the paint.
While cosmetic damage can impact a car’s resale value and appearance, it’s fairly straightforward to fix. An auto hail repair shop will simply need to use standard dent removal techniques to pop the dent back into place. Because the paint isn’t affected, the value of the car may even be retained.
Cosmetic Damage With Scratched Paint
This type of damage is a step up from cosmetic damage with intact paint. It means that the hail stones were larger, or hit the car with more force. As a result, there are more dents, and some of them may go deep enough or be sharp enough to scratch the paint.
While this type of damage can be unsightly, it’s still fairly easy to repair. An auto body shop can use standard dent removal techniques to pop the dents back into place. They may also need to touch up the paint job in order to cover any scratches. Since the paint is affected, it may go on your car’s record and reduce the value of your car.
Severe Damage With Intact Paint
This type of damage is probably the least likely scenario. When you have severe damage with intact paint, it means that the hail stones were considerably impactful, but your paint job still managed to go unscathed. Usually, this category includes mechanical damages or other types of non-body damages. This can include:
- Broken lights
- Broken windows
- Broken sunroof
- Damage to the transmission or engine
Fixing severe damage with intact paint will vary greatly in cost and repair method depending on the type of damage you’re dealing with. Fortunately, retouching the paint won’t be part of the repairs, which gives you one less thing to worry about.
Severe Damage With Scratched Paint
Aside from your car being completely totaled, this is the worst-case scenario. When you have severe damage with scratched paint, it means that the hail storm was considerably worse. Between mechanical damages, broken glass, dents, and scratched paint, this is the most complicated to repair, and will probably have an impact on your car’s resale value.
An auto body shop will need to use specialized dent removal techniques, in addition to replacing and repairing any other parts that were broken. They will also have to touch up the paint and may have to utilize fillers and sanding as well.
How Much Does It Cost for a Repair?
Hail damage repair costs vary greatly depending on the kind of damage you have. A small dent removal procedure for cosmetic dents that don’t impact the paint can be a few hundred dollars, while full repairs for severe damage can run up to several thousand.
If you want a better picture of how much hail damage repair costs, try using this dent repair cost estimator. It utilizes the PDR pricing matrix, which is the standard way hail repair costs are calculated.
Conclusion
Hail damage can range from being a minor annoyance to a major problem, and the cost of the repair can vary just as greatly. The best thing to do when there’s a hailstorm is to protect your car beforehand, but if you can’t do that, it’s important to take your damaged car into an auto hail repair shop as soon as possible. A professional can help you determine what kind of damage you have, as well as how it should be repaired and how much it costs.
