If you’ve ever been caught in a hailstorm, you know that it can leave your car looking like a golf ball. Hail damage can be frustrating, costly, and time-consuming to repair.

We are the hail repair specialists and we’re here to guide you through the hail repair process for your car. Read on as we’ll cover everything you need to know about protecting your vehicle from hail, what to do when your car has been damaged, when to call in a specialist for hail damage repair and what the hail repair process looks like. 

Protecting Your Car From Hail

Every so often the weather stations are able to predict dangerous storms and give us ample warning so we can prepare for the imminent storm ahead. Once you have received the notification, what do you do next? 

First things first, get your vehicle under cover. Use your garage, carport, or the neighbours or if you have time and if it is safe to do so, drive to a local shopping centre with undercover car parks. 

If you have run out of time and can’t find a covered spot, what should you do next? In this instance, you need to find items to lay on top of your car to help minimise the damage. If you have rubber mats in your car, place them on the roof and bonnet. Rubber mats are ideal but blankets, an old roll of carpet or old towels will do. 

What To Do When Your Car Has Hail Damage

Sometimes severe storms can surprise us and there isn’t much we can do to prevent the damage from happening. Once it is safe to do so, go outside and inspect the damage to your vehicle. Take photos and check your insurance policy. The next step is to head online and submit your photos for a fast hail repair quote with specialists such as us at PDR 2U. 

How Do I Know If My Hail Damaged Car Can Be Repaired Or If It Is A Write-Off?

If your car has been damaged by hail, it can be difficult to know whether it can be repaired or if it’s a write-off. Typically, if the damage is minor with only a few dents, it can be repaired through either traditional panel beating or glue-pulling techniques. However, if the damage is extensive and affects the structural integrity of the car, it may be deemed a write-off. Additionally, if the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the car, it may also be written off. The best way to know for sure is to have a hail damage specialist such as PDR 2U assess the damage and provide an estimate for repairs.

Hail Repair Process

Before your car is repaired, it is assessed using specialised equipment and our technician’s trained eye. Thoroughly evaluating your car before the repair is carried out ensures our technician is able to plan the best approach to restoring your car to its pre-dent condition. 

Hail storms do not discriminate when it comes to which panels on your car are dented. As a result, dents are often found in places on your vehicle that are less than convenient to repair. Places that are harder to access and repair using traditional panel beating methods such as roof rails, the middle of the roof and the top of a hatch door, can be quickly and easily repaired using specialised Paintless Dent Repair techniques.  Our highly skilled technicians use specialised tools and a variety of techniques to ensure your car is perfectly repaired every time without damaging the original paintwork on your vehicle.

To access dents located on the roof of your vehicle, it may be necessary to remove interior trimmings and the hood lining of your car. This part of the hail repair process does not cause any damage to your vehicle and provides greater access for our technician to repair dents from the inside of your car. Removing and properly reinstalling the hood lining and interior trimmings of your car requires a comprehensive knowledge of how cars are constructed to ensure that your car is safely returned to its pre-repair state. Our technicians have worked in the automotive industry for decades, so you can rest assured your car is in good hands.

Tailgates, hatches and bonnets may also be removed from your vehicle to provide greater access to those hard-to-reach dents. Once removed, these panels are securely placed on specialised stands which allow our Paintless Dent Removal technicians to perfectly restore them. Once repaired, these panels are carefully refitted to your vehicle with your ongoing safety in mind.  

Glue Pull Dent Repair versus Panel Beating

When it comes to hail damage repair, there are two main techniques: traditional panel beating and glue pulling. Traditional panel beating involves hammering out the dents and reshaping the damaged metal by hand. It can be time-consuming and requires a skilled technician to get it right. On the other hand, glue pulling is a newer technique that involves using special glue and tabs to pull the dented metal back into its original shape. It is a quicker and less invasive process that doesn’t require as much sanding or repainting. While both techniques have their pros and cons, glue pulling is becoming increasingly popular due to its speed and efficiency, especially for smaller dents and hail. 

What To Know About Buying A Hail-Damaged Car

With the increase in the costs of vehicles these days, many are looking or needing to find a safe car at lower prices. Purchasing hail-damaged cars for a significantly lower cost than repairing them has been a popular option for deal hunters for years. While this practice can save you a lot of money, there are some things to be aware of. 

If you’re considering buying a hail-damaged car and having it repaired by a technician at PDR 2U, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First and foremost, make sure you’re getting a good deal on the car. Hail damage can significantly decrease the value of a car, so be sure to negotiate a fair price.

Once you’ve purchased the car, have a PDR 2U technician assess the damage and provide an estimate for repairs. They can advise you on the best course of action and whether it’s worth repairing or not. It’s also important to ensure that the car is structurally sound and safe to drive before investing in repairs.

With PDR 2U’s mobile service, you can have your hail-damaged car repaired at your convenience, whether that be at home or work. Just be sure to schedule an appointment ahead of time and be prepared to provide us with the necessary information on the make, model, and extent of the damage. This includes photographs of the damage. Then we will do our best through our hail repair process to bring your car back to its original beauty.

What To Know About Selling Your Hail-Damaged Car

Selling your hail-damaged car can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure how to get a fair price for it. However, there are a few tips that can make the process smoother.

It’s essential to have a technician from PDR 2U assess the damage and provide you with an estimate for repairs. This will give you a better idea of the value of your car, which you can then use to negotiate a fair price with potential buyers. Alternatively, before putting it up for sale, consider having it repaired by PDR 2U’s mobile service, which can restore its appearance and increase its value.

When advertising your car, be transparent about the extent of the damage to help buyers make an informed decision. Simply schedule an appointment, provide the necessary information on your car’s make, model, and extent of damage, and let PDR 2U’s technicians work their magic. With these tips, you can confidently sell your hail-damaged car and get a fair price for it. You will always get more money for your car after the hail damage has been repaired so we recommend getting the damage fixed first if you can. 

The entire hail repair process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the severity and extent of a vehicle’s hail damage. Hail damage repairs may be carried out on-site, or at an external facility that is mutually convenient for our technicians and our customers. Hail damage repairs can be scheduled around your busy life, making the repair experience as stress-free as possible. Your safety and satisfaction is our number one priority. As a result, all PDR repairs completed by PDR 2U come with a lifetime guarantee. For an obligation-free quote, call us today.