Hail Damage FAQ

Warm weather tornadoes, floods and hail storms are running their way across the country, leaving totaled, soaked, dinged up and damaged vehicles in their wake.

The professionals at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center are ready to help.  During spring storms, they see countless vehicles harmed by falling trees, debris, wind, water, and hail. They provide the following advice to help motorists deal with spring storms – before and after.
 
Examine Your Coverage

The time to examine your auto insurance isn't when the weatherman is delivering bad news that storms are on the way.  Examine your policy now to know what is covered, what the deductibles are, if you have rental coverage and what you should do when the storm hits.

Comprehensive coverage safeguards against most damage from natural disasters.  Two other options to consider are gap coverage – which pays the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your car is worth -- and rental compensation.

One warning – if you submitted a previous damage claim and got a check from your insurance company, but didn’t have the vehicle repaired – the insurance company will deduct this amount from your estimate for the weather damage, and bill a second deductible, as well.

Protect Your Car

When you know that a storm is on the way, get the automobile to higher ground or under cover.  For hail storms, cover the car in an old blanket and a car cover from your neighborhood automotive retailer – prior to when the storm hits.  This will provide some shelter for your hood, roof, and rear decklid. If a storm comes up quickly, search for an awning at a gas station, the drive-through at a bank or self-serve car wash to get below for immediate protection. On the interstate, seek out cover under a bridge or viaduct.

If you fall victim to a hail storm, take a look at these frequently asked questions about handling hail damage:

1.   Exactly how much Time do I need to allow for a Hail Estimate?
A normal hail estimation requires 30-45 minutes. At this time, the estimator follows a step-by-step format of distinguishing severity and quantity of dents on all panels. On top of that, the estimator works with you to answer all issues you have about the repair and obtains all accurate vehicle information.

2.   Why is a clean automobile important?
A clean car allows the estimator to observe clearly the damage. Dust and dirt might mask damage, creating inaccurate estimates and delays in the repair process.

3.   What occurs throughout the estimate process?
During the estimate process, your estimator will greet you and then will drive the automobile into the estimating bay. Then, they assess the vehicle, taking record of the extent of the hail damage as well as the severity and number of dents. The estimate is then finalized and evaluated with you, and you'll be furnished with a printed copy of the quote.

4.   So what does pre-loss condition mean?
During the hail estimation process, any non-hail damage will be noted. The condition of your car, including this damage, is considered the pre-loss condition of the car. Any damage that isn't hail-related will not be covered on the repair.

At the time of the quote, photos will be taken of the vehicle and any of these conditions will be recognized in the estimate.

5.   How do I schedule my car for repair?
During the time of your estimate, you're going to be asked when you would like to schedule your motor vehicle for repairs. During a typical hail storm, thousands of cars sustain damages, thus, it might be a couple weeks before your scheduled visit. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center of Maryville, IL will work with you to determine the proper repair time following your estimation.

6.   What is a supplement?
Supplements are extra operations or parts needed to finish the repair of the motor vehicle that exceed the original estimate. In some instances, the initial estimate is inadequate to carry out the repairs. When a car or truck is delivered for repairs, a second inspection is carried out to discover if all the damage was documented for repair. If all damage was found and written on the original estimation, no supplement is required. However, if some damage was neglected on the original estimate a “supplement” is needed to document the necessary operations or parts required to adequately fix the motor vehicle.

If a supplement is needed, it can extend the period of time required to repair your automobile. The supplement will be explained to you and an adjusted pick up date will be provided.

7.   What's Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?
Paintless Dent Repair is a specialized and meticulous process for returning dents to their initial shape without having to paint any part of the car. The principle process for PDR necessitates the technician to push and massage each and every dent in an extremely technical and exact fashion. For this, each and every dent is worked back into its initial shape with different metal rods differing in size and shape. The dents are worked from the underside of the metal with access points for each panel. It is a very specialized and thorough method that necessitates the finished metal to appear as if it came from the original factory.

8.   What is conventional auto body repair?
Conventional body repair often replaces the panels on a motor vehicle and needs painting to match the factory finish. In many cases, hail damage is so severe that conventional body shop methods are required to repair certain panels. If there are too many dents or too many big dents, a panel may not be capable of being repaired with PDR.

9.   What does R and I mean?
R and I is an phrase that means Remove and Install. When a car begins the repair process, an R and I technician loosens, and sometimes removes, the interior panels and parts to allow access to the lower side of the metal panel. When the PDR repairs get finished, this technician replaces the parts and re-installs the interior panels (like the headliner and hood liner). Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center features a quality control system to ensure all the parts are replaced properly so that your automobile is returned to you in the same condition that we got it, minus the dents, of course.

While your vehicle is in the shop, it is a great time to have other dents and dings serviced.  It will be more cost-effective and your car or truck will ultimately benefit.

For other great tips on working with a crash or having your automobile fixed following a collision, visit www.auto-body-maryville-il.com. Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center, serving Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois gives top-notch, trusted repair service throughout the USA and Canada.