Sometimes when it rains, it hails.
If you’ve been driving when the hail starts, you know the sinking feeling in your stomach that happens when you hear your car being damaged.
Maybe you’re looking to buy a car that’s been discounted because of the cost to fix hail damage.
According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, hail is responsible for $2 billion worth of damage to property annually. While the hail may seem small, the damage sometimes isn’t.
When the hail stops, how long can you hold off on repairing the damage? Is the car with hail damage, and a discount, really a good deal?
How Much Damage Can You Ignore?
Hail over one-inch in diameter begins to damage property. Take into account what is damaged on the car you own or the one you are looking to own.
With either car in mind, check the windshield, hood, and roof for the worst damage. These areas are generally the most vulnerable during a storm if the car is exposed.
Check for large cracks or pits in the windshield or windows, and for chips in the paint that might compromise the rest of the car if they’re not fixed.
Making sure the damage isn’t affecting the functionality or safety of the vehicle is the first priority, but ensuring that the vehicle won’t be losing too much of its value from the damage is the next.
Take photos or bring the car to show an insurance agent or hail repair specialist for an assessment.
Questions to Ask a Specialist
Fixing hail damage to a car’s body can be a simple or extensive job for a professional. When looking at the damage, it’s important to separate if it’s just the metal that is damaged by hail, or if the paint will need touching up as well.
What is the more important damage to repair to extend your car’s life span?
How important are the aesthetics of the vehicle to its value?
Are there any points of damage that affect the safety of your vehicle?
Specific to buying a car with hail damage, one should ask if the cost of repair is more than the discount on the vehicle?
Hail damage repair specialists can perform a paintless dent repair service on certain types of damage. Another type of repair includes removing the panels of the vehicle to repair from the inside out. Paint that has been damaged from hail is the final step in the process.
Hail Happens
When hail happens to your personal vehicle, check your insurance coverage for to see if damage from hail is covered. Then contact a specialist who can give you guidance and a quote.
When looking at a discount on a hail damaged car, take photos or schedule a test drive to a consultation with a professional who can give it a look and quote you on the repair cost.
Contact us to set up an appointment to see how immediate your hail damage repairs are today.
