How to Deal with Insurance:

Insurance claims can be a whirlwind. Unfortunately, Colorado has some of the highest premiums due to our growing population, uninsured driver rates, and catastrophic events. It is important to have someone who is experienced in dealing with insurance companies on your side.

Here are some tips to expedite your car repair:

Contact your auto insurance provider to see if hail damage repair is covered. Typically, comprehensive insurance includes coverage for hail damage, but every insurance company has its own process for hail claims. Follow up with your insurance agent if you do not know how to file a claim.
File an insurance claim with your provider.
Schedule an appointment with your adjuster and with us to get your vehicle's damage appraised. It is our job to advocate for our customers.
Make sure the exterior of your vehicle is clean. This will ensure an accurate estimate is given. Repair costs vary based on the extent of hail damage.
Schedule your car repair with us and we will make arrangements for pick-ups/drop-offs for your convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW LONG DOES A HAIL DAMAGE ESTIMATE TAKE?

A standard hail repair estimate requires 30 to 45 minutes. During this time, the estimator follows a systematic format. Your adjuster will identify the severity and quantity of dents on all body panels. The estimator will take this time to answer any questions you may have about the repair and gather information about your vehicle.

WHY IS A CLEAN VEHICLE IMPORTANT FOR A HAIL REPAIR ESTIMATE?

A clean vehicle allows the estimator to clearly see all visible hail damage. Dust and dirt can often mask damage. This causes inaccurate estimates and delays in the repair process.

WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO REPAIR HAIL DAMAGE?

If a supplement is required, it may extend the time needed to repair your vehicle. The supplement will be explained to you along with an adjusted pick up date.

Depending on the severity of your vehicle's hail damage, Hilltop Automotive can provide two types of repairs on your vehicle.

Paintless Dent Repair: The first method of hail damage repair is to completely repair your vehicle utilizing the Dent Wizard Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) process. From drop off to pick up, repairing hail damage with PDR normally takes a few days to complete.

PDR + Conventional Repairs: The second involves the use of both the PDR process and conventional body shop repairs. This process is referred to as a Combination Repair. The time frame for this type of repair may take several days or longer depending on the severity of hail damage.

HOW LONG DOES HAIL DAMAGE REPAIR TAKE?

Depending on the severity of the storm and the damage on your vehicle, repair times can vary. For light to moderate hail damage repairs, it may take 1 to 3 days. For severe damage that needs body shop participation for panel replacement and paint work, repairs may take 2 to 3 weeks.

WHAT IS A SUPPLEMENT?

Supplements are additional operations or parts necessary to complete your repair. These often go beyond the original estimate. In some cases, the original estimate is insufficient to perform the repairs.

When a vehicle is dropped off for repairs, a second inspection is done to determine if all the damage was documented for repair. If all damage was found and written on the original estimate, no supplement is needed. If some damage was overlooked on the original estimate, a “supplement” is needed to document the necessary operations or parts needed to properly repair the hail damage.

If a supplement is required, it may extend the time needed to repair your vehicle. The supplement will be explained to the customer along with an adjusted pick up date.

HOW DOES PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR (PDR) FIX HAIL DAMAGE?

Paintless Dent Repair is a specialized, meticulous process for returning dents to their original shape without having to paint any part of the vehicle.

The PDR process requires the technician to push and massage each dent in a very technical and precise manner. To do this, each dent is worked back to its original shape using metal rods varying in size and shape. The dents are worked from the underside of the metal using access points on each panel. The result is a dent-free vehicle where the finished metal looks like it came from the factory.

WHAT IS CONVENTIONAL BODY REPAIR?

Conventional body repair often replaces the panels on a car or truck and requires painting to match the factory finish. In some cases, hail damage is so severe that conventional body shop methods are necessary to repair panels. If there are too many dents or too many large dents, a panel may not be able to be repaired with PDR.

WHAT DOES R&I MEAN?

R&I is an acronym that stands for Remove and Install. When a car starts the repair process, an R&I technician loosens, and sometimes removes, the interior panels and parts. This allows access to the underside of the metal panel. When the PDR repairs get completed, the technician replaces the parts and re-installs the interior panels (like the headliner and hood liner).

Dent Wizard has a Quality Control Process to ensure that all parts are replaced properly. This means your vehicle is returned to you in the same condition as we received it.

HAIL REPAIR TERMS TO KNOW

By now, you should know everything you need about filing a hail damage insurance claim and scheduling a repair with Dent Wizard. To recap, here are some terms that will help you fully understand the repair process:

Pre-loss condition – The condition of a vehicle prior to hail damage including damage not caused by the hailstorm.
Supplement – Additional operations, parts or repair needs necessary to complete the repair of the vehicle above the original estimate.
PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) - A specialized and meticulous process returning dents to their original shape without having to replace or repair the metal surface.
Conventional body repair - Using traditional body shop actions to replace or repair metal panels.
R&I – This is an acronym that stands for “remove and install.”

How to Deal with Insurance:

Contact your auto insurance provider to see if hail damage repair is covered. Typically, comprehensive insurance includes coverage for hail damage, but every insurance company has its own process for hail claims. Follow up with your insurance agent if you do not know how to file a claim.

File an insurance claim with your provider.

Schedule an appointment with your adjuster and with us to get your vehicle's damage appraised. It is our job to advocate for our customers.

Make sure the exterior of your vehicle is clean. This will ensure an accurate estimate is given. Repair costs vary based on the extent of hail damage.

Schedule your car repair with us and we will make arrangements for pick-ups/drop-offs for your convenience.

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