How to Fix Hail Damage on Car: Top 8 Methods and Tips
Hail damage can cause significant damage to cars, such as dents, scratches, cracks, paint damage, and pitting. It not only affects the appearance of the car but also reduces its trade-in value. But do not worry; in this guide, you will know 4 DIY methods and 4 professional solutions to fix hail damage on car. These 8 effective methods will help you repair the damage in the best way possible.
Table of contents
- Top 4 DIY Methods to Fix Hail Damage on Car
- Professional Methods to Fix Hail Damage on Car
- How to Fix Hail Damage on a Car: DIY vs. Professionals
- What You Need to Know About Hail Damage on a Car
- Why Quickly Fixing Hail Damage on Your Car is Necessary
- Trade in a Car with Hail Damage
- Why trust car repair shops to fix hail damage on car?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Top 4 DIY Methods to Fix Hail Damage on Car
If you have the skills, tools, and time, here are the four DIY methods for fixing hail damage on your car:
1. Using a hair dryer and compressed air
If your car has small dents from hail, this is one of the easiest and most cost-effective methods. However, this method works well for small hail damages but is not effective on deeper damages. Here is the procedure for this hail repair method:
- Apply heat to the dent with a hair dryer for at least 30 seconds.
- Quickly apply the compressed air to cool down the surface.
- A sudden change in temperature will pop the metal back to its original shape.
- For a harder surface or deep dent, you may have to push the metal inside towards its original position.
2. Fix hail damage on car with a dent puller kit
If the dent is medium or large, a dent puller kit will work better than the hair dryer method. The main components of this kit include a pulling tool, glue sticks, and tabs. Here is the process of using a dent puller kit:
- First, clean the dented area to remove dirt and debris.
- Attach a glue tab to the center of the dent using the glue.
- Connect the puller tool with the tab and pull it outward.
- This process will slowly pull the dent out without damaging the paint.
3. Use boiling water to fix hail damage on plastic bumpers
The boiling water technique is also very effective, but only for the plastic body parts of cars. Here is how it works on a car’s bumper and other plastic parts:
- Boil water and carefully pour it over the dented area.
- The hot water will soften the surface for some time.
- Push the dented area from the inside to remove the dent caused by hail damage.
- Next, pour the cold water on the surface to make it harden.
- Remember, this technique will not work on the metal body parts of a car.
4. Apply paintless dent repair (PDR) with DIY tools
Although paintless dent repair (PDR) is a professional technique, you can buy this tool and fix hail-damaged cars at home. Here is the application method of PDR:
- Access the hail-damaged area from the back side of the dent.
- Once you reach the dent, use a PDR tool to tap and massage the dented surface.
- This gentle messaging process will melt back into its original shape.
- You can buy the DIY from any online or local store in the USA and any other country.
4 Professional Methods to Fix Hail Damage on Car
If the DIY method is infeasible due to a lack of skills, unavailability of required tools, or a high extent of damage, you can go with professional solutions. Here are four professional ways to repair hail damage on a car:
1. Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is the most effective method for fixing heavy hail damage. If you do not have the PDR tools, you can hire a car mechanic. The mechanic pushes and pulls the dents out from behind the panel. The paintless dent repair technique is fast and affordable and does not damage the paint.
2. Traditional body shop repair for hail damage
If the hail damage is too severe and the paint is cracked, PDR will not work. In this situation, traditional body repair is necessary to fix hail damage on car. The overall process of traditional body repair is as follows:
- Sanding down the hail-damaged car area
- Removing the small and big dents
- Filling the damaged area with a filler
- Repainting the surface for a fresh look
3. Insurance claim and professional repair
Do you have insurance coverage for your car? If so, the insurance company will cover cost of hail damage. Before going to a mechanic shop, check with your insurance company to see if you can file a claim. Based on your insurance policy, you might get some or full coverage for hail damage repair.
4. Replacing the damaged part
The fourth and final method to fix hail damage on a car is replacing the part. This method is recommended only if the car body part is severely damaged and cannot be repaired, or if the repair cost is higher than the replacement cost. The mechanics will remove the damaged part and replace it with a new or refurbished part.
How to Fix Hail Damage on a Car: DIY vs. Professionals
To fix hail damage on car, you can either choose DIY methods or hire a professional. Both methods have some benefits and disadvantages, but the suitable option depends on the extent of damage, your skills, budget, and time availability. Here is a quick comparison of both options:
DIY methods to fix hail damage on car
If the extent of damage is less and you have the necessary tools, choose the DIY method. The DIY methods are usually cost-effective but require more skills, time, and effort.
Professional methods
On the other hand, if the hail has severely damaged your car, hire an expert to fix hail damage to the car. It will cost more, but the expert mechanic will fix the damage quickly and perfectly. Especially if the car requires new paint, they will repaint it and make it look like new.
Is fixing hail damage on a car worth the cost?
Before taking your car to the mechanic, you should decide: Is it worth fixing hail damage on a car? The answer is it depends on the extent of damage and repair costs. Generally, the repair cost for hail damage is not high, and you can repair the damage.
If the extent of damage and repair costs is too high, you may think about a shortcut or cost-effective fixture. For example, if the hail damage does not affect the car’s performance, you can drive the car without repair. When the hail fixing cost exceeds the price of the car, the car becomes totaled. In this situation, spending money on repairs might not be worth it.
What You Need to Know About Hail Damage on a Car
Understanding the causes and signs of hail damage is key to knowing how to fix hail damage on a car. Here are the causes, signs, and security preventions:
Causes of hail damage on cars
Hail forms when the raindrops freeze into ice balls during thunderstorms. When these ice balls or hail fall on a car’s body, they cause dents. The hail also causes scratches and scuff marks on paint. Hail damage is common in areas with frequent thunderstorms and bad weather conditions.
Signs of hail damage on a car
Hail damage looks different based on the severity of the hailstorm. In most cases, you will see dents, cracks, and scuff marks on the roof, hood, and trunk of the car.
Preventing hail damage on a car
Preventing your car from hail damage is difficult, but there are some precautions you can follow:
- Park the car in the garage or under shade during a hailstorm and bad weather.
- If the hailstorm starts when driving, use a hail protection blanket.
- When you are caught in a hailstorm on the road, stop the car under shade or cover it with a tarp.
- Tarp will keep your car safe from very small dents, scratches, etc.Â
Why Quickly Fixing Hail Damage on Your Car is Necessary
If your car has been damaged by hail, it is important to fix it quickly. Not fixing the hail on your car quickly leads to more expensive damages. Here is why you should not wait:
The risk of further damage
Not fixing the hail damage on your vehicles results in permanent or more severe damage. It not only reduces the car’s value but also greatly affects its look. For instance, if you do not fix the cracked paint quickly, the metal underneath will get rusted.
Affects the structural integrity of the vehicle
Structural integrity means the effect on the safety of the vehicle. If the hail greatly damages the frame and body, it can affect the safety of the car on the road. However, you can avoid these serious risks if you quickly fix the damage before rust production.
Timely repair maintains the car’s value
Another bad effect of not fixing hail damage is that it reduces the car’s trade-in value. If a car’s paint gets permanently damaged and the body gets rusted, the trade-in value will drop significantly. You might be wondering: Can you trade in a damaged financed car? The answer is yes, but the selling price will be low.
Trade in a Car with Hail Damage
You can trade in a car with hail damage, but there are some scenarios that affect the trading:
- If the extent of hail damage is minor, the effect on the car’s selling price will be minor.
- For antique cars, the unfixed hail damage will cause a huge drop in car trading prices.
- Fixing the hail damage quickly before trading it might have no impact on the price.
- If the hail damage is old and has become severed over time, the price will drop too much.
- Especially if you did not fix the hail damage and the metal body gets rusted, a buyer might not buy your car.
- If you have not repaired the hail damage for years, even the insurance company will pay you the current market price of the car instead of repairing it.
Why trust car repair shops to fix hail damage on car?
When it comes to fixing the worst hail damage on a car, the repair shops are best for the following reasons:
Expert technicians with specialized skills
Car repair shops have experience, skills, and the right tools to fix hard hail damage. They know how to repair different types of dents and scratches without damaging paint. Moreover, they use the most effective techniques to restore the original look of the car.
High-quality tools and equipment
Car repair shops use specialized tools to fix hail damage on vehicles. They utilize paintless dent repairs (PDR) or more advanced systems to fix dents more accurately.
Faster and more efficient repair
Due to their special skills and equipment, they can fix the hail damage on a car quickly. So, if you are a busy person and need a quick repair, consider going to a repair shop.
Insurance coverage assistance for hail damage
Many reputable car repair shops collaborate with insurance companies. So, if your insurance covers the hail damage on the car, the car repair shop will help you navigate the claim process.
Long-term durability and warranty
The professional repair shops provide a warranty on their repair. If something goes wrong after the repair of the hail-damaged car, they will fix it for free. This gives you peace of mind, especially if you’re repairing an expensive car.
Conclusion
In short, hail damage does not only affect the appearance but also the value of the car. If not treated accurately and timely, it can lead to a bigger problem. When you know how to fix hail damage on a car and the common causes of hail damage, you can keep your car safe. Taking care of hail will not only keep your car in top shape but also keep its worth high.
FAQs
Can hail dents be popped out?
Yes, you can easily pop out the hail dents with the advanced Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) technique. For smaller dents, even the dent puller kits and DIY heating methods will also work.
Will heat pop out hail dents?
Heat can pop out the smaller dents on metal surfaces, but it is not effective on bigger dents. To pop out the smaller dents on plastic body parts, even the boiling water method will work.
Will a car wrap hide hail damage?
The car wrap can easily hide the small dents, scratches, and scuff marks on the paint. But the wrap is not useful to cover big cracks in paint and big hail dents.
Does dry ice take dents out of a car?
Yes, the dry ice method can help in fixing small hail damages. Just heat the surface with a hot air blower and quickly apply the dry ice. This sudden change in temperature will cause the dent to pop out.
What color car hides hail damage best?
The hail damage is usually not visible in lighter colors like white, silver, or beige. The lighter colors reflect more light and reduce the visibility of dents.
