Is It Worth Fixing Hail Damage on a Car? Deciding factors

Hailstorms can be pretty scary and can cause big damage to your car. The hail often comes during the heavy rain, and it’s like a collection of big ice balls. If you live in a region where there is more rain and hail storms, you will experience hail damage to your car. So, is it worth fixing hail damage on a car? Let’s explore the different factors in this guide that will help you decide whether you should fix the hail damage or replace the part.

Table of contents

• What actual hail damage is?
• Is It Worth Fixing Hail Damage on a Car?
• Insurance Coverage Evaluation
• Types of Hail Damage
• Repair vs. Replacement
• Future value impact
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What actual hail damage is?

Hail damage to the car happens when big ice balls hit your car during hailstorms. These ice balls produce scratches on the paint, dents on the car body, and other damages to your car. Most of the time, they can break the whole window and completely damage the exterior of the car.

The extent of damage depends on the size of the ice balls and the speed of the hail storm. Hail damage can make your car look bad and can affect its performance over time.

Is It Worth Fixing Hail Damage on a Car?

Now, the important question that arises is, “Is it worth fixing hail damage on a car?”. It depends on the extent of the damage and the repair cost. If there are a few scratches or small dents, you can go to a repair shop to fix them.

In comparison, if there are big dents or broken parts, repairing them might cost more than replacing them. In this case, buying a whole new car part is a more affordable option than repairing it. So, think about how much it will cost and check whether your insurance covers it.

Cost considerations

Cost is the most important factor that helps you decide whether you should fix the hail damage on your car or not. Here are some things to consider regarding cost estimation and car repair:

Repair estimates

Get a cost estimate from different car repair shops to fix the hail damage on your vehicle. The professional team will analyze the extent of damage and give you an approximate cost estimate. Getting an estimate from multiple mechanics will help you know about the cost and make a decision about repairing.

DIY vs. Professionals

If the hail damage to your car is less and you can fix it on your own, repairing it will be less costly. In comparison, if the extent of damage is too high, hire the experts because they have the right tools and enough experience. Hiring experts to repair big scratches and dents is costly. In that case, you will have to decide whether it is worth fixing hail damage on a car or not.

Hidden costs

When thinking about fixing hail damage, remember that there can be hidden costs. For example, you make a cost estimate for repairing the dent, but you might have to pay extra for new paint. It’s helpful to know how much paint to paint a car, as this can affect your overall repair costs. Moreover, if you decide to repair the car yourself and get stuck in something, you might have to pay to hire an expert.

Hidden cost type	Description	Potential Impact
Additional repairs	Unseen damage that requires further repairs	Increased overall repair cost
Rust prevention	Treatments needed to prevent rust after dents or scratches	Added expense to ensure longevity
Paint matching	Extra cost to match car’s original paint color	Ensures a seamless repair, but can be costly
Time delays	Extended repair time due to unforeseen complications	Increased inconvenience and potential rental car costs
Parts replacement	Need to replace parts instead of repairing	Higher cost than expected
Labor costs	Extra labor for more complicated repairs	Higher than initial labor estimate
Insurance deductible	Out-of-pocket cost before insurance covers repairs	Immediate financial burden
Depreciation	Reduced car value if damage isn’t repaired properly	Long-term financial impact when selling the car

Long-term savings

If you do not repair the car for a long time, the hail damage can get even worse. Fixing hail damage might seem expensive, but it can save you from expensive repairs in the long run. One common case is that dents and scratches lead to rust, and rust can completely destroy the car parts. These cost considerations can assist you in answering the question, “Is it worth fixing hail damage on a car?”

Insurance Coverage Evaluation

If you decide to repair the hail damage on your car, you must check your insurance policy. Figure out whether your insurance policy covers the hail damage or not. If your insurance policy covers it, you can save a lot of money; otherwise, you will have to pay the repair fee. You can contact your insurance service provider or read the insurance agreement to get these details.

Types of Hail Damage

Is it worth fixing hail damage on a car? Knowing about the type of damage helps you answer this question. Hail can cause different types of damage to a car, which are listed below:

Dents

Dents are the small and round marks on cars, which are the most common type of hail damage. Dents can vary in size depending on how hard the snowball hit the car. While dents might not seem like a big deal, they can affect the look and value of your car.

Scratches

Another common type of hail damage is scratches on the car’s paint. These scratches can range from small, light lines to deep, noticeable marks. Scratches look very bad on a car and can make your car look very old and rough. You must fix the scratches as soon as possible because fixing them does not cost much and is a little bit easy.

Cracks

Cracks usually occur in the glass or plastic parts of your car. These parts are fragile, and when the snowballs hit them, they either fully broke or cracked. If the crack is repairable, fix it as soon as possible because it can become big over time. However, in some cases, the cracks are not repairable, and you might have to change the whole part.

Paint Damage

In severe hailstorm situations, hail can peel the paint of your car, especially on top surfaces. This type of damage is very critical because, without paint, the metal car body is exposed to rust. Once the car body gets rusted, the rust continues to grow and can destroy the car body completely. Therefore, you must fix the paint in such a situation quickly to protect your car from rust. You must know how to wash a ceramic coated car to prevent rust and protect the car body.

Pitting

Pitting is the small round indentation on the surface of the car body. These indentations can make your car’s paint look uneven and can lead to bigger problems if not fixed. You should instantly fix the pitting on your car because fixing it is very easy and less costly.

Repair vs. Replacement

Whether you should repair hail damage on a car or replace the whole part depends on the extent of the damage. If the dents and scratches are small, choose to repair; otherwise, replace the part. Moreover, if the repair costs more than replacement, replacing the whole part is a wise decision. You can also ask experts to inspect your car and ask them whether you should fix the hail damage on the car or not.

Future Value: Is It Worth Fixing Hail Damage on a car?

Fixing the repairable hail damage on your vehicle is essential for proper car maintenance. If you plan to sell your car in the future, a car with visible hail damage will be worth less than a car that looks well-maintained. Therefore, repairing the hail damage or replacing the damaged part can make your car look good and increase its value.

Conclusion

So, is it worth fixing hail damage on the car? It depends on the extent of damage and the repair cost. Before starting the repair, confirm the repair cost and check whether your insurance policy covers it. Fixing the hail damage is expensive and takes time, but it can increase the look and value of your car.