DentCharlotte gets hit with hail storms every year, typically between April and August. If your vehicle has hail damage, the good news is that most comprehensive auto insurance policies cover the full cost of repair (minus your deductible). The bad news is that the claims process can be confusing if you've never filed one before.
Here's exactly how to handle it — step by step — from a Charlotte PDR company that's been processing hail claims since 2001.
Step 1: Document the Damage
Before you do anything else, take photos and video of the hail damage on your vehicle. Do this as soon as possible after the storm while evidence is fresh. Capture:
- Wide shots showing the overall vehicle
- Close-ups of individual dents from multiple angles
- The roof, hood, trunk, and all side panels
- Any glass damage (windshield cracks, etc.)
This documentation protects you in case there's any dispute about the extent of the damage later. If possible, also note the date and save any weather alerts or news reports about the storm.
Step 2: Check Your Coverage
Hail damage is covered under the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance — not collision. If you only carry liability insurance, hail damage is unfortunately not covered.
Before filing, check two things on your policy:
- Your deductible — this is what you pay out of pocket before insurance covers the rest. Common deductibles are $250, $500, or $1,000.
- Your coverage limit — the maximum your policy will pay for the repair.
If the hail damage is minor (just a few small dings) and the repair cost is close to or less than your deductible, it may make more sense to pay out of pocket and avoid filing a claim. For moderate to severe hail damage, filing is almost always the right move — repairs typically run $1,000–$5,000+.
Step 3: File Your Claim
Contact your insurance company to open a claim. You can usually do this online, through their app, or by phone. Have the following ready:
- Your policy number
- Date and location of the hail event
- Photos/video of the damage
- Your preferred repair shop (you can request Dent Press)
Important: You have the right to choose your own repair shop. Your insurance company may suggest a "preferred vendor," but you are not required to use them. You can choose any qualified PDR specialist — including Dent Press.
Step 4: Get Your Repair Estimate
Your insurance company will typically send an adjuster to assess the damage and write an initial estimate. However, these initial estimates are often lower than the actual repair cost. This is normal and doesn't mean you're stuck with that number.
At Dent Press, we provide our own detailed, panel-by-panel estimate using Mobile Tech RX — the industry-standard tool that insurance companies recognize. If our estimate is higher than the adjuster's, we work directly with your insurance company to reach an agreed amount. This happens frequently and is a routine part of the process.
Step 5: Get Your Vehicle Repaired
Once the estimate is approved, we schedule your repair. For hail damage, we offer on-site service — meaning we come to your home or office. Most hail repairs are completed within a single day, depending on the severity.
All hail damage repairs at Dent Press use paintless dent repair (PDR), which is the method preferred by insurance companies because it's cost-effective, fast, and preserves your factory finish. Unlike body shop repair, PDR doesn't require repainting — which means no color-matching issues and no impact on your vehicle's value.
Hail damage? Call or text us at 704-713-4663. We handle the insurance process for you.
Step 6: Payment and Warranty
After the repair is complete, you'll receive a detailed invoice. In most cases, you pay your deductible directly and the insurance company pays the remaining balance. Some insurers pay the shop directly; others reimburse you after you pay upfront.
All hail repairs at Dent Press come with a limited lifetime warranty and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, no. Hail is classified as a "comprehensive" claim (an act of nature), and most insurers don't penalize you for weather-related claims since they're not your fault. However, policies vary — check with your specific insurer to be sure.
The adjuster will assess which damage is from the current storm and which was pre-existing. You'll only be covered for the new hail damage, but it's still worth filing — the new damage is often significant enough to justify the claim on its own.
Yes, in severe cases. If the cost to repair exceeds a certain percentage of your vehicle's value (typically 75% in North Carolina), your insurer may declare it a total loss. This is more common with older vehicles or after extremely severe storms.
Most policies have a deadline for filing (often 30–60 days after the event), but it's best to file as soon as possible. Delays can make it harder to prove the damage was caused by a specific storm and can complicate the claims process.
The Bottom Line
Filing a hail damage claim doesn't have to be stressful. The process is straightforward: document the damage, file with your insurer, and let your PDR specialist handle the rest. At Dent Press, we've been processing hail claims in Charlotte since 2001 — we handle the insurance coordination, the estimate, and the repair so you can get back to your life.