Hail damage is a major headache for car owners. But it doesn’t have to be a big deal, as long as you take the damage seriously, file an insurance claim promptly, choose a shop specializing in auto hail repair and get a detailed estimate. However, many people make costly mistakes when dealing with auto hail damage. Here are five of them:
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You Don’t Know What Damage You Have
Since hailstorms are most common, they can seriously harm your car. Many car owners, however, choose to ignore the damage or put off fixing it. Unfortunately, it can be highly expensive to make this mistake.
If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurer will pay for all necessary auto repairs, less your deductible. The insurance provider will declare your vehicle “totaled” if the cost of fixing the hail damage exceeds its current value, and you will receive money to assist with the cost of a new vehicle. Some people ignore hail damage because they believe it is minor or won’t affect their car’s resale value. However, these dents can impact the integrity of your vehicle’s body and devalue it significantly. Repairing these dents is important to avoid any future problems.
You Don’t Want to Spend Money
Ignoring hail damage on your vehicle is a costly mistake. When you’re ready to sell or trade-in your car, it will be less valuable if you opt to put off fixing the damage. Consider, too, that your vehicle is destroyed in a catastrophic accident you are a part of. Your insurance company will subtract any previous hail damage payout from the car’s overall value in that case.
Even more, money may be spent if you try to repair the damage yourself. There are numerous do-it-yourself ways to repair hail dents and scratches, but many risks further harming the paint. Choosing a reputable hail damage repair Lakewood CO business with a ton of experience will significantly ensure the safety of your car from hail damage.
You Don’t Want to Make a Claim
Whether or not you file an insurance claim for hail damage is your decision. However, if you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, the damage will probably be covered (minus the deductible).
Some people believe that hail dings are so small they do not warrant a repair and aren’t worth the hassle of dealing with the insurance company. However, even pea-sized hail can compromise the integrity of the car body, ultimately devaluing it.
It’s also crucial to remember that an insurance adjuster will evaluate the damage and decide if your car should be declared total after it may be repaired. If the car is declared a total loss, you’ll get a check for the actual cash value, less your deductible, which you can use to get a new car. This is a far better alternative than driving your vehicle with the damage, as you will likely incur additional repair costs in the long run.
You Don’t Want to Deal with the Insurance Company
When you claim auto insurance, the provider must send an adjuster to evaluate the damage.
The adjuster will look at everything from the dents’ size to the vehicle’s overall condition to determine if it’s repairable.
It’s important to understand that hail damage is only covered under comprehensive car insurance, and filing a claim may take time. Using a trusted body shop that can perform paintless dent repair on your vehicle is also a good idea. The most frequent excuse given for not having hail damage repaired is a dislike of dealing with the insurance company or the claims procedure. However, this error may cost you a lot of money. The longer you put off having your car fixed, the more costly the repairs will be and the more likely it is that rust will lead to additional damage not covered by warranties or insurance.
