Filing a Hail Damage Claim: What You Need to Know

Once your vehicle has sustained damage, it’s important to promptly contact your insurance company to report the incident.

After you file a claim, the insurer will schedule an inspection of your vehicle. Whenever possible, have your car examined indoors or in a shaded area—evaluating hail damage outdoors can be unreliable, as sunlight glare often obscures many of the dents.

During the process, the adjuster may ask where you plan to have the vehicle repaired, or whether there is a lien on the vehicle from a financial institution. If you own your car outright, you have the option to either keep the settlement or use it to repair the damage—this decision is entirely up to you.

Hail Damage Claims: Avoiding Underestimated Payouts

Avoid telling the adjuster that you plan to cash out and keep the claim money without repairing the vehicle. Some adjusters may be trained to intentionally provide a low estimate in these situations—an unethical and illegal practice. Since you’re not having the vehicle repaired, you would have no way of knowing whether the estimate accurately reflects the damage.

It’s estimated that 50% to 70% of hail damage claims go unrepaired, and insurance companies are well aware of this trend. As a result, they may underpay claims, potentially saving themselves hundreds of millions of dollars each year. If it makes financial sense based on your vehicle’s value and your circumstances, having the repairs completed is often the best way to secure a fair and accurate settlement.

When assessing the extent of your hail damage, the adjuster will write the repair estimate using one of two methods—or a combination of both. The first is the Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) technique, which involves a skilled technician carefully massaging the dents out from the underside of the body panel without affecting the paint. The second is the traditional body shop method, which requires straightening the dents, applying filler, and repainting the affected panels. In cases of severe damage, panel replacement may be necessary.

Choosing the Best Repair Method for Hail Damage

Whenever possible, the paintless dent removal (PDR) method is preferred, as it preserves your vehicle’s original factory finish. PDR typically takes just 1–2 days, while traditional body shop repairs may take 1–2 weeks.

If you decide to move forward with repairs, inform your insurance company of the body shop you’ve chosen. Some shops may request to inspect your vehicle before scheduling the repair to ensure the insurance estimate is accurate. Others will begin work immediately and handle any estimate discrepancies afterward.

If the body shop determines that the estimate is inaccurate—whether it’s written for the wrong repair method or undervalues the damage—they will notify the insurance company directly. In most cases, you won’t need to get involved. The shop will revise the estimate or submit a supplement for approval on your behalf.