vehicle hail damage from Friday's (4/11) storm: Can it really be repaired? (Heath: rental, insurance)

[Yoo Shin]

During Friday's storms in North Alabama, my car suffered a good bit of hail damage with dozens and dozens of mini dents all over the hood, back and driver side of my 08 Mazda. My insurance company is going to assess the claim on Tuesday and saying that I could either get the car repaired or take the difference between the damage and the ($500) deductible.

My question is, is this really worth it, and can this type of damage really be repaired using what the insurance company calls a "paint-less dent removal" to pull the dents out.

Anybody else going through this or has in the past?

[djmaxwell]

If you aren't planning on getting rid of the car any time soon and you aren't bothered by the appearance of the dimples, I'd take the money. A lot of times, the heat will pop out the smaller ones anyway.

[nalabama]

Yes, paintless dent removal works. If you are unhappy with the results there is always the option of arbitration for more traditional forms of repair. If you don't have the dents removed now, future claims for hailstorm damge from later storms may prove interesting/difficult.

[milledj]

I know someone who is fantastic at this type of repair. I don't know the company he works for off the top of my head, but if you want a referral, I will get one. He did some work on one of our cars (parking lot - door dent) and you can't tell where it was.

I will post back when I get the info (from home)

[milledj]

Heath (I think his last name is Baugher) and his cell phone # is
759-7228. I highly recommend him for paintless dent removal.

[tammie2]

You can always try a bathroom plunger.

I know it sounds silly, but it really does work on many dents.

[Yoo Shin]

Originally Posted by milledj

Heath (I think his last name is Baugher) and his cell phone # is
759-7228. I highly recommend him for paintless dent removal.

My coworker just recommended the exact same guy and gave me his card, saying that he's awesome and very very reasonable.

I just got back from the Insurance Adjuster and they basically wrote me a check for the $2k estimate less my $500 deductable, saying that when/if I'm ready to get it fixed, to let them know and they'll set up a shop and rental for me. They said I got some actual body work damage that cannot be fixed by the paintless repair methods.

Everybody keeps telling me to find my own guy (like the one you mentioned) and pocket the difference but I like the fact that my insurance will garrantee any work done by their recommended shop and provide the rental.

[tammie2]

They should provide the rental no matter who you chose, at least if you have rental insurance. That being said, I have always chosen to use their people and have never actually received a check in hand. I have always been happy, those lifetime guarantees are great and usually those shops are experienced with your insurance company, plus if they take it apart and discover more damage, it will be added in where as if you chose your own, you could have a fight on your hands or be left with the additional damage.

[milledj]

I used the insurance's recommended company once and regretted it. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to body work & cars...the work was ok...but there was overspray here and there, not enough to make a big stink over, but I wasn't happy. I would much rather go to a shop that I trust. Sometimes the guarentee isn't worth the hassel to mess with. And any reputable shop will stand by their work as well.