A hailstorm can quickly turn a perfectly good vehicle into a dent-covered nightmare. Even when a vehicle remains mechanically sound, extensive cosmetic damage can significantly affect its appearance and resale value, which is why many people choose to seek repairs. However, whether it’s a few small dings or dozens of dents across the body, hail damage can be tricky (and expensive) to fix — traditional methods require sanding, filling, repainting, or replacing panels. 

At Layton Carcare, we’re proud to introduce our new paintless dent repair services to help save hail-damaged vehicles from being declared total losses. If you’re dealing with stubborn hail damage, keep reading to learn more about the differences between traditional dent repair and paintless dent repair, the benefits of PDR, what to do after your vehicle is damaged by hail, and more. 

Why Traditional Hail Damage Repairs Can Be So Expensive

The conventional repair process for dents can be expensive. It starts with sanding damaged areas and applying body filler. After that, the area is primed and painted, with the technician being sure to blend the paint so the repair is undetectable. If the damage is too severe to repair, the panels may have to be replaced. 

Labor, paint materials, and replacement parts can drive up the total repair cost. If the hail damage is extensive, the cost of repairs can approach the vehicle’s actual cash value, which is why insurers may declare the vehicle a total loss if the damage is severe. 

What Is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?

Paintless dent repair offers a different approach to fixing hail damage that can reduce costs and keep otherwise usable vehicles on the road. It’s a specialized technique that allows technicians to reshape dents in the vehicle’s metal body panels without the need for sanding, body filler, or repainting. 

Instead, they use specialized tools to access the damaged area and carefully push, lift, or massage the metal back to its original shape while preserving the factory paint finish. Paintless dent repair is particularly useful for hail damage because a single storm can leave many small dents across multiple panels. It’s a more economical solution for a vehicle that may be otherwise considered a total loss. 

The Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair for Hail Damage

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of paintless dent repair: 

• Preserving your factory paint: Retaining the original finish avoids unnecessary repainting and paint matching.
• Avoiding unnecessary body filler and sanding: With paintless dent repair, dents can be corrected instead of just covered up with body filler material. 
• Potentially lower repair costs: Paintless dent repair is typically more economical than traditional methods, potentially helping you avoid a total-loss outcome. 
• Potentially faster repairs: PDR eliminates several steps in the conventional bodywork process, potentially leading to faster repairs.
• Maintaining your vehicle’s appearance and value: Removing visible dents can improve the vehicle’s appearance and may help you maintain its resale value. 

What to Do After Your Car Is Damaged by Hail

After your car is damaged by hail, here’s what you should do:

• Document the damage: Take photos of the vehicle, making sure to capture the dents from multiple angles.
• Check for additional damage: Look for cracked glass, damaged lights, and other issues besides dents.
• Contact your insurance company: Review your insurance coverage, deductible, claim requirements, and inspection process.
• Get a professional assessment: Have the damage evaluated to determine whether paintless dent repair or conventional body repair is appropriate.
• Choose a qualified repair shop: Work with an expert team (like the one at Layton Carcare) that can explain the available repair methods, help you navigate the claims process, and get your vehicle back on the road. 

Choose Layton Carcare for Hail Damage Repair in Layton, Utah

At Layton Carcare, we have extensive experience in auto body repair and are committed to quality workmanship. That’s why we employ a paintless dent repair specialist to give you more practical repair options when your vehicle is damaged by hail. 

If your vehicle has been damaged by a recent hailstorm, bring it to Layton Carcare as soon as possible so we can evaluate the damage, help you explore all the available repair options, and find out whether paintless dent repair can restore your vehicle without traditional bodywork and repainting. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact us today.