When it comes to body damage, dents are far from the worst the road has to offer. However, hail damage is an entirely different story. Nothing leaves such a recognizable trail of mayhem. If you have some hail damage that needs repairs then you may find yourself weighing some options.
Do It Yourself
DIY techniques have a bad history with Brandon hail damage repair technicians. Far too often we see customers bring in cars after a failed DIY attempt. They try fixing the dent themselves with some ice and a hair dryer at home only to move the dents around and crack the paint, causing further damage. Often, this makes PDR impossible to perform. Overall, we strongly disagree with do it yourself techniques. However, if you feel experienced enough then by all means, treat yourself to free repairs.
A Dent Kit
Now, there’s nothing wrong with purchasing a dent kit for practice. You can easily find a quality starter set of off-the-shelf tools for relatively cheap. The only problem is these tools won’t magically make you a PDR expert in an instant. It takes years of practice to understand and years more to perfect. Needless to say, don’t practice on your own vehicle. If you’re serious about learning PDR then consider getting an old clunker or some sheet metal to start practicing.
Professional Service
When it comes down to securing the resale value of your car hiring a professional is the safest way to go. Many bring their car to professionals so they don’t void the warranty on their vehicle. In many states where hail damage is common, PDR is actually the preferred method by most insurance companies. Our Brandon hail damage repair experts are extremely quick, offer affordable services, and rarely need to use paint. You can leave your car with a professional confident that it will receive the treatment it deserves.
Ultimately, you decide how your car is repaired. Will you risk your paint job and go with a DIY technique that is practically free? Or would you prefer to stick with the professionals and know that your car is in safe hands? If you still have second thoughts or aren’t sure your damage is eligible for PDR call us today at 605-595-4061 to learn more!
Body shops play an essential role in the lifespan of a car. Over the years you will need countless fixes, both serious and minor, that will have you visiting Brandon body repair shops whether you like to or not. The fact of the matter is body shops are necessary to the well being of your vehicle.
Nowadays, the way body shops repair dents is considered ‘traditional’. Technicians will pound the dents out using techniques like bonding, filling, and sanding. Ultimately, with body shops, your car is going to need some serious repainting. That’s why many insurance companies won’t refer you to one right away. Body shops are notoriously pricey and won’t do any good for your resale value. So many drivers that can’t afford their deductible leave their vehicle damaged until it rusts.
Benefits of PDR
Paintless dent repair is a simple process that requires years of practice and training. Contradictory? Yes. But no other repair process will save you the time and money that PDR will. To begin, you may be tempted to try your hand at a few ‘off-the-shelf’ dent repair products. Don’t. Aside from being cheap knockoffs, if you attempt to repair the car yourself you could void the manufacturers warranty on your vehicle. PDR requires a combination of professional tools and techniques to truly be effective, but the results are absolutely worth it. You’ll have a 100% dent free car without the need for repainting or any of the costly steps involved in body repair!
How to Choose the Right One
Picking between PDR and a Brandon body repair shop isn’t as simple as a coin toss. You have a lot to consider regarding what you need fixed, the price, and what quality you are looking for. But you need to ask yourself one question first. Can PDR fix my dent? Paintless dent repair can fix:
Soft dents
Sharp dents
Creases
Giant dents
Multi-point dents
All with very few exceptions. Just keep an eye out for cracked paint (which can be found in some sharp dents) and dings near the edges of your car. The metal there is extremely tough making it difficult to work with. Under most circumstances you will want to choose PDR first. To schedule your first visit call us today at 605-595-4061!
Everybody loves a new car. The smooth handling, flawless finish, clean interior. But there is one fatal flaw with every factory fresh vehicle: The price. The average rate for a new car in America hovers somewhere around $35,000-36,000. For most this is a pretty hefty chunk of change so you’ll be scrambling for every deal you can find. Then suddenly, you see it! The car of your dreams in all of its dimpled glory. Everyone sells their car for a reason. Maybe they need the extra cash for a new ride or they’re just looking to clear up some garage space. Regardless, it’s important to remember that all sellers have one goal in mind. To make money. That being said, here are a few reasons their Sioux Falls hail damaged car is being sold at such a discounted price.
The Damage is Too Severe
Hail can take a real toll on your car, often damaging windows or paint in the process. Rain water can leak through these cracks and cause much more severe internal damage that isn’t easy to detect. If the paint or windows are chipped be very cautious and have a few mechanics give you a damage estimate.
The Repairs Outweigh the Value
If the damage is minor most sellers will simply repair it and take the small loss. But if the repairs require repainting and body work then they will likely weigh the difference and cut their losses. That’s why many sellers don’t disclose damage costs; or at least why you shouldn’t trust their estimates right away. Which leads me to my next point.
Dealers Don’t Need to Disclose Damage
Dealers don’t need to disclose what it will take to repair the car within certain thresholds. This is actually a grey area for several reasons. Getting the damage appraised by two or three body shops is the best way to understand the true cost. Almost all of them offer free estimates.
Internal and External Damage
Paint jobs and repairs are expensive and dealerships know this. Most sellers in Sioux Falls would rather pull a fast one on somebody than let their car go to a paint shop. Especially if the work requires the time of two separate technicians.
Make Sure The Discount is Reflective of the Damage
Many sellers will offer you what sounds like a steal. $2000 off a $35,000 car, who wouldn’t love that?! However, it’s hardly worth it if the hail damage drops your ride’s value by $5000. You’re essentially losing out on $3000!
Insurance Coverage and False Claims
There are a handful of drivers that buy hail damaged cars in Sioux Falls just to take advantage of their insurance. Most do this by purchasing a car with hail damage, waiting for another storm, and filing their claim then. Unless your insurance company inspects your vehicle upon purchase it is very easy to get away with this. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to get a discount as well.
Vehicle Damage Reports
When you file a claim on your insurance that record is added to your vehicle damage report. This is sort of like a credit report that follows your car around no matter where it goes. If you file a claim on the damage right away it will be harder to get a discount on future damage. Luckily, Sioux Falls Dent Repair can fix hail damage without affecting your vehicle damage reports. Call us today at 605-595-4061 to learn more!
Consider the Diminished Value
It might seem obvious at first, but many drivers in Sioux Falls looking for a steep discount on a hail damaged car forget that, when they sell it, it is still a hail damaged car. Other buyers will want a discount just as much as you did so don’t expect a lot on the return value.
Remember, these tips are far from the only things you should watch for when buying a hail damaged car, but hopefully they are enough to get you started. As a sort of summary or basic guide here are a few highlights to keep in mind.
Nobody is trying to give you a discount. Everyone wants to make money so they’re selling that car at a low price for a reason. Your goal should be to find all of those reasons.
Make sure the numbers add up. Sellers can throw all of the bloated numbers and silver tongued estimates they want at you. But if you’re cautious and do all the math yourself you’ll be fine.
Check with your insurance providers before buying. You don’t want to be caught in a storm a few months later just to find out that your damage report is hold you back from filing a claim.
After driving your first clunker and adding up 200,000 miles it’s time to pick up a new car with a little less wear and tear. If you don’t care about a few dents and dings then hail damage can help you strike a huge deal on the car of your dreams. But there are a few important details to watch out for to prevent your new ride from becoming an expensive hunk of junk down the road. Call our Brandon hail repair team today at 605-595-4061 to learn more.
Watch Out For:
Cracked Paint – Modern cars use new urethane paints to protect its metal panels from the elements. This prevents rust and corrosion. If you are looking to buy a hail damaged car make sure none of the dents have chipped the paint. Afterward, check to see if the dings can be repaired with PDR. Our Brandon hail repair techs could save you a lot of money in the long run!
Broken Windows – Hail can easily crack or even shatter windshields. This can be very dangerous to the electronics in the car. If rain water leaks through the cracks it can damage the modules and center console. Make sure there is a warranty to protect the electrical system, even if the windshield was replaced.
How To Keep Hail Damage From Biting Back Later
So you’ve settled on the car, weighed the pros and cons, and are pretty sure you’re getting a good deal. Next, go see the car for yourself if you haven’t yet. Many sellers skew their information in shady practices. Repair estimates, service history, and the true damage could be intentionally misrepresented to make a quick buck. Here are a few steps you can take to be extra cautious of your purchase:
Get a quote from a Brandon hail repair team first. If the car is two grand and the repairs are twice that then you didn’t get a deal. You can get a free estimate by calling 605-595-4061.
Make sure the car is still eligible for comprehensive insurance. This will protect it from further damage.
If you want to finance the car make sure your lender will finance hail damage.
We all know what dents are. And we all hate them. There are hundreds of online methods involving gimmicky tools and household items claiming to be an end all solution to dents and dings. However, we’ve already discussed our stance on this. Now, we’re going to drop some hard facts. Here’s why we believe you need a Brandon dent removal team now!
Can Our Brandon Dent Removal Team Fix Your Ding?
Before you go out looking for a Brandon dent removal team you need to know if they’re going to do you any actual good. PDR may be extremely versatile but it still has its limits.
Minor Damage – Paintless dent repair can fix just about any dent. However, it is only capable of repairing minor damage from accidents like small fender benders, stray shopping carts, and door dings.
Intact Paint – Paintless dent removal simply won’t work if the paint has been compromised. Small chips and cracks should be repaired by a body shop as soon as possible because they can cause rust or corrosion.
Shallow Center – Unfortunately, some dents are just too sharp for us to repair. The most common are parking lot dings made in the center of large panels. These create too much give in the metal making it near impossible to restore perfectly.
The Many Great Qualities of Paintless Dent Removal
Fast – Paintless dent removal is hands down the fastest way to take care of minor body damage. Since it doesn’t require complicated steps like sanding, priming, and painting we can spend time on more important things like saving you money.
Affordable – Because the PDR process is so short you end up spending a lot less on labor and material costs. Now you only pay for the steps necessary to repair your vehicle.
Retain Factory Finish – PDR is essential to preserve the blue-book value of your car. It’s the only way to remove dents and dings without permanent loss of quality.
Nature Friendly – Paintless dent repair is one of the few repair methods that doesn’t use any toxic compounds. So you don’t need to worry about harming Brandon’s beautiful environment!
Antique Enthusiasts – Collectors can take advantage of the non-invasive methods we use because it will keep their authentic paint finish intact.
Insurance Claims – Many Brandon insurance companies will pay for your dent repair because they know it’s affordable and doesn’t raise your rates.
Results That Last – Our repairs are guaranteed to last no matter what. We’ll test the dent to make sure it doesn’t give in as soon as you leave.
Paintless dent removal has many unique qualities that make it a great asset to just about any driver. Call Sioux Falls Dent Repair today at 605-595-4061 for your free quote!
How To Keep Hail Damage From Biting Back Later