No matter how experienced a rider you are, chances are your bike is going to get damaged eventually. It happens to all of us. You can take every precaution imaginable:
Skid plates
Engine guards
Hands guards
Full coverage
Parking hundreds of feet from the nearest car
But regardless of what you try there are two things for certain: That dent is going to find you somewhere, somehow, and it’s going to cost you. So it’s worth knowing a Brandon motorcycle repair tech.
Why PDR?
Paintless dent repair is the best way to fix minor body damage to your motorcycle, period. It’s fast, it provides great value, it won’t harm resale potential, and it works on virtually any dent that hasn’t harmed the paint. How? Through our advanced non-invasive processes and a whole lot of practice. At no point during our procedure do we alter the paint job of your motorcycle. Everything is done in a way that does not ruin your resale value or take any of the time consuming steps that body shops do. The bottom line is, if PDR is an option take it.
What Can’t MPDR Fix?
Motorcycle PDR is limited primarily by the depth and location of the dent, as well as the thickness of the tank. Generally speaking, large dents are easier to fix than smaller ones. If the dent looks like it was caused by something around the size of a soccer ball then it is most likely wide and shallow enough to be removed. Smaller dents, on the other hand, are much less predictable. Since the objects are more compact they cause deeper dents that result in stretching and tearing. In the worst scenarios the paint could crack making MPDR virtually impossible. If you aren’t sure if your dent can be repaired with PDR then schedule your free damage assessment with a Brandon motorcycle repair tech here!
How is MPDR Different?
When compared to standard PDR, motorcycles require a considerable amount of experience to compensate for factors like the difference in metal or the smaller, more compact parts. Because of this we usually opt to remove the parts before hand so we can better access the damage. Those who don’t remove parts, especially the tank, risk damaging other essential pieces. Normally, if you need a motorcycle repaired you should go with a specialist like our Brandon motorcycle repair experts.
Hail is one of the largest contributors of property damage in the U.S. It haunts every state in the country and causes nearly $1 billion in losses each year. It’s very possible you could return to a completely cratered car with broken glass and maybe even some internal damage. So, needless to say, you don’t want your vehicle to get caught in a hail storm. Unfortunately, the Midwestern United States experiences far more severe hail storms than any other part of the nation so totally avoiding it may not be an option. So what exactly are your options?
Brandon Hail Damage and Your Car Insurance
Your auto insurance policy determines what kinds of damage your vehicle is protected against. Generally speaking you’ll need comprehensive coverage if you want to be protected against most liability free causes. This includes, of course, hail damage as well as:
Theft
Vandalism
Natural disaster
Falling objects
Fires
Animals
If you take care of your car it will take care of you. We advocate for comprehensive coverage so much because dents and dings are really that serious. Exposed damage is the perfect host for rust and corrosion so make sure you can respond to hail as fast as you can with thorough protection.
Minimize Your Exposure to the Elements
The best way to protect your car against Brandon hail damage is to totally avoid it. A little bit of caution can go a long way. Try these helpful tips to protect your car during the next hail storm.
If you are lucky enough to pass by covered parking or a garage then take advantage of it.
Even if you can’t find covered parking pull over because it will reduce the hail’s impact.
Invest in a car cover. They come in handy more than you think.
Sheets, blankets, and pillows make great cushioning if you don’t have a car cover.
If you don’t have a car cover and you don’t have blankets
These tips might not prevent all Brandonhail damage but they will certainly help. Now all that’s left is to take care of the stragglers. Call Sioux Falls Dent Repair today at 605-595-4061 and we’ll pop out those leftover dents no problem!
Why Should Brandon Body Shops Know Paintless Dent Repair?
They Can’t Replace Technicians
Mastering paintless dent repair takes years of practice on real body panels. Unsurprisingly, body shops aren’t always willing to hand these out to amateurs. While you can use sheet metal there’s no replacement for the real deal. Therefore true drive, talent, and education will always win over.
It Saves Room for the Big Jobs
Body shops have to work in the confines of a bay or warehouse so they’re pretty limited in space. If they need to use that space to fix a minor dent they could potentially lose out on a much bigger sale. Dent repair techs, however, are not restricted by space and can work from anywhere.
PDR is Much Faster and More Affordable
Paintless dent repair is and always will be far faster than conventional repair methods. Because Brandon body shops tend to prefer higher paying jobs they will often use traditional methods on a simple ding. This usually involves sanding, priming, and painting which is resource and labor intensive.
Why Don’t They Already Know it?
Learning Curve
Paintless dent repair isn’t easy to learn and it takes even more commitment to master. The steep learning curve involves some training, theory, and the willingness to adapt to a totally different mindset. Much of paintless dent repair revolves around a central feeling rather than an exact science.
Where to Learn it
Many aspiring PDR techs get stunted because they don’t know where to start. But learning PDR is easier now than it has ever been. The best way to start would be through a training course that’s somewhere between 2 and 5 weeks. Anything shorter than 2 weeks isn’t really worth your time or money.
Understanding the Tools
Access to the proper tools is essential to paintless dent repair. You can have all of the patience, skill, and training you want, but without a high quality set of tools you’re setting yourself up for failure. To further exasperate this issue good PDR tools are not cheap. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a Brandon body shop with a dusty old set of starter equipment.
You’ve probably seen the videos posted all over of quick convenient ways to turn everyday household junk into useful appliances. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube are huge repositories for this type of content. It’s only natural to always look for ways to be more efficient. But often times these videos cause more harm than good.
There is a common misconception that Do it Yourself means it requires no prior experience or skill, but with PDR that simply isn’t true. Paintless dent repair requires years of training to learn and even more to master. When ill experienced rookies get ambitious they create what we call a “DIY Disaster.”
What Happens When You Do it Wrong?
Many amateurs go into their first repair thinking “It’s just a little dent, what could go wrong?” when the answer is actually, a lot; a lot could go wrong. Our Brandon PDR team has seen too many bad jobs create tearing and paint chipping. This results in much higher rates and potentially a trip to the body shop (the last thing you wanted.) If you don’t want to put your vehicle through that kind of risk you’ll have to look elsewhere.
The Reliable Way to Do Brandon PDR
To put it simply, the best way to get the repairs you need is to hire a professional. If you have the training of a pro then of course you can fix your own dent. But if you don’t know the dent repair process like the back of your hand yet then call our Brandon PDR team today at 605-595-4061 for a free quote! Our rates and turnarounds are the best in the industry and no body shop can match up. We’ll make sure your car is back on the street looking its best in to time!
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.
