by Jack | Apr 20, 2020 | Educational, Hail Damage
Should I Buy A Vehicle With Hail Damage?
Often times we have people contact us asking “Should I buy a vehicle with hail damage?” They then send us photos of the damage or a web link to the vehicle on a website. Also they may have already purchased the vehicle. There are many considerations to take when purchasing a vehicle with hail damage and today we will cover those.
First off, Why Do You Want To Buy A Vehicle With Hail Damage?
People get attracted to hail damage vehicles because of the purchase price. After all the car is just cosmetically damaged. No frame damage or inner structures are damaged on the vehicle. Typically they have low miles and a very nice clean interior. The only downfall is the outside of the vehicle is full of dents and dings. To some buyers they are ok with the damage being there. They will drive the vehicle for years without a care in the world and not fix it. Others are looking to purchase the damaged vehicle cheaper than an equivalent vehicle without damage, then have it repaired later.
Does The Vehicle Have A Damage Disclosure or A Salvage Title?
These are very important questions that you will need to know. Even if the vehicle is fixed 100% correct a salvage title or damage disclosure may still haunt the vehicle for the rest of its life. Each state is different so check with your local state to see the requirements.
If it does have either of those on the title, was it added to the title because of hail damage specifically? The reason we ask is cause some vehicles have been repaired because of frame or other structural damage then these vehicles get hit with sometimes even light hail. The seller may then say something like, it has a damage disclosure or salvage title because of the hail. The will say this so you think oh its super simple damage, only a few dents per panel, no big deal. Later you may then find out it has previous frame or structural damage that was actually the cause of the bad title.
Extreme hail Damage – Sioux Falls South Dakota
How Does A Vehicle Get A Damage Disclosure or Salvage Title?
When a vehicle is damaged the total cost to repair the damage is assessed. The cost to repair the damage will be in excess of 60% to 80% of the total vehicles value. Each state is different but most states range from this percentage.
Did you know that for some insurance companies will “total out” a vehicle even into the fifty percentile just because the insurance company knows that the specific vehicle manufacture and model will bring a premium when later auctioned off for sale. That’s right, a vehicle that is deemed a total loss will then be purchased by the insurance company from the vehicle owner. The insurance company then takes the vehicle to an auction to then be auctioned off to the highest bidder. This is why car lots tend to have vehicles with hail damage, they buy them at auction.
So for easy math lets say you have a vehicle that is valued at $20,000.00 In order for a vehicle to be deemed a total loss, the total amount of damage the vehicle would have to have is somewhere between $12,000-$16,000.00 range. As stated in the previous paragraph it may even be as low as $10,000.00 in damage on extreme cases.
Extreme Hail Damage – Sioux Falls Dent Repair
How Much Are You Really Saving?
How much are you saving verses purchasing a vehicle with no damage and equal miles on it? Some save as little as a few hundred dollars and some save several thousand.
The Seller Said It Would Cost Less To Repair.
In some cases the new vehicle owner says the seller told them they had quotes for only some low amount to fix the damage. This happens with hail damage as well as collision style damage. When the vehicle is looked at by a facility like ourselves for an actual estimate we give them a through estimate on the actual repair costs. Remember this is what we specialize in specifically.
Often times moldings and trim pieces on the vehicle become damaged, if these are missed they can add several hundreds of dollars to the repair estimate. For instance lets say some of the trim around the rear quarter panel glass is missed and has damage, those windows can range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars to replace and that is just one side! The reason being is the molding is bonded to the glass, the glass must be replaced with the molding since they are all one piece.
Also remember the person selling the vehicle is trying to get rid of it. They are a salesman! We see it time and time again of people being taken advantage of when buying a damaged vehicle. Unfortunately we end up becoming the ones to deliver the bad news that the vehicle will not actually cost as low of a price to repair, it will actually cost much more. We typically tell a person expect the ACTUAL repair costs to be double at least but probably closer to four times the amount mentioned by the vehicle seller. Remember, they are TRYING to sell the vehicle, not actually repair it!
Our Actual Experiences
All of the pictures featured in this article were either taken by us or sent to us by customers. All of these photos show damage that we will not be repairing.
The silver car, the Toyota was purchased by a customer then brought to us for an estimate. The entire top side of the vehicle needs to be replaced and taken to a body shop.
In 2018 we had a customer come to us with a newer BMW 7 series with hail damage. He purchased the vehicle out of Colorado and was shocked when he found out the cost of the repairs. Here he thought he had basically stole the vehicle. He was given over $7,000.00 off of the price! When we looked at the vehicle the cost to replace just the hood, roof and trunk lid and NOT counting any other damages was over his $7,000.00 savings. Its unfortunate but we hope to combat these dilemmas for future customers by informing them before hand!
Our Final Thoughts and Input
Think of it this way, with hail damage, there is a reason we ourselves do not typically buy hail damage cars and fix them ourselves. We can do these repairs for just the cost of our time and still choose not to. It is just not cost effective.
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by Jack | Feb 24, 2020 | Educational, Hail Damage
How Long Do Hail Damage Repairs Take?
Most hail damage dent repairs can be made in just a few days. Smaller and lighter hail damage repairs can be made in 1-3 business days. More extreme hail damage repairs are often made in 3-5 days. When parts are damaged from hail we must order new ones to be replaced. All parts are ordered once a final insurance approval is made. Often times parts can be delivered in 1-3 business days unless on back order. If this is the case you will be notified right away of any potential delays. We will update you daily on all hail damage repair claims unless otherwise discussed ahead of time.
Most often we schedule hail damage repairs to be dropped off on Monday. Most customers have their vehicles back by that Friday. This allows them to have their vehicle back DENT FREE for the week!
I Already Have an Insurance Hail Damage Estimate
Be sure to bring any copies of your insurance paperwork with you to better speed up the repair process. We will look the vehicle over for damage using our specialized lighting prior to doing any repairs. This lighting will almost every time find more damage than a person or Insurance adjuster will see in normal outside lighting or shop lighting. All additional damage that we find and added parts that need to be replaced will be added to our estimate and submitted to your insurance company.
This is called a supplement, a supplement is a request from a repair facility for the additional damage to be paid for by the insurance company to repair the additional damages found. Almost every single vehicle has additional damage that will be found by a Paintless Dent Repair Facility, the insurance companies are well aware of this and very aware of this whole process.
How Do You Submit A Supplement?
We contact your insurance company and inform them of additional damage or parts are needed to do your repair. From there it depends on what your specific insurance companies needs.
- Some insurance companies will have one of their personal adjusters come to the repair shop and look at the vehicle in person, from there they take pictures of additional damage for documentation. They then update their estimate to match the repair facility and we can begin repairs. Often times this will take 1-3 business days for one of their own adjusters to come to the repair shop and then we can start repairs.
- Other insurance companies hire independent adjusters to work for them. These adjusters are subcontracted by the insurance company when they need them, this is common in a catastrophic hail storm, where there is a huge need for adjusters and they hire on more for a short time to handle the influx of claims and damage.
- Another option is an insurance company will contract an independent adjuster company. This company hires out multiple forms of adjusters for automotive, RV’s, home and commercial policies.
Every Claim Is Different
This is just a general overview of the options an insurance company uses. Some adjusters will come and look at the vehicle in person, some want just photos of the damage circled then submitted via email and all approvals are made online. Every company and claim is different. One may do it one way for one claim, then next week the same company may go through an entirely different process.
After an agreement is made with the insurance company about your vehicles damage most hail damage repairs can be made within just a few business days. If any parts are in need of replacement they will be ordered once the final insurance approval has been made.
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by adminsioux | Jun 7, 2018 | Hail Damage
My Car Was Hit With Hail, Now What?
Before a hail storm, there are several preventative measures you can take to minimize the damage to your vehicle. You can read up on prep before a hail storm here. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t so ‘fortunate’ or ‘lucky’ to have that kind of time to prepare. In the event that you are caught off guard by a hail storm seek immediate shelter and wait until it passes. Once it is clear you can begin gathering information for your insurance providers, and start search for Sioux Falls hail repair experts near you!
First, gather as much information as you can. Start by taking pictures of the damage. You’ll want to make sure everything is in clear lighting and easy to see. A little bit of dirt or glare can easily hide some pretty serious dings. Jot down other important info such as license plate numbers.
Next, call your insurance provider. Let them know the full extent of the damage, and provide them the pictures you took earlier. This will help you determine whether or not to file a claim. For instance, if the damage does not exceed your deductible limit then you will be charged the full amount for repairs. In some cases it may be best to forgo the claim.
Finally, the search for your perfect Sioux Falls hail repair team near you begins. Look for a company that is trustworthy and reliable. Word of mouth is going to be your best resource, but you can often find reviews online. As for the techs themselves, you should find someone that enjoys what they do. Otherwise they may neglect their equipment or be out of practice.
The Best Tech in Town
Sioux Falls Dent Repair provides professional quality dent removal services to residents near and around the Sioux Falls area. If you need dents, hail, or minor collision repair, we are the safest, fastest, and most affordable option available. You can schedule a free damage estimate with us today by calling 605-595-4061 or by filling out our online contact form!
by adminsioux | Jun 4, 2018 | Hail Damage
My Car Was Struck With Hail, What Now?
There are a few steps you should take before filing your claim. First, you should take pictures of the damage from as many angles as you can, in the best light you can find. This will help your insurer and dent repair company prepare a quote, so be diligent. Next, contact your insurance provider. Let them know the extent of the hail damage, and provide pictures if you can. Finally, you can start searching for you preferred Sioux Falls auto hail repair team!
Do You Work With Insurance Companies?
Many of our customers go through their insurance companies to file large claims on hail damage. This is usually a great idea, since it can save you a ton on multiple dents and dings. Just make sure you have the right coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers most ‘non-accident’ incidents including theft, vandalism, and of course, hail damage. We love helping clients navigate their way through the complicated process of filing for an insurance claim. Our hope is to make getting your Sioux Falls auto hail repair as streamlined and easy as possible.
Will Making a Claim on Hail Damage Increase My Rates?
Rising insurance rates are a great concern for many modern drivers. It seems like every little bump or bruise can cause them to skyrocket. Luckily, making a claim on hail damage will never increase your rates as long as you have comprehensive coverage. Since hail falls under the category of ‘other than collision,’ you will only have to pay the deductible amount. However, sometimes the damage may not be worth making a claim over if the repair cost does not exceed the deductible. This often leads to drivers avoiding hail repair. Ultimately, you get to make the final decision as to whether or not your car needs repairs. Just keep in mind that if you decide to forgo Sioux Falls auto hail repair, that amount will be deducted from you next claim as well.
by adminsioux | May 18, 2018 | Dent Repair
Why Go Paintless?
When your car is struck by a stray shopping cart or nasty hail storm, you are left with a small reminder of that incident. This could be one or many dents of different shapes and sizes. Despite their humble demeanor, these small imperfections can have a serious and long lasting affect on the value of your car. However, over the last 10 years, automotive paints and metals have undergone many changes that make it very easy for technicians to work out minor dings without the need for replacing paint. Sioux Falls Paintless repair features many benefits now, such as:
- Extremely fast turnarounds
- No increased insurance rates
- Affordable rates
- No insurance claims
- No Carfax reports
Quality Repairs for Life
With Sioux Falls paintless repair you no longer need to worry about week long wait times or shoddy repairs. Our work is guaranteed to last and we do it right. No more expensive rentals, scratched paint, or swirly finishes. Just you and your flawless finish.
We repair a variety of body damage ranging from simple dings to hail catastrophes. Our most frequently used services include:
Minor Collisions
Not all collisions require a trip to the body shop. Today, more and more drivers are switching to PDR for fender benders and bumper repair thanks to the amazingly low rates we offer. Any kind of minor vehicle damage can potentially be fixed with paintless repair. Just bring it to our Sioux Falls paintless repair shop, and we’ll give you a free estimate; or you can fill out this online form, and we will get back to you with a quote at our earliest availability.
Hail Storms
One of the worst disasters that could happen to your car is a nasty hail storm. They are relatively easy to avoid if you have a garage, but for those that aren’t so fortunate these tips might help. If you still find yourself caught in the thick of an icy downpour, then contact a paintless repair technician right away. We’ll give you a free estimate, and let you know if there is any serious threat such as exposed metal.
Accidents
The most common source of minor body damage is simple accidents. This could be caused by somebody leaning on your hood, a stray shopping cart catching your bumper, or an oblivious passenger opening their door. They are among the most unpleasant annoyances a driver could face, but worst of all they are nearly impossible to avoid, since they are completely out of your control.
