How to Deal with Dents on the Car After Hail?
4 Answers
The methods to deal with dents on the car after hail are as follows: You can go to an auto repair shop for restoration. An effective repair method is to use car dent repair technology, which can restore many dents on the car surface without damaging the original paint. There are two types of car dent repair technologies: 1. Manual treatment: Manual treatment basically causes no damage to the car, but it cannot handle the edges of the car. 2. Machine treatment: Machine treatment has a low error rate and high precision. If the car is severely damaged and dent repair technology cannot fix it, sheet metal and painting can be used. However, this method cannot completely restore the areas hit by hail.
After a hailstorm, dents on the car can be quite frustrating. I usually start by checking the depth of the dents. For small dents, I handle it myself. I buy a specialized dent repair tool for about ten yuan, suction it onto the center of the dent, and slowly pull it out. Remember to heat it while pulling for better results. Be careful not to use too high a temperature during the operation to avoid damaging the paint, which could cause more trouble. If there are many large dents, it's best to drive straight to the repair shop. The bodywork technicians will use professional tools to flatten the dents, then repaint and polish, making the damage almost invisible. Don't delay repairs, as rainwater can seep in and cause rust. Last month, my neighbor's car had a small dent that wasn't fixed in time, and after six months, the entire door panel rusted through, increasing the repair cost several times over. When parking, try to find a garage if possible. If there's no space, buy a thick car cover to provide some cushioning during hailstorms.
A few days ago, my car got dented by hailstones, so I immediately contacted my insurance company. Comprehensive car insurance covers such natural disasters, but the key is to file a claim within 48 hours. Remember to take photos of the damage, screenshots of weather warnings, and drive to the assessment point to estimate repair costs. The repair shop technician said that shallow dents can be fixed most cost-effectively with paintless dent repair (PDR), which doesn’t require filler or repainting, preserving the original factory paint. For deeper dents, traditional dent repair is needed, possibly requiring interior panel removal. Costs are calculated per dent—a small one costs around 100-200 RMB. If there are over a dozen dents, it’s more economical to go through insurance. After repairs, it’s recommended to apply a ceramic coating to help the car resist future hail damage. I’m planning to set up a simple carport in my yard—even if it’s expensive, it’s still cheaper than repairing the car.
From my experience, the first step after a hailstorm is to check the dent locations. Dents on the hood are easiest to fix—repair shops just use suction cups to pop them out from the inside. Dents on car doors are trickier, as technicians have to remove interior panels to access them. Roof dents are the most challenging; body shop workers need to remove the sunroof to perform repairs. For small dents, I recommend the hot glue pull method—online tool kits cost around 30 yuan: First, clean the surface, apply hot glue from a glue gun onto a pull tab, stick it onto the dent, wait a few minutes for it to set, then slowly pull it out using a pull rod. Avoid doing this under direct sunlight, as extreme temperature differences can crack the paint. After repairs, applying wax is advised to protect vulnerable areas. Keep an old blanket in your car—I’ve heard it can help minimize damage in emergencies when draped over the roof.
