If your car has been damaged by hail storms that have been passing through various regions of the United States, you probably have some damage on your car. This is particularly true if you were in any of the counties that endured golf ball sized hail. Hail can cause significant damage to your car. In most cases, hail damage can be repaired. Here are three steps you should take to ensure that your car gets repaired after a hail storm.
Assess the Damage
As soon as you can get outside after the hailstorm, you'll need to assess the damage to your car. Not only will this help you determine the extent of the damage, it will also help you identify any damage that might make it dangerous for you to drive your car. While most hail damage is superficial, it can cause damage to your auto glass – especially windshields. Even if you don't see gaping holes in the glass, take a close look for signs of cracks.
If your windows are cracked, you should try to avoid driving your car until the damage can be repaired. This is particularly true if the windshield, since even a small crack can become larger due to temperature changes and pressure on the glass during driving.
Call Your Insurance Company
Once you've assessed the damage to your car, you should contact your insurance company. Give them as many details about the damage, as possible. If you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, the insurance should pay to repair the damage. If your car sustained a significant amount of damage, your insurance company may decide to deem it a total loss. If that happens, you'll be paid for the value of your vehicle at the time of the loss.
Find the Right Repair Shop
If your insurance company decides that your car is reparable, you'll need to find a repair shop. It's important that you not settle for the first shop you visit. There are various techniques that can be used to repair hail damage, including techniques that will not require any significant body work. One such way is through a technique known as paintless dent repair. With this process, a metal rod is used to push the dent out from inside the panel.
If your car has been damaged by hail, you'll need to act fast to get the damage repaired. For other information about hail damage, be sure to speak to your insurance agent.
Share18 April 2016
When I got married, I knew that there were a few things that I needed to learn about the way the world worked. For starters, I had to figure out how insurance worked since I wanted to make the most of my life without worrying about money. I started focusing on the policies that I had in place and gradually moved towards acquiring new life insurance and the like. Having each of these coverages helped give both me and my spouse peace of mind. We both knew if something happened to me that the other would be okay. Check out this blog to learn more about insurance needs.