Hail storms can strike fast and leave behind hundreds of dents across every panel of your vehicle. If you’ve been caught in a storm, the good news is that most hail damage can be repaired without repainting — using paintless dent repair (PDR).

This guide covers everything you need to know about hail damage repair, from assessing the damage to choosing the right technician.

How hail damages your vehicle

Hailstones range from pea-sized to golf-ball-sized — and sometimes larger. When they hit your car at speed, they create shallow, round dents across exposed surfaces like the hood, roof, trunk, and sometimes doors and fenders.

Common hail damage characteristics:

• Round, shallow dents with intact paint
• Dozens to hundreds of dents across multiple panels
• Concentrated damage on horizontal surfaces (hood, roof, trunk)
• Occasionally cracked windshields or damaged trim

What to do after a hail storm

Follow these steps immediately after a storm:

1. Document the damage — Take photos of every affected panel in good lighting. Shoot at an angle so the dents cast shadows.
2. File an insurance claim — Most comprehensive auto insurance policies cover hail damage. File promptly to avoid delays.
3. Get a professional assessment — Contact a PDR specialist for a detailed estimate. Photo-based estimates are quick and accurate.
4. Avoid body shops that want to repaint — If your paint is intact, PDR preserves the factory finish and your vehicle’s value.

Why PDR is the best choice for hail repair

Paintless dent repair is the industry-standard method for hail damage restoration. Here’s why:

How mobile hail repair works

At AllDent PDR, we are a mobile repair service — meaning we travel to storm-affected areas across the United States to perform repairs on-site. Here’s what that looks like:

1. You contact us with photos of your damage and your location.
2. We provide a free estimate based on the number of panels and severity.
3. We come to you — whether that’s your driveway, dealership, or parking lot.
4. Repairs are completed on-site using specialized PDR tools.
5. You drive away with a factory-quality finish restored.

No need to tow your car to a shop or wait weeks for a slot to open. We bring the shop to you.

How long does hail damage repair take?

Repair timelines depend on the severity:

• Light hail (fewer than 50 dents, small size): 4–8 hours
• Moderate hail (50–150 dents across multiple panels): 1–2 days
• Severe hail (150+ dents, larger stones): 2–3 days

We provide realistic timelines upfront so you can plan accordingly.

Does insurance cover hail damage repair?

Yes — comprehensive auto insurance typically covers hail damage in full, minus your deductible. Key things to know:

• Hail damage is classified as an “act of nature,” not a collision
• Filing a hail claim generally does not raise your premiums
• Your insurer may have preferred shops, but you always have the right to choose your own repair provider
• We work directly with insurance companies to streamline the process

Choosing a hail damage repair technician

Not all PDR technicians are equal. When choosing a repair provider after a storm, ask:

• How many years of hail repair experience do they have?
• Can they show before-and-after photos of previous hail jobs?
• Do they offer mobile, on-site service?
• Will they work with your insurance company directly?
• Do they guarantee their work?

AllDent PDR has extensive experience with storm damage repair across the country. We travel to where storms hit, bring our full tool setup, and deliver factory-quality results on-site.

Get a free hail damage estimate

If your vehicle was caught in a hail storm, contact AllDent PDR for a free photo-based estimate. Just send pictures of the damage and your location — we’ll reply the same day with pricing, timeline, and next steps.

Based in Cincinnati and serving storm-affected areas nationwide.