Why Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless Dent Repair, or PDR, is an industry recognized repair method that removes hail dents and other minor damage from a vehicle’s exterior panels without affecting the original paint finish.

How Does It Work?

In most cases, this procedure involves using specialized tools to apply controlled pressure to the back of the panel, removing surface imperfections. Damage can also be repaired by attaching a tab or similar device to the exterior of the panel and gently pulling the dent from the outside. Using these techniques, technicians can restore the panel’s appearance and eliminate the need for refinishing the surface.

When Can It Be Used?

The PDR process is commonly used to repair hail damage and similar dents that occur when an outer panel strikes, or is struck by, an object without damaging the paint finish. Because the original finish remains intact, several refinishing steps can be avoided, which may result in faster repairs.

Successful PDR repairs require the technician to have access to the back of the dented panel.

Who Performs Paintless Dent Repair?

PDR services are offered by many local and national companies that provide technical training and support to their technicians. National companies may not always have a permanent local presence, but they often deploy response teams to areas with a high number of hail claims. These teams typically operate from temporary locations and perform repairs until services are no longer required.

We believe it is in your best interest to have repairs completed by companies and facilities that follow the HailBids Paintless Dent Repair Agreement. If you have not selected a repair provider and would like to receive multiple bids from local PDR technicians, visit the Bid Request page to begin receiving bids, often within minutes.

INSURANCE CLAIMS

The insurance claims process can be time consuming and complex. At HailBids.com, our goal is to make this process smooth and straightforward for you. Before you begin, we would like to answer a few important questions to help you use our system effectively and achieve the best possible outcome.

Filing My Claim

If your vehicle has hail damage from a recent storm, contact your insurance carrier’s claims office as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide the date and time when the damage occurred. During your initial call, you will receive a claim number. Be sure to write it down and keep it in a safe place for future reference, as this number will be used to track your claim.

Within a few days, you will typically be assigned an adjuster who will contact you to schedule a hail damage inspection. The inspection usually takes place within one to two weeks after filing the claim.

Meeting The Adjuster

You will typically meet with your adjuster for the inspection as part of the claims process. The damage to your vehicle will be evaluated to determine the cost of repairs. The adjuster will examine each panel to decide whether it can be repaired using paintless dent repair or traditional body shop methods. The estimate will outline the repair cost for each panel and provide a total repair amount.

You can request that your adjuster email you a copy of the estimate and photos. This estimate can then be uploaded to our site. You may also upload your own photos of the damage and the estimate. This allows HailBids PDR professionals to review the information and submit their own repair bids for your consideration.

What Does My Insurance Paperwork Include?

Your insurance paperwork is typically referred to as the adjuster’s estimate or loss estimate. This document includes an itemized list of approved repairs, along with the allocated budget for completing the work. The initial estimate may or may not fully cover the cost required to complete the repairs properly, so it is best reviewed by a professional PDR contractor who specializes in insurance claims.

HailBids makes it easy to upload your insurance paperwork so our PDR professionals can understand the repair requirements and approved budget. Based on your adjuster’s estimate, our PDR professionals can provide accurate online quotes and repair proposals. In many cases, the repairs can be completed for less than the insurance estimate, allowing you to keep the remaining difference.

Helpful Tips for Requesting a Bid

To capture the best possible photos of your hail damaged vehicle for review, follow these simple and helpful tips:

Take Photos That Clearly Show the Hail Damage

Think of your vehicle in terms of its individual panels. Take a clear photo of each panel that has damage, along with one full vehicle photo for your listing. If your hail damaged vehicle is being inspected outdoors in direct sunlight, try to take photos from an angle that captures a visible reflection on the surface, such as clouds, trees, or nearby buildings. To make dents easier to see, place the vehicle in the shade or indoors whenever possible. Strong reflections can help highlight all visible hail dents.

See the example photos below:

Keeping Your Personal Information Private: Uploading Your Insurance Claim

Your insurance estimate may contain personal information that you prefer not to share. For your protection, you can easily remove or conceal any details you do not want to disclose. Information such as your policy number or other personal details should be cropped out, covered with a piece of paper, or blacked out before uploading. We only require the main section of the estimate that shows each panel scheduled for repair.

It is important to include the actual estimate and the listed amounts so that technicians can provide a more accurate repair bid. Your vehicle has already been inspected by a trained professional, and their assessment of repair costs per panel, along with whether each panel can be repaired using PDR, will help HailBids PDR professionals evaluate the job accurately and potentially save you money.

Below is an example of what an uploaded insurance estimate should look like: