Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. If your car has been damaged by a hail storm, you may be wondering “Does Paintless Dent Repair reduce the resale value of my car?” The short answer is NO. But the more complete answer is that it is usually better to repair hail damage before trade-in or sale. Read on for details.
While a hailstorm may be short, hail can leave behind lasting damage on your car long after its melted. Hail damage may not seem very big, but they can make a huge dent in your car’s resale value. While small dents and bruises may not bother you, it’s often worth it to fix hail damage before trying to sell your car.
You may have heard about paintless dent repair. But, is it the best way to repair your car? If you’re wondering how paintless dent repair will affect the trade-in value of your vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.
Stop dreading hailstorm season! We can help. Keep reading to learn more about whether paintless dent repair is right for your car.
Is It Worthwhile to Fix My Hail Damage Before I Sell My Car?
It may seem counterintuitive to spend money repairing your car before you sell it. After all, unsightly hail dents may be the reason you want to sell in the first place! Auto body repair can be a huge pain, so you may be inclined to get rid of the car without making any repairs.
However, fixing hail dents can offer a significant return on investment (ROI) when you’re ready to sell your car. Buyers frequently ask for discounts when they see noticeable exterior damage. Plus, a dealership or used-car retailer may offer a much lower offer on your car if it has frame damage.
You may have heard that traditional methods of dent repair can be costly. Assumptions about the high cost of dent repair lead many car owners to try DIY fixes first. Unfortunately, DIY dent repair kits are often a disappointing waste of time and money.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money to get your car ready to sell. Hail repairs may be less expensive than you think. Paintless dent repair is a quick, easy, and affordable way to restore your car’s frame damage.
How Does Paintless Dent Repair Work?
Paintless dent repair is becoming a popular option to combat hail damage. This technique offers fast turnaround times and a beautiful restoration of your car’s body without repainting, resanding, or any bonding. But how does it work?
For dents where the metal and paint are largely unaffected, paintless dent repair (also known as PDR) is a cost-effective fix. Many hail dents ding the door panel without chipping away the paint or ruining the metal. This allows a technician to reshape the panel from the inside of the car rather than trying to manipulate the outer metal.
Reshaping from the inside can restore the look of your panel without leaving lasting effects. Technicians use special tools to repair any size dent without touching the original paint. Even if your hail damage left behind small paint damage, it may be worthwhile to repair the dent and leave a small chip to get the best trade-in value for your car.
How Is Paintless Dent Repair Different From Traditional Dent Repair?
In traditional dent fixing methods, technicians may need to replace panels or repair damaged panels from the outside. Many classic methods require using heat to warp the metal back into place. Using heat to repair a dent can change your paint’s color, causing more noticeable body damage.
Other repair options involve sanding down paint or removing the paint entirely. Body fillers can fill medium-sized dents, but they involve completely removing the paint around the dent to fix. Finish glazing requires sanding down the paint to repair the dent with putty.
In all of these cases, your car’s paint will need to be replaced. While some paint colors may be easy to match, others may require a whole new paint job. Regardless of the method used, all of these methods cost more and take longer than paintless dent repair.
If a dent doesn’t chip your paint, there’s no reason to repaint your car. Paintless dent repair offers a good-as-new fix without having to replace panels or repaint your car. Plus, in most cases, paintless dent repair can be done in only one or two days!
Is Paintless Dent Repair Covered by Insurance?
Even if paintless dent repair is less expensive than traditional repair methods, you may be resistant to paying to repair your car right before you sell it. However, depending on your insurance, your hail damage repairs may actually be covered in full!
Filing a claim for small hail damage is a worthwhile expense before you buy a new car. Paintless dent repair covered by your comprehensive insurance offers a much higher ROI when you go to sell your car. Most of the time, a slightly increased premium pays for itself with the value you get from the repairs.
For hail damage, most insurance companies recommend paintless dent repair as the go-to repair solution. While shops offering PDR may not be on your insurance company’s “preferred list,” they offer services that are covered by insurance or affordable out of pocket. Often, hail damage can be completely covered by your insurance company if you file within a year of the hailstorm.
If you only have a few dents, your repairs may cost substantially less than your comprehensive insurance deductible. Paying out of pocket is much more affordable and feasible with PDR than other dent repair options. Plus, PDR will not affect your clean car title or come up in a car history report.
Is Paintless Dent Repair the Right Choice for Me?
If you’re looking to get the best resale value for your car, paintless dent repair is the best way to repair hail damage without breaking the bank. Whether you’re paying out of pocket or filing an insurance claim, PDR is an affordable way to fix car dents and maintain your car’s factory finish. Fixing your dents can offer a huge return on investment when you go to trade in your car.
Ready to fix your hail damage? We’re here to help! Our dent repair services are the best way to increase your car’s value in Dallas or Fort Worth, and other surrounding areas.
Contact us today and see if you qualify for free hail repair!