How much does hail damage repair cost?
Matilda Douglas-Henry
Hail damage is one of
the most extreme and aggressive forms of damage your vehicle can face, and more
common than the regular car owner is aware of. Australia is no stranger to
extreme weather, and unpredictable hailstorms are part and parcel of the exceedingly
temperamental climate. Last November, a Queensland hailstorm caused over $50
million worth of damage, and 60% of the claims made were for affected vehicles[1]. This
creates all the more reason to act quickly and efficiently with hail damage:
there’s a high likelihood thousands of other cars will be lining up to get in
for repairs. Hail damage can cost anywhere between $500 and $10,000, so it’s
crucial to be as up to speed as possible. Here you can find all the necessary
information on hail damage repair, including:
- The different types of hail damage repair your car might need, and how long your vehicle will be off-road
- How much hail damage repair costs
- Whether your insurance covers hail damage repair
- How to protect your car from hail damage
Different types of hail damage, and the repairs they require
There are two
different types of hail damage, and depending on which camp you end up in, the
cost will vary significantly.
Contained hail repairs will use Small and Medium Area Repair Technology, or S.M.A.R.T, which means that they will be able to fix and paint the localised area of impact without having to respray/repair the entire damaged part of the vehicle. Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) is an alternative method, where the hail damage can be removed without even having to paint the affected area.
Multiple site damage is a much more extreme iteration of hail damage, and unfortunately is quite common due to the unpredictable onslaught of hailstones that can barrage your vehicle during a storm. Multiple site damage covers a variety of ostensible repairs, including:
-
Hail dents and damage on multiple
panels, requiring all of them to be repaired and possibly repainted (as well as
panel beating costs increasing with every additional damaged panel);
-
Panels receiving tens or hundreds
of dents, with each dent requiring panel beating;
-
Panel as well as window damage,
adding the cost of window repair on top of panel repairs (refer to our “Car window repairs” article for more
information);
-
Replacement parts being required
in the most extreme cases.
How much will hail damage repair cost?
Our article “How to Fix Hail Damage” estimates that contained hail repairs will cost between
$500 to $1000. We also advise that you use our quick quotes
service to find an independent repairer for contained hail repairs,
since insurance excess will likely cost you significantly more out of pocket.
Multiple site damage will cost $1000 at a bare minimum, and can exceed $10,000 depending on the severity of the damage and how expensive replacement parts might be. In some cases, it might be more economical to write off your car entirely. Unlike contained repairs, it’s recommended here to use insurance, because your excess will be less than the repair cost.
Is hail damage repair covered by my car insurance?
Comprehensive car
insurance is the only plan that will cover the cost of hail damage to your
vehicle. If you’re covered, that’s of course good news. Just brace yourself for
hours on the phone with your provider, both the time spent on hold as others in
your area do the same (remember: a hailstorm will rarely impact just your car),
and then to lodge your claim.
Once your provider puts you in touch with a smash repairer or PDR specialist they can determine whether your vehicle is an economic write-off, which is when hail damage exceeds the insured value of a car[2]. If you have no car insurance at all, hail damage will be an easier fix, but significantly more expensive.
As ever, we recommend double checking your insurance policy to confirm the extent of your coverage.
How to protect your car from hail damage
Summer is the prime
season for hail damage[3]. Here are
some straightforward tips to be mindful of to ensure your vehicle doesn’t
require hail damage repair:
-
If you can avoid it, don’t drive
in severe weather. If a storm falls unpredictably, safely pull over to the side
of the road as soon as possible.
-
Do not drive through floodwater.
-
If at all possible, ensure that
your car is safely parked in a driveway or a secure carport during a severe
storm.
-
Regularly check your car
insurance, and make sure it is up to date.
Conclusion
Hail damage is an extreme and often totally debilitating form of vehicular strife, and can have your car off-road for weeks. Even if it might take longer than other repair jobs, hail damage is something that Australian repairers, specialists, and insurance providers are becoming steadily more acquainted with as our weather is rapidly changing. DingGo can help you with navigating the stress of hail damage repair by determining just what type of specialist you need, and who the best person is for the job.