SPRING IS THE HAIL WINDOW in this part of Texas, and it does not need to be a named storm to fill every shop in the region. One bad afternoon puts thousands of vehicles into the same queue. Being early in that queue is worth more than any discount you will negotiate.
PHOTOGRAPH IT THE SAME DAY, before anything is moved or cleaned. Take wide shots showing the whole vehicle and close shots with light raking across the panel, because hail dents are nearly invisible straight on and obvious at an angle. Do it in daylight. This is the single highest value thing you can do and it takes five minutes.
FILE BEFORE YOU SHOP, not after. The claim starts a clock and gets you an adjuster date, and the adjuster date is what actually determines when work can begin. Choosing a shop is the step after that, and it is your choice, not the insurer's, regardless of who they suggest.
MOST HAIL DAMAGE IS PAINTLESS WORK, which is good news: the paint is usually intact and the dents are smooth. That means faster turnaround and no refinishing, provided the shop actually does paintless repair rather than defaulting to filler and paint on a car that did not need it.
HURRICANE SEASON, June through November, is a different problem. Flood exposure is not a body repair question, it is an electrical and corrosion question, and a vehicle that sat in salt water has issues that surface months later. Say the words salt water to anybody inspecting it, because fresh and salt water damage are not the same job.
THE QUIET SEASON is late summer through winter, which is when to do the cosmetic work you have been putting off. Shops are not triaging, schedules hold, and you get attention that is not possible in April.
- Photograph damage the same day, in daylight, with light raking across the panels
- File the claim before choosing a shop; the adjuster date sets the schedule
- Choosing the shop is your call regardless of who the insurer suggests
- Most hail damage qualifies for paintless repair, so ask for it by name
- Salt water exposure is an electrical problem, not a body problem; say so out loud
Questions people ask about hail and storm season
What should I do first after hail damage?
Photograph it the same day in daylight, with light coming across the panels at an angle so the dents show. Then file the claim. Shop selection comes after that, and it is your decision.
Do I have to use the shop my insurance recommends?
No. The choice of shop is yours. An insurer can recommend, and you can take the recommendation or not.
How long is the wait after a big hail storm?
It depends entirely on how early you get in line. One bad afternoon can put thousands of vehicles into the same queue across the region, so the days right after the storm matter more than anything you negotiate later.
My car was in flood water. Is that body work?
Mostly no. Flood exposure is an electrical and corrosion problem and the damage often shows up months later. Salt water is worse than fresh, so say specifically which one it was to anybody inspecting the vehicle.
Claim it or pay out of pocket? — Three questions and the claim decision, using numbers you already know.
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