If your car got hit by a Sacramento hailstorm and you’re staring at a panel full of dents, here is the practical guide to filing the insurance claim and getting it fixed without losing your car for two weeks at a body shop.
Step 1: Document the damage right away
Take photos of every panel that has hail dents, in good light, ideally with the sun showing the contours. Park in shade and use the flash if needed. Photograph from a low angle so the dents stand out as shadows. Keep these photos — you’ll need them for the claim and for the PDR quote.
Step 2: Call your insurer
Hail damage is a comprehensive claim, not a collision claim. Comprehensive almost always has a lower deductible ($100-$500 vs $500-$1,000 collision) and usually does not raise your rates. Tell them: “I have hail damage and want to file a comprehensive claim.”
Most California carriers (State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, AAA) cover paintless dent repair as the preferred repair method for hail damage. More detail on California PDR coverage here.
Step 3: Get a PDR quote (separate from the insurer’s estimate)
Insurers often send an adjuster who writes an initial estimate based on a body-shop repair. That number is usually high. A PDR quote will come in 30-50% lower — which is good for you and for the insurer.
Most carriers will let you pick your own shop. You don’t have to use the one they “recommend.” Get a PDR-specific quote (we do hail estimates for free) and submit it alongside the adjuster’s.
Step 4: Direct billing
We bill insurance carriers directly. You pay your deductible to us, we collect the rest from the carrier. You don’t have to front the money or chase reimbursements.
Step 5: Schedule the repair
Hail damage repairs take 1-3 days depending on how many panels are affected and how dense the dents are per panel. For widespread damage we sometimes bring the car to the shop; for moderate damage we do it in your driveway over a day or two.
What if my deductible is high?
If your comprehensive deductible is $500 and the PDR repair is $700, it might not be worth filing a claim — you’d pay $500 to save $200 and possibly nick your rates. We’ll tell you straight whether to file or pay out of pocket. Pay-out-of-pocket hail repairs are usually $250-$1,200 depending on severity — often less than the deductible.
What if the body shop says my car is totaled?
Body shops sometimes estimate hail repair at $8,000-$15,000 because they’re priced for full repaint of every panel. PDR can often repair the same car for $1,500-$4,000. If your car was declared a total loss based on a body shop estimate, get a PDR second opinion before you accept the buyout — we can frequently save the car.
Ready to file?
Text photos of the damage to (916) 585-2554. We’ll send back a PDR estimate within an hour, help you understand what your carrier will likely cover, and bill them directly so you don’t have to.
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