Paintless Dent Repair FAQ
Paintless Dent Repair first appeared about 25 years ago as an innovative way to repair dents and dings on automobile production lines in Europe. Later, it became a more effective, less expensive method for removing small dings and dents from cars made with a thinner grade of sheet metal. Today, the process has evolved into an industry. Now, specially trained technicians utilize state-of-the-art tools to remove extensive hail damage on any vehicle.
Recent advancements in the elasticity of metals and the flexibility of polyurethane paints on automobiles are the major contributing factors for Paintless Dent Repair as a viable alternative to traditional body shop techniques.
Typically, Dent Headquarters expert technicians can repair hail damage dents from the size of a dime up to the size of a half dollar and sometimes larger. However, the limiting factor is the relationship between the dent’s depth and diameter. A large shallow dent is much more repairable than a small extremely sharp dent. Each vehicle must be inspected by one of our certified damage appraiser’s to determine the repairability.
Paintless Dent Repair costs are determined by several factors: (1) the number of dents, (2) the size of the dents, (3) the depth of the dents, (4) the type of metal, and (5) the location of the dents on the vehicle. Once these factors have been calculated, you’ll find that Dent Headquarters Paintless Dent Removal process is an inexpensive alternative to traditional repair methods, which require costly parts and equipment, precise painting techniques and extensive labor hours. Dent Headquarters Paintless Dent Removal process provides the same results without the extra expenses.
At Dent Headquarters, satisfaction is guaranteed or you do not pay for the repaired panel. We’ll let you know up front if a dent is too extreme for Paintless Dent Repair techniques. Dent Headquarters provides a written lifetime warranty backed by a nationwide network of technicians and we will respond to any inquiries within 72 hours.
No. Metal has a memory and once the molecular structure is realigned to its original form it will stay there.
No! Dent Headquarters Paintless Dent Removal process actually protects the value of your vehicle. Since no BONDO or repainting is necessary, your original finish and the value of your vehicle are preserved. Our PDR process eliminates the risk of mismatched paint colors, uneven textures, overspray, bubbling and misaligned metallic flakes, all of which are detectable by Car Dealerships and Leasing Companies at trade-in time.
No. Dent Headquarters proprietary Paintless Dent Removal techniques actually retain your factory finish and manufacturer’s warranty.
Yes. Rest assured that Paintless Dent Repair does NOTHING to adversely affect the environment. Since our process is paintless, no paint fumes containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are getting into the ozone layer. Nor are any paint thinners or residues being accidentally washed down drains that may get into the local drinking water supply. No, some vehicles are not the best candidates for paintless dent repair. The age of the vehicle needs to be taken into consideration due to the gauges of metal used in the manufacturing process. Vehicles manufactured prior to the mid-to-late 1980s tend to have thicker metal, which made them less susceptible to damage from hail. Also, your vehicle’s paint needs to be evaluated. Is the paint a factory finish or has your vehicle been repainted in the past? Most repainted surfaces can still be repaired successfully with PDR as long as the quality paint has been used and large amounts of BONDO are not hiding underneath the paint. Plastic fillers like BONDO can crack as a PDR technician pushes on the back of metal which is covered by plastic fillers. If you are unsure whether PDR is the best option for your vehicle, we suggest having one of Dent Headquarters certified damage appraisers assess your damage and discuss the options available to you.
In a word… NO. The dents on your vehicle must be manually manipulated back to their original molecular memory location using specialized paintless dent repair tools and techniques.
In most cases a vehicle is considered a total loss when the repair cost will exceed 75% of the value of the vehicle. This is referred to as a financial total loss or economic total loss. This is an insurance industry standard. In most states the insurance company is allowed to repair the vehicle up to 100% of its value.
In most cases, once the repairs have begun, the insurance company will not total the vehicle unless the additional damage found is excessive.
If your car is totaled, you are owed the fair market value of the vehicle, sales tax and title fees less your deductible if dealing with your own policy.
Most insurance companies use one of two outside valuation services that provide vehicle values primarily to the insurance industry. You should request a copy of this report to be sure it contains accurate information about your vehicle. We suggest you run your own Vehicle Valuation Report by using either Kelley Blue Book and/or NADA Blue Book websites just to verify that the information you’re receiving from the insurance company is indeed accurate.
Auto Hail Repair FAQ
Typically, Dent Headquarters expert technicians can repair hail damage dents from the size of a dime up to the size of a half dollar and sometimes larger. However, the limiting factor is the relationship between the dent’s depth and diameter. A large shallow dent is much more repairable than a small extremely sharp dent. Each vehicle must be inspected by one of our certified damage appraiser’s to determine the repairability.
Hail damaged vehicles can usually be repaired in one to two days depending on the severity of damage. Since no painting is required, Dent Headquarters Paintless Dent Removal process takes a fraction of the time in comparison to traditional methods.
Insurance FAQ
No. Insurance companies classify claims into two different general categories: (1) Collision, and (2) Comprehensive. Hail Damage is a comprehensive claim and is considered an act of God. Acts of God will not raise your individual insurance rates.
Free Vehicle Inspections are subjective opinions of damage and often vary widely. Dent Headquarters is familiar and experienced with resolving and negotiating differences and will contact your insurance company directly for any additional funds (called Supplements) necessary to repair your vehicle to its pre-loss condition.
If you have rental car coverage on your insurance policy, Dent Headquarters will assist in setting up the rental and getting you to the rental car office after you drop off your vehicle at one of our shops. Additionally, if you do not have rental car coverage on your policy and your vehicle must stay overnight at our shop for repairs, Dent Headquarters will pay up to $25 per day for a rental car. Most people, however, find it more convenient for us to shuttle them free-of-charge to and from our shop.
There is no real time limit, however, your Free Vehicle Inspections is based on current labor rates and parts prices, which will most likely increase as you wait.
You may elect to forego repair and settle your claim for a cash payment with some insurance companies. A restriction for “unrepaired damage” will usually be placed on your insurance policy. Unrepaired damage will be deducted from future Collision or Comprehensive claims. If you decide to repair the vehicle later, notify your agent so the restriction can be removed.
Your insurance policy protects your lien holder’s financial interest in the vehicle. If your vehicle is not yet paid off then the financial institution still holds the title and is therefore the technical owner of the vehicle until your loan or lease is paid in full.
If you knowingly deposit or cash a check without acquiring the proper endorsements from all parties, you may be committing a crime. Dent Headquarters has strong relationships with almost all lending institutions and can expedite the endorsement process for you while your vehicle is being repaired.
Get An Estimate with Dent HQ Auto Hail Expert Repair Services
Get an instant price for your car service & book for free