3 Reasons Repairing Dents from Hail Should Never Wait

Tony Mers • May 1, 2020

When it comes to repairing dents from hail , making a trip to your car body shop can feel like a task you can put off for a little while. Unfortunately, waiting to get dent repair done could have some ugly consequences for your vehicle. If repairing dents from hail is further down on your to-do list, here are three reasons you need to move it to the top.

Rust

You might be able to live with a small blemish like a dent on your car for a little while. Appearance isn't everything, right? While it's true that appearance isn't everything, that little dent could contribute to the development of rust on your vehicle. And when you have rust, you're looking at more than just a cosmetic issue. Rust means that your car is no longer protected from things like water damage. If the dent is small enough, you might not notice any rust formation at first. But that means by the time you do notice it, the damage will be significantly more widespread. Not only is this unsightly, but it compromises the integrity of your vehicle's exterior.

Paint Damage

One of the most important protective features of your vehicle is the paint. Without that specialized coating, your car would rust at the slightest drop of rain. When you leave a dent unrepaired, you could end up seeing some paint damage, and it likely won't be confined to the site of the dent, either. Rather, the paint damage that your hail dent causes will likely spread to the surrounding paint and cause some unsightly damage. When your paint starts to peel away or its integrity is compromised, you're leaving yourself open to the possibility of rust and other structural issues.

Cost Efficiency

Let's say there was a hail storm two days ago and there are a few small dents on your car. No big deal, right? Wrong. Having those hail dents repaired on the day that you notice them might seem like a pain, but the truth is that it will be must more cost-efficient for you. As we discussed above, waiting around before you get to repairing dents from hail can lead to some pretty serious problems. It can feel like a higher up-front investment, but you'll be saving yourself a lot of money by avoiding the need for more extensive auto body repairs down the road.

Almost 77% of cars on the road today are in need of repairs. Don't let repairing dents from hail sit on your to-do list and cause more vehicle damage down the line.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.