Vehicle Hail Damage and the Importance of Proper Repair

Tony Mers • January 5, 2020

Dents can do more damage than you might assume...

Hail’s Impact on Vehicles

One of the most unpleasant things that typically happen during the holiday season is the havoc that weather can create for your vehicle. In the northern part of the country, wintertime can see swift, drastic changes in temperature that changes a rainy day into a hailstorm. In addition to converting rain into hail, this weather event has the potential to convert nice, new vehicles to dented cars with cracked windshields. It’s unfortunate, but a car damaged by hailis not out of the ordinary. Weather is one of the most common causes of auto body damage, alongside high-speed collisions, driver negligence, and fender benders.

If you have significant hail damage to your vehicle, it’s a good idea to have the necessary repairs performed before it evolves into other problems. A small crack in a windshield can spread into a much larger one and a dent can start to rust in damp weather if the paint is scratched or punctured. Hailstones often damage a windshield seriously enough to where replacement is needed, and over half of all windshield repairs and replacements involve long cracks (between seven and 12 inches long) that could go on to shatter the entire windshield if left as is.

Seek Professional Help for Your Repairs

It’s important to have your glass repair or dent repair services performed at a reputable auto body shop. While an established shop might cost more than having an acquaintance perform the repair, going to an experienced auto body repair professional will ensure that your repair or replacement is being done correctly.

It’s entirely possible to repair dents, windshield cracks, or even install full windshield replacements incorrectly. The chip or crack in the windshield might be only partially repaired, and while it looks better than it did, it is not a safe repair. The same can be said for windshield replacements. If they’re not installed correctly, you might have a windshield that experiences water leaks and isn’t flush with the frame. A poorly-installed windshield is just as dangerous as a cracked windshield.

Improper dent repair runs the same risk. If the person in charge of repairing your car doesn’t know what they’re doing, there’s a strong chance that they’re not going to fully repair the dent. It will still be visible and may very well look worse than it did initially. If you have a car damaged by hail, you must have repairs performed at an established shop by a licensed technician.

Examine Your Insurance Policy

Paying for repairs can be costly, but there are sometimes circumstances that spare you the repair cost. It’s a good idea to take a look at your auto insurance policy. Several companies will cover windshield repair or simple dent repair under comprehensive insurance if the damage was caused by something out of your control, the weather for example. When in doubt, get in contact with your insurance company and ask about your options.

Having your car damaged by hail can be difficult to deal with, but the sooner the damage is repaired, the less time it has to cause your vehicle further issues.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Mail

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.