Is It Worth Fixing Hail Damage on a Car: Key Considerations

If your car is insured and the hail damage is moderate or severe, yes—it’s usually worth fixing. Repairs through your comprehensive insurance policy typically mean you’ll only pay your deductible, which is often around $250–$750 depending on your plan.

On the flip side, if you’re uninsured, or driving an older vehicle with minor cosmetic dents, it may not be financially necessary to fix the damage right away. To help you make a smart decision, here’s a quick decision tree to guide you through the most common situations:

Why It Usually Makes Financial Sense to Repair Hail Damage

If your vehicle is covered by a comprehensive insurance policy, fixing hail damage is almost always the smart financial move. Hail repair is one of the most commonly covered claims in Colorado, and most policies only require you to pay a deductible ranging from $250 to $750. The rest? That’s picked up by your insurance company.

Hail is Covered Under Comprehensive Insurance

Unlike collisions, hail damage falls under “acts of nature”, which means it’s handled through comprehensive, not liability, coverage. If your car is insured and you’ve filed a hail claim before, you already know the drill: pay your deductible, and your insurer covers the rest.

Tip: Even if your deductible is $500 or more, you may not have to pay it out of pocket. Ask your repair shop if they offer deductible assistance.

Unrepaired Damage Hurts Resale and Trade-In Value

Hail dents might not seem like a big deal, but they absolutely lower the value of your vehicle. Most dealerships will deduct $1,000–$3,000 from a trade-in offer if they see visible hail damage, and sometimes even more for SUVs and trucks with large surface areas.

Even if you plan to keep the car for now, those dents don’t disappear. Down the road, you’ll still be facing resale penalties or repainting costs. Besides, any rust that forms around the damage will cost far more to fix than a quick PDR (paintless dent repair) job would today.

When skipping hail repairs might make sense

Repairing hail damage is a smart move in most situations, especially if your car is insured and the damage is noticeable. But there are some cases where you might reasonably decide to hold off.

Let’s walk through the most common ones.

• You’re driving an older vehicle – If your car is already ten to fifteen years old and has other cosmetic issues or mechanical wear, hail damage might not change its value all that much.
• You don’t have comprehensive insurance – Without the right coverage, you’re responsible for the full cost of repair. At that point, it’s worth weighing the repair cost against the vehicle’s actual value.
• The damage is minor and purely cosmetic – A few shallow dents with no paint damage won’t affect performance. While they might slightly reduce resale value, they may not be worth fixing on a vehicle you plan to keep for a while.
• You’re planning to donate, scrap, or retire the car – If your vehicle’s nearing the end of its useful life, it may not make financial sense to put money into repairs, even if the damage is noticeable. For many people, this ties into whether they have a comprehensive policy

When Hail Damage Repairs Make Sense: Example Scenarios

Vehicle profile	Repair it?	Why
2022 SUV, insured, 30+ dents	Yes	Insurance will likely cover most of it; resale value matters
2008 sedan, uninsured, light damage	No	Out-of-pocket cost may exceed car’s worth
2015 truck, planning to sell soon	Yes	Damage could hurt your trade-in offer
2011 minivan, 10 dents, insured	Maybe	Worth it if your deductible is low or covered
2006 compact car, not a daily driver	No	Cosmetic damage only; low value

If you’re not sure what category you fall into, getting a free inspection from a hail repair center is the easiest way to make an informed decision. There’s no obligation and you’ll have a detailed understanding of your options.

What can happen if you don’t fix hail damage

It’s easy to dismiss hail dents as just a cosmetic issue. But leaving them unrepaired can lead to bigger, more expensive problems, especially if you plan to keep the car long-term or eventually sell it.

Common risks of waiting

Paint breakdown

Over time, dents can cause cracking or flaking in the paint. Once that protective layer is compromised, moisture and UV rays can lead to further damage.

Rust and corrosion

Unrepaired dents can collect water, especially on horizontal surfaces like the roof or hood. That increases the risk of rust, which spreads quickly and is far more costly to repair than a dent.

Lower resale or trade-in offers

Buyers and dealers see hail damage as a red flag. Even light cosmetic damage can result in deductions of $1,000 or more, sometimes enough to tip the scale toward negative equity.

Claim complications down the line

If you have another accident later, your insurer may not distinguish new damage from the old hail-related dents, which could delay or reduce your claim.

Below, we’ve outlined the rough financial cost you could face, depending on how long you wait:

How skipping hail repair can cost you more over time

Time after hailstorm	What could happen	Cost implications
1–3 months	Cosmetic damage only	Lower resale value begins ($500–$1,000)
6–12 months	Paint begins to degrade	$300–$600 for repaint or correction
1–2 years	Rust or corrosion forms	$1,000+ for rust removal or panel replacement
Next insurance claim	Damage confusion or reduced payout	Possible delays or complications

Six  Considerations for Choosing Where to Repair Hail Damage

Deciding to repair your hail damage is one thing. Choosing the right shop? That’s what determines how smooth the experience will be and how your vehicle looks when it’s done.

Here’s what to consider when comparing your options:

1. Experience with hail, not just collisions – Shops that specialize in hail damage see it all season long. They know how to handle large dent clusters, roof impacts, and tricky aluminum panels. A general body shop or mobile PDR tent might miss things that a hail-focused team won’t.

2. Technicians with recognized certifications – Look for shops with I-CAR Gold or ASE credentials. These aren’t just logos, they signal that the team has current training in vehicle materials, welding, and repair techniques.

3. Direct insurance coordination – A quality shop won’t leave you to figure out your claim on your own. They’ll take the lead on communicating with adjusters, filing the paperwork, and explaining your coverage clearly.

4. Support with your deductible – This one’s rarer. If you’re insured, a shop that offers deductible assistance can save you hundreds. It’s not something every shop advertises and many don’t offer it at all.

5. On-site facilities that can handle more than dents – Full collision centers have paint booths, frame machines, and the ability to handle both structural and cosmetic repairs. That matters when hail does more than just ding the hood.

6. Loaners or rentals so you’re not stranded – Some shops offer complimentary vehicles while yours is being repaired. It’s a detail that can make a stressful situation much more manageable.

You may have to call around to find a shop that checks all of those boxes—but that kind of service should be the baseline, not a bonus. You’ve already dealt with the storm. The repair process shouldn’t add more friction.

How Pro-Masters repairs pro damage

You don’t need to settle for an expensive, drawn-out repair process or take a gamble on a pop-up tent or out-of-town crew. In Pueblo, there’s a shop that actually makes hail repair affordable, streamlined, and worth doing.

At Pro-Masters Auto Collision Center, hail damage isn’t an afterthought. It’s something we’ve specialized in for decades.

• Our lead technicians have more than 30 years of experience with hail repair.
• We’re part of GEICO’s Hail Setup Catastrophe Team and handle insurance claims from start to finish.
• We offer deductible assistance for most insured customers and we’re the only shop in Pueblo (that we’ve found) doing that.
• We’re I-CAR Gold and ASE certified, with in-house steel and aluminum welding capabilities.
• Our facility is fully equipped with frame machines and precision paint booths, including the PPG MoonWalk system for exact color matching.
• And yes, in many cases we can provide free rental  car.

If you’ve been on the fence about fixing hail damage, one of the best ways to decide is by talking to a shop that actually makes it easy. We offer free inspections with no pressure, and we’ll give you a clear picture of your options, whether you file a claim or not.

Schedule a free inspection at Pro-Masters

We’re proud to serve Pueblo and the surrounding area with trusted, local repairs for the last 20 years. Call us at (719) 782-7919 or fill out our short form to schedule your complimentary evaluation.