The occurrence of hailstorm damage is very common and can cause serious cosmetic damage to your vehicle. Many people do not realize that their car or truck is damaged until they are getting ready to trade it in and see that the light cosmetic damage has dropped the value significantly. Luckily, most people have auto hail insurance and can get it repaired. It is important to understand what the repair process entails and how long it takes to complete. For those dealing with hail damage to their roofs, roofing solutions in Calgary can help address and fix such issues effectively.
What Are Some Mistakes That Can Add Time To The Hail Repair?
There are a few common mistakes that people make when dealing with their car after a hail storm. One of the biggest mistakes is thinking that a few small dents are not worth filing a claim for. What might look like a few minor dings may actually add up to thousands of dollars in damage that will affect the value of your car. Even very light damage will diminish the resale value by up to 50%.
Another mistake that can be made is trying to fix the damage yourself. There are several reasons why this is a bad idea. First, if you try to do the repairs yourself you are risking your warranty. In addition, the repairs you do may not be done properly and could lead to future problems with your vehicle.
A professional repair shop will have the tools and knowledge to correctly repair your vehicle. In addition, they will have a relationship with your insurance company and can help ensure that the correct amount of money is provided for the repairs.
It is also important to remember that your insurance company will be handling many claims after a hailstorm. This means they will be backed up and it will take time to get your claim processed. It is also important to use a reputable and qualified repair shop rather than an “insurance approved” repair shop. Insurance approved shops are generally working for the insurance company and will not always have your best interest in mind.
Another thing to remember is that if you wait to have your vehicle repaired after a hailstorm it will increase the risk of total loss. This means that if you are in a subsequent wreck and the insurance company determines your car is totaled, they will subtract the thousands of dollars in hail damage from your check. This can end up costing you a lot of money that could have been paid for by simply having your hail damage repaired immediately.
The last mistake that people often make is not using a qualified and experienced repair shop. There are a lot of unscrupulous repair shops out there that charge next to nothing and often do more damage to the vehicle in the process. These shops are called roadside warriors and it is very important to be careful in selecting the right repair shop for your repair.
Overall, it can take 1-3 days to complete the repair after it is dropped off. This is primarily due to the insurance approval and parts ordering process. If any additional operations are needed, a supplement will be required and this will add more days to the repair. If this is the case, it will be explained to the customer along with an adjusted pick up date.