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Hail Damage

5828 Views 63 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  Packard V8
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I wasn't sure where to post this, so sorry if it's in the wrong section.
Has anybody had experience with extensive hail damage? My car was outside my friend's house during a freak hail storm. The hood, roof, and A pillars are loaded with little dents.
I submitted a claim with my insurance, and I will also be getting an independent estimate to compare numbers. Do you think they will total it? KBB trade in value for my car is $27,000. Wisconsin's total loss threshold is 70% of the value.

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There are paintless dent removal places that may be able to be of help to you.
I'll be reaching out to a paintless dent repair place tomorrow for an estimate.
I feel your pain. Happened to me 2 years ago with my previous 2019. Similar to yours - slightly less.

Go to a good paintless dent removal expert. It's cheap and the results were simply perfect. Impossible to tell where the dents were. The aluminum hood makes it easy for them to work with.
I appreciate your insight.
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Not much to report yet. I'm still waiting for a claims adjuster to be assigned to my case. They are quite behind due to the volume of claims. I'm really hoping my car is repaired instead of totaled. The hassle of replacing my car during the current market is not a pleasant thought. I'm also not willing to just pocket the money and drive a golf ball. I take pride in keeping my vehicles in good shape. Driving a car speckled with little dents all over it is a bridge to far for me.
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No one is judging you as much as you are.
This was a weird reply.
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Sounds like you’re in our area. We had a hold on a ‘22 EUV that was in the same storm. Planned to pick it up 2 days later. After seeing all the golfball size hail damage we just couldn’t stick with it. There were 3 dealerships in a row that had most all inventory damaged. Hope the PDR/claims process works in your favor.
I live in Waukesha, WI, but my car was parked in Oconomowoc. My appointment is June 27th at Dent Clinic. (Paintless Dent Repair) They will provide an estimate to my insurance, and then we'll see.
Update - My estimate included a combination of PDR and traditional body shop labor. I'll be getting a new hood and roof. The other surfaces will be PDR. $12,300 was the estimate. I'm glad insurance is paying to have it fixed.
I don't care how much it costs to fix it. I simply pay my deductible. The car might of been totaled if values weren't so inflated right now. I'll be curious how long it takes to source a new hood and roof from GM. I was assured they will be using OEM parts for replacements. I'm not bothering to schedule the repair until the parts are sitting at the body shop.
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My vehicle is a lease, so I'll be getting it fixed. I don't know what the market will be like in two years. I might buy my Bolt at lease end or lease another EV.
I've never leased a vehicle in my life, but maybe you can use this Insurance Claim as leverage to get a better purchase price at lease end?
That would be nice, but that's not how leases work. The lease contract has a purchase option with a predetermined price in the agreement. There isn't typically negotiation in that. People who leased before the car bubble happened are in a position to purchase their vehicles and have equity. That isn't typical. Interestingly enough, many automakers are choosing not to include a purchase option at lease end. They want the vehicles back in their inventory to sell as used cars.
I know there’s that “pre-determined price” (PDP) with a Lease, but if the vehicle has “accident or damage history” (ADH), and you don’t buy it ... they still will have to sell it with the ADH, which should lower its value, right?

Also - you know the damage is cosmetic, but will the next buyer know this (?) ... or will they just see some large repair cost number on a Report (which would likely scare them away)?
Hail damage repairs aren't typically on a Carfax (Or similar) report. Branded titles obviously are, but that doesn't apply here.
Update: I have the car back. The car looks new, as if nothing happened. I'm quite pleased with the result. Final bill to insurance was $10,872.53. My portion was my $500 deductible.
It's great to be driving the Bolt again after 3 weeks.
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