Hail Damage - Insurance Questions

[Speedfreak]

Yesterday we got pummeled by hail and three cars got damage. Each have very different values figuratively and personally. Questions on how this works.

What are your experiences, and anything I should be asking, checking, doing to make sure this all goes smooth? Insurance adjusters will be coming next week due to high volume from the storms.


2008 Sequoia - It's mostly the roof, but a few spots on the hood. Value is high enough where I assume they'll fix it. So they cut a check and I go get it fixed?

1991 GSX - Decent amount of dings on roof and hood - I want to fix for sure, but what will insurance company give me as options? And what will happen to the title?

1998 Outback - A little on the hood, but mostly on the roof. We've owned it since new, but I'm guessing due to it's current market value, they'll say it's totaled? If so, what are my options if we want to keep the car?

[b00sted_spyder]

My Titan got hit really bad back in May. About 100 dents. They ended up cutting me a check after my deductible to take it wherever i wanted. The other option was they take it to their shop and fix everything. That is through progressive.

[AJ]

In my experiance in dealing with this it boils down to doing a claim or not.

The GSX will likely get totaled, likely same as the Outback depending on what the damage comes back as. From there it's a change to the title if you want to buy it back.

Maybe worth it to fix the Sequioa through the normal process, and fix the GSX with claims $ from the Outback and keep the GSX out of the insurance process to keep the title clean? If that's worth it for you.

[JET]

Definitely do a claim and hit them up with documentation of other DSM's going for a good price in condition like yours. Play up the collectible car part. They will probably give you money to PDR them unless it is over like 20 dents per panel, then they replace (had hail damage on our cars about 5 years ago). I said screw it and didn't fix the lincoln, pocketed a check for $6k. The M roadster we got fixed at a good shop.

[AwdGSX13]

I would just file a claim for all three, the only thing they will penalize you on is volume. Chances are your rates won't increase. If the "value" of the gsx is under 5k then it will not get a salvage title.

Id make sure you look over the vehicles and make sure you understand all the damage so you can double check there estimates. If it's a catastrophe team coming to look at it, they try and move fast and can miss things.

If you want to keep a t/l car they will take the value and deduct what they think salvage is worth and you get paid the rest to do as you please.

[Kracka]

Here's the best PDR guy I've ever used: http://www.dentkraftpdr.com/

With the recent hail he is going to be busy and be very booked-up, I'd get on his calendar ASAP. I've personally used him on 3 cars.

*edit*
Reading the below thread, looks like you've already used him in the past!
http://www.mitsustyle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19238&highlight=dent+kraft

[Goat Blower]

I had hail on my GSX about 10 years ago when it was worth nothing like today. They gave me a check to fix it and didn't do anything with the title. I still haven't fixed it yet, it's on my short list of things to do. :D

[Speedfreak]

I would just file a claim for all three, the only thing they will penalize you on is volume. Chances are your rates won't increase. If the "value" of the gsx is under 5k then it will not get a salvage title.

What do you mean penalize because of volume?


If the gsx title doesn't get stamped salvaged, rebuilt or anything bad etc, then I'll file a claim (for all three cars).

For something like a hood, any idea how many dents it takes for them to replace vs. Fix?

Thanks for the info so far guys, its helping.

Chris, re: dentkraft. My only concern would be their price exceding what insurance will give. Otherwise, thanks for the reminder, I actually forgot about them.

[Kracka]

Chris, re: dentkraft. My only concern would be their price exceding what insurance will give. Otherwise, thanks for the reminder, I actually forgot about them.
Let them work directly with your insurance then. You can opt to have insurance pay for the actual repairs instead of just getting a check.

[AwdGSX13]

What do you mean penalize because of volume?


If the gsx title doesn't get stamped salvaged, rebuilt or anything bad etc, then I'll file a claim (for all three cars).

For something like a hood, any idea how many dents it takes for them to replace vs. Fix?

Thanks for the info so far guys, its helping.

Chris, re: dentkraft. My only concern would be their price exceding what insurance will give. Otherwise, thanks for the reminder, I actually forgot about them.


Well depending on insurance having three claims in a year might make a difference(even if it happened at the same time), just ask your agent or insurance on that.

GSX will be fine, just looked it up and it's anything older than 6 years and valued under 9k doesn't get salvage title stamped.

As far as in the case of hood you have to look at size and quantity and the material it's made out of all have impacts on replacement.

Most insurance companies if you send them the invoice from the pdr guy they will compensate any differences within reason obviously. PDR is straight forward and i'm sure you will have no issues. Just make sure the PDR tech you use is good and isn't looking to make a few extra bucks. If you are looking for someone to use LMK, we use a guy that is absolutely amazing. But like Kracka said - most of these guys are going to be very busy now so have patience it may be a few weeks out.