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HAIL DAMAGE SPECIALIST

BLAST FROM THE PAST

TAKE A LISTEN TO THIS RADIO AD FROM MANY YEARS AGO, ADVERTISING DENT DOCTOR BY MARK PILGRIM AND SIMON KELLY

However the above is a guideline as it is very difficult to generalise on costs for repairs as
there are so many variables that need to be taken into account.  It is also very much
dependant where the vehicle was when the hail storm hit as the damage to the vehicle can
range from barely noticeable to completely destroyed, resulting in a total loss insurance claim.
The variability in damage results in a wide range of pricing for automotive hail damage repair.

Dent Doctor carefully inspects the vehicle utilising various software systems and special
lighting to determine the number of dents and size category of the dent on each individual panel.
All broken parts that need to be replaced are inspected and costed together with the
labour cost required to disassemble the vehicle. The vehicle needs to be disassembled in order
for the specialised dent technician to properly push each dent out from the underside of the
metal body panels.  All these costings together with the software data and its algorithms
determine the approximate cost of the repair.

Simple.  3 Easy steps
File a claim with your insurance provider
Drop your vehicle off at the nearest Dent Doctor outlet.
Collect your repaired vehicle.Dent Doctor provides a detailed repair plan, processes the claim,
negotiates on your behalf and repairs your vehicle to the highest standard. 

The process of PDR can be time consuming which also increases costs, again dependent on the severity
of the damage to the vehicle. Dent Doctor uses specialized lights and precise alloy tools to slowly
and methodically push each individual dent until it disappears.
In order to gain access to the back side of the dents, we disassemble the interior panels of the car.
Certain areas of the car are completely sealed and not able to be fixed with primary PDR methods.
In this case, we use a secondary glue pulling system to remove the dents, by pulling from the top
surface of the car.

Some vehicles require repainting or panel replacement depending again on the severity of the hail
damage which again increases costs. Most moderate to average hail damage can be fixed without
replacing or repainting panels on your car. More severe hail damage can result in panel replacement
and conventional body repair. Sometimes it can be more cost effective to replace a hood on a vehicle
rather than fix it with PDR. Other times hail dents can be too deep and/or large to fix
with paintless dent removal.

Research is required. Paintless dent repair is a highly skilled craft. The end results depend highly on
the skill of the PDR technician fixing your car. It takes several years to master the art of PDR.
It is recommend finding a reputable dent repair company that has several years of experience.

Yes. Most insurance companies will recommend that your vehicle is repaired by a professional automotive body repairer.
The insurer will process the claim and then outsource the dent repairs to an automotive repairer that specialise
in PDR like Dent Doctor. Most body shops do not have PDR technicians on staff.
They will also manage the part replacements, billing, and conventional repairs and repainting, if needed.

We would not recommend taking your car to a roadside dent repair operation.
Hail damage occurs at various times during the summer months. Due to the random nature of occurrence,
an industry of traveling hail repair technicians has developed over the years.
Hail techs from all over the country will descend on an area right after a powerful hailstorm.
Some of them partner with local dent repair companies and body shops. Others set up temporary operations
to capture as much hail work as possible and then move on to the next town. In our opinion,
it is not wise to have thousands of rands worth of hail damage repairs completed on your car by an out
of town company. What if you have issues later on down the road? How are they storing your car overnight?
Is there accountability if something goes wrong with your repair etc.etc. etc!

Getting caught in a hailstorm is a scary and stressful situation that can result in very expensive repair costs.
Dent Doctor technicians have been fixing hail damaged cars for over 25 years. We have the knowledge, experience,
and industry connections to repair your car in an efficient and precise manner.
If you were impacted by recent hailstorms in South Africa, we recommend contacting your insurance provider to file a claim.
Then visit our contact page and fill out the hail damage inquiry form. We will contact you directly to establish a
game plan and timeline on returning your car dent free, in pristine condition.

Insurance Underwriters

Members of the The South African Motor Body Repairers Association (SAMBRA).
Members The Collision Repairers Association of South Africa (CRA).

Both recognized authorities in the motor body repair industry. We abide to their stringent code of ethics.

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