Vehicle Hail Damage: Should you get it professionally fixed or pocket the insurance money?
Last Updated: March 10, 2026
So your car or truck has been damaged by hail. Should you get it fixed?
This is a common question we hear in our Plano PDR shop. Pocketing the money might sound like a good idea now but could cost you much more in the future.
FYI: With any vehicle that is still under lien, the insurance company with distribute a check one of 3 ways.
- To you AND the lien holder (whomever you are making your monthly payments too.)
- To you AND the repair shop.
- To you.
Most insurance companies will make you pay a deductible on an Auto Hail Repair claim. IntelliDent takes care of up to $500 of the deductible for a complete repair job!
You run the risk of loosing your “Full Coverage” status.
Automobile Hail damage is covered under the Comprehension Insurance coverage that is included with full coverage. If you don’t fix the hail damage and pocket the cash, the insurance company won’t allow you to continue comprehension insurance on your vehicle. They do this In order to protect themselves from paying-out for existing damage on a NEW claim.
For example, if another hail storm hits (as it happened recently in Oklahoma City) how would the Insurance Company know if the new storm damaged the vehicle vs the prior storm unless you use the initial insurance payment to fix the existing damage.
This is really the only way an Insurance Company can verify that the initial damage had been fixed.
The Re-Sale or Trade-In Value goes down significantly.
This auto hail damage account comes from an actual Oklahoma City IntelliDent Paintless Dent Repair customer.
“Our initial insurance estimate and check was for around $5500 . . . the damage was pretty severe. My wife and I had intended to keep this particular car for a long time so I had planned on getting it fixed. Because I was curious, I took the car to a local dealership to get the trade-in value. They offered me $18.5k. I was quite surprised as the Kelley Blue Book Value posted the trade-in value closer to $25k. Despite the hail damage, the car was in PERFECT condition and had low mileage. We changed the oil regularly and brought it in for every manufacturer suggested maintenance. I even walked around to see how they had my exact make / model priced on the lot. The sticker price was anywhere between $23K – $26k.
IntelliDent repaired my car and when I got it back, it looked like it did when I drove it off the lot. We are very pleased with the work done and would do it again.”
The value of any automobile is determined by taking the market value minus the cost of un-repaired damage.
Insurance Claim Check for Auto Hail Damage. Get Repairs or Keep Money?
Although it might seem very tempting to pocket the money instead of getting the hail damage on your vehicle repaired, we highly suggest that you DO NOT do this. If you have any questions or additional concerns, give us a call.
What Happens If You Don't Fix Hail Damage?
Beyond the immediate cosmetic issues, leaving hail damage unrepaired can lead to more serious problems over time:
- Rust and corrosion. Even small dents can crack or chip the clear coat and paint, exposing bare metal to moisture. Over months, this leads to rust that spreads beneath the surface and becomes far more expensive to fix.
- Paint deterioration. The stress points created by dents cause the paint to crack and peel over time, especially in the hot Texas sun. What starts as a cosmetic issue can turn into a structural one.
- Water intrusion. Damaged seals around windows and body panels can allow water to seep into your vehicle's interior, leading to mold, mildew, and electrical problems.
- Compounding future damage. If another hail storm hits — and in North Texas, it's a matter of when, not if — existing damage makes your vehicle more vulnerable to even greater damage. Learn more about why procrastinating on hail repair is a costly mistake.
How IntelliDent Makes Hail Repair Affordable
We understand that an unexpected hail storm can be stressful, which is why IntelliDent offers several benefits to make the repair process as easy and affordable as possible:
- Up to $500 deductible waived — we cover up to $500 of your insurance deductible on complete repair jobs.
- Free rental car — need a vehicle while yours is being repaired? We provide a free rental car so you stay on the road.
- Complimentary valet service — we pick up your vehicle and deliver it back to you when it's done.
- Lifetime warranty — every repair comes with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own the vehicle.
- Free inspection — schedule your free inspection to get an honest assessment with zero obligation.
Filing Your Insurance Claim: Step by Step
If you've never filed a hail damage claim before, the process is simpler than you might think:
- Contact your insurance company. Call the number on your insurance card and let them know your vehicle was damaged in a hail storm. They'll assign you a claim number.
- Document the damage. Take clear photos and videos of all dents and damage from multiple angles. This helps support your claim.
- Schedule your free inspection. Bring your vehicle to IntelliDent or schedule an appointment — we'll provide a detailed repair estimate.
- We work with your adjuster. IntelliDent works directly with your insurance adjuster to ensure your claim covers the full cost of repair, so you don't have to negotiate on your own.
Hail damage is covered under your comprehensive insurance policy, and filing a comprehensive claim typically does not increase your premiums. For more information on how PDR preserves your vehicle's value, read our article on whether PDR shows up on Carfax. You can also explore the top 5 benefits of paintless dent repair.