Warm weather tornadoes, floods and hail storms are running their way across the country, leaving totaled, soaked, dinged up and damaged vehicles in their wake.

1. Hail Damage FAQ
Warm weather tornadoes, floods and hail storms are
working their way across the country, leaving totaled,
drenched, dented and damaged automobiles in their
wake.
The experts at CARSTAR Collision Auto Repair are
prepared to help. During spring storms, they see a huge
number of vehicles damaged by falling trees, debris,
wind, water, and hail. They provide this advice to help
motorists deal with spring storms – before and after.
Examine Your Coverage
The time to review your auto insurance is not when the weatherman is delivering bad news that
storms are on the way. Examine your policy now to understand what is protected, what the
insurance deductibles are, if you have rental coverage and how to handle it when the storm hits.
Comprehensive coverage protects against most damage from natural disasters. Two other
available choices to consider are gap coverage – which will pay the difference between what you
owe on your loan and what the car is really worth -- and rental compensation.
One warning – if you submitted a previous damage claim and received a check from your
insurer, but didn’t have the automobile repaired – the insurance company will deduct this amount
from your estimate for the storm damage, and bill an extra deductible, as well.
Protect Your Car
When you know that a storm is en route, get the vehicle to higher ground or under cover. For
hail storms, cover your car in an old blanket and a car cover from your neighborhood automotive
retailer – before the storm hits. This will give you some protection for your hood, roof, and rear
decklid. If a storm shows up quickly, search for an awning at a service station, the drive-through
at the bank or self serve car wash to get underneath for fast protection. On the highway, search
for cover beneath a bridge or viaduct.
If you fall victim to a hail storm, have a look at these frequently asked questions about dealing
with hail damage:
1. How Much Time ought I allow for a Hail estimation?
A typical hail estimate requires 30-45 minutes. During this time, the estimator follows a planned
out format of identifying seriousness and quantity of dents on all panels. Furthermore, the
estimator interacts with you to answer all questions you have about the repair and obtains all
accurate vehicle information.

2. 2. Why is a clean vehicle important?
A clean automobile allows the estimator to see clearly the damage. Dust and dirt can frequently
mask damage, creating incorrect estimates and delays in the repair process.
3. What occurs throughout the estimation process?
In the estimate process, your estimator will greet you and then will drive the vehicle into the
estimating bay. Then, they assess the automobile, taking record of the scope of the hail damage
as well as the seriousness and volume of dents. The estimate is then finished and examined with
you, and you will be furnished with a printed copy of the estimate.
4. What does pre-loss condition suggest?
During the hail estimate process, any non-hail damage is going to be noted. The condition of the
vehicle, including this damage, is considered the pre-loss condition of the car. Any damage that
isn't hail-related won't be covered on the repair.
During the quote, photos will be taken of the automobile and any of these conditions will be
noted in the estimate.
5. How do I schedule my car for repair?
At the time of your quote, you'll be asked when you
would like to schedule your car for repairs. During a
typical hail storm, countless cars sustain damages,
thus, it could be a couple of weeks before your
scheduled visit. CARSTAR Collision Auto Repair of
Overland, MO will work with you to find out the
ideal repair time following your quote.
6. What is a supplement?
Supplements are extra operations or parts needed to complete the restoration of the automobile
that exceed the initial estimate. In some circumstances, the original estimate is insufficient to
carry out the repairs. When a car or truck is delivered for repairs, an additional inspection is
carried out to ascertain if all of the damage was documented for repair. If all the damage was
found and written on the initial estimate, no supplement is needed. If, however, some damage
was neglected on the first estimate a “supplement” is needed to document the necessary
operations or parts required to effectively fix the motor vehicle.
If a supplement is required, it may extend the period of time needed to repair your automobile.
The supplement will be explained to you and an adjusted pick up date will be provided.
7. What is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?

3. Paintless Dent Repair is a specialized and meticulous procedure for returning dents to their
original shape without having to paint any portion of the motor vehicle. The principle process for
PDR requires the technician to push and massage each and every dent in an extremely technical
and precise fashion. To do this, every single dent is worked back into its initial shape using
different metal rods differing in shape and size. The dents are worked from the underside of the
metal with access points on every panel. It is a really specialized and meticulous process that
necessitates the finished metal to look like it came from the original factory.
8. What's conventional auto body repair?
Traditional body repair frequently replaces the panels on a motor vehicle and requires painting to
match the factory finish. In some cases, hail damage is so serious that conventional body shop
methods are necessary to fix specific panels. If there are too many dents or too many big dents, a
panel may not be able to be repaired with PDR.
9. What does R and I mean?
R and I is an phrase that means Remove and Install. When a car starts the repair process, an R
and I technician loosens, and sometimes removes, the interior panels and parts to allow access to
the underside of the metal panel. When the PDR repairs get finished, this technician replaces the
parts and re-installs the interior panels (such as the headliner and hood liner). CARSTAR
Collision Auto Repair features a quality-control procedure to ensure all the parts are replaced
correctly so that your car is returned to you in the same condition that we got it, without dents, of
course.
While the car is in the shop, it’s a great time to have other dents and dings fixed. It's going to be
more cost-effective and your motor vehicle will ultimately benefit.
For even more tips on handling a crash or having your car repaired following a collision, visit
www.auto-body-overland-mo.com. CARSTAR Collision Auto Repair, serving Overland,
Maryland Heights, Creve Couer, Clayton, and St. Ann, Missouri offers top-notch, reliable repair
service throughout the United States and Canada.