Factors that can lower the price
- Dents are primarily on one panel.
- A steel panel needs repairs.
- The dents are in an easy-to-reach location, like the hood.
- Some auto body shops offer volume discounts for large numbers of dents.
Quick Answer
What Hail Damage Repair Costs
Expect about $40 to $100 for a single small dent when the paint isn’t damaged. A car with dozens of dents usually runs $1,000 to $4,000 with paintless dent repair. Once hail cracks the paint across many panels, repairs can reach $5,000 to $15,000 or more, and an older car may be totaled. Comprehensive coverage pays for hail damage after your deductible.
When you’re caught in an unexpected hailstorm, your vehicle may have only a few dents, or broken glass may have let water into the cabin. Other factors, like the location of the dents and the number of panels damaged, also affect how much a hail repair costs. In this guide, we’ll break down the approximate amount you can expect to pay, based on the number and size of dents and whether your vehicle’s paint job was affected. We’ll also cover how insurance and damage claims work after a hailstorm.
Cost Table
How Much Does Hail Damage Repair Cost?
As a driver, one of the most challenging things about hail damage is knowing how much your repair will cost. Different shops charge different amounts for even a single dent. If you were caught in a hailstorm, you probably have dents on multiple panels of your vehicle, and different panels have different repair costs depending on their location.
The following table breaks down the general price range for hail damage repair. Something to keep in mind: costs will be different if the paint on your car was damaged versus if it wasn’t. Smaller dents that didn’t damage the paint job typically cost less to fix because they can be repaired with paintless dent repair (PDR), where a technician pushes the dent out from behind the panel without repainting it.
| Hail damage | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Single small dent (paintless) | $40–$100 |
| Dozens of dents, under 50 (paintless) | $1,000–$3,000* |
| 50–100 dents (paintless) | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Hundreds of dents (paintless) | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Single small dent (paint damage) | $100–$700 |
| Single dent with significant paint damage | $500–$2,500* |
| 50–100 dents, with paint damage | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Hundreds of dents and severe paint or body damage | $5,000–$15,000+ |
*Depends on where the dents are and how big they are. These ranges are typical out-of-pocket quotes from repair shop price guides, not insurance claims data, and your market and vehicle can land outside them.
If the hail was large enough to break your glass and water got into the cabin, it can damage the vehicle’s electronics, and your estimate could be over $15,000 depending on the car. In that case, your insurance provider will usually total the car, because the cost to fix it is too close to its value.
Price Factors
What Makes Hail Repair Cost More or Less?
A few other things affect how much hail damage repair costs.
Factors that can raise the price
- Dents are on many panels.
- An aluminum panel needs repairs. State Farm’s matrix adds 25% for aluminum.
- The dents are on the roof or near doors or windows.
- Some dents are bigger than a half dollar. Those are often billed per dent on top of the panel price.
We recommend reaching out to multiple auto body shops for dent repair quotes. This will give you an idea of the approximate cost and will also give you options.
Also ask each shop whether the technicians follow the specifications of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for dent repair. While these can vary between manufacturers, the OEM typically sets certain standards for when an entire body panel needs to be replaced.
Want to learn more about how repairs are priced in general? Check out our guide to collision repair costs.
Behind the Estimate
How Do Insurers Price Hail Dent Repair?
Insurers don’t price hail one dent at a time. They count the dents on each panel, sort them by size, and look up a price on a matrix. State Farm publishes the one it pays its paintless dent repair vendors.
| Panel and dent size | 1–5 dents | 16–30 dents | 51–75 dents | 101–150 dents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood, dime-size | $85 | $200 | $325 | $450 |
| Hood, quarter-size | $145 | $250 | $450 | CR |
| Roof, dime-size | $115 | $285 | $400 | $500 |
| Roof, quarter-size | $175 | $325 | $600 | $700 |
CR means the matrix sends the panel to conventional repair instead of pricing PDR. Aluminum panels add 25%. Dents larger than a half dollar add $40 each. Removing trim, lights, or the headliner to reach the dents is billed separately. Other insurers use their own matrices, so your numbers will differ.
Two things stand out. The roof costs more than the hood in every column above, because it’s harder to reach and the headliner often has to come down. And the matrix runs out: at 101–150 quarter-size dents, a hood is marked for conventional repair instead of PDR. That’s the point where pushing dents out stops being practical and the panel gets filled, sanded, and painted, or replaced.
Most hail claims never get there. CCC Intelligent Solutions found that 80% of 2023 claims flagged as hail included paintless dent repair, and that hail claims cost 21.7% more to repair on average than other comprehensive claims.
Two Ways to Fix It
Paintless Dent Repair vs. Conventional Hail Damage Repair
These are the two primary methods of repairing a vehicle after hail damage.
- Paintless dent repair is used to fix dents when the original paint job wasn’t damaged. This happens most often when hailstones were small and didn’t chip the vehicle’s finish.
- Conventional hail damage repair requires the auto body shop to redo the affected panels, after the paint has been chipped, cracked, or removed in large sections.
PDR tends to be less expensive than conventional dent repair. Because it doesn’t involve re-sanding or repainting, it takes less time and fewer materials. If your car’s paint job wasn’t affected by the hail and your dents aren’t too deep, this is usually the way to go.
We’ll go through the basic steps of both methods so you know what to expect from your hail damage repair, including the initial steps to take with your insurance provider and auto body shop.
Paintless dent repair
- Get your vehicle inspected at an auto body shop. They’ll look at the dents and any other type of damage the hail caused.
- Contact your insurance provider to learn whether hail damage is covered in your plan, and file a claim if it is.
- Typically, the auto body shop you select for repairs will coordinate with your insurer. Your insurer should then communicate with you how much of the repair cost they’ll cover.
- Once the repair begins, technicians will remove parts as needed, like headlights and bumpers, so they can access the bottom of the panel. They’ll use specialized tools to carefully massage and push the dents back into place.
- In places where it’s not possible to reach the dent from underneath the panel, the technician may use a special type of glue to draw the dent back out. Auto body shops also have multiple specialized tools they use for glue dent repair.
- The technician will push any low points up and tap any remaining ridges down to create an even surface.
- If it’s needed, buffing and polishing the panel’s surface comes next.
- After fully adjusting the panel to its original shape, technicians use certain lights and look from different angles to thoroughly examine the panel and make sure it’s correct.
- When all final checks are completed and the panel is restored, all the removed parts, like trim and headlights, are replaced.
Traditional dent repair
- The auto body shop will inspect your vehicle and all the damage from the hail.
- Again, contact your insurer for information on hail damage coverage and file a claim if you can. Wait until your claim is fully negotiated or accepted before you approve a repair.
- The technicians will clean the damaged panels of oil and dirt before beginning a repair. This prepares the surface to be treated and prevents dirt from mixing with the materials that the technicians use to fix the dents.
- Next they’ll use body filler, a putty-like substance, to fill the dents. This is a multi-step process that requires technicians to remove air bubbles and let the filler dry before applying the next layer.
- Then come multiple rounds of sanding the panel, beginning with a rougher sandpaper and moving gradually to smoother-gritted sandpaper. This brings the panel back to its original shape.
- After sanding, technicians will spray primer onto the panel. Primer helps paint adhere to the metal well, reducing cracks and peeling, and also helps protect the panel from weather damage.
- Your auto body shop will repaint the panel to match the color of your vehicle.
- Technicians will perform a final inspection on the vehicle, to make sure the panels are the correct shape and the paint matches well.
One thing to note regardless of the repair method: after dents are repaired with either PDR or conventional methods, any sensors in those panels that may have been damaged should be recalibrated. A reputable auto body shop uses manufacturer-approved techniques and tools to restore a sensor system to its correct ADAS calibration.
Insurance
Hail Damage and Your Insurance: Should You File a Claim?
In the insurance industry, hail damage falls under comprehensive coverage, not liability insurance. Check the deductible on your comprehensive coverage before you file. If the repair estimate is close to or below your deductible, it usually makes sense to pay for the repair yourself, because the insurer only pays the amount above your deductible.
Hail claims are common. State Farm alone paid more than $5.6 billion in hail claims across home and auto in 2025, with Texas leading the country.
It’s your choice whether you file a hail damage claim with your insurer. Let’s say the car still runs well mechanically but has a lot of cosmetic damage, it holds a lot of sentimental value to you, and you weren’t planning to resell it. If the cosmetic damage is significant enough that your insurance provider might consider the car totaled, you might not want to file a claim.
If you do file and your insurer totals the car, many insurers will let you keep it. They pay you the car’s value minus what they would have gotten for the salvage. In most states the car then gets a salvage title, and it needs repairs and a state inspection before it can get a rebuilt title and go back on the road.
Total Loss
When Does Hail Total a Car?
Generally speaking, hail totals a car when the damage would cost too much to repair compared with the car’s actual cash value before the storm. But each state sets its own rules for when insurers may total a vehicle.
Whether your car is totaled also depends on factors like:
- How much damage was done to the paint. Do you just have some dents with no paint damage, or did the hail cause chips and exposed metal?
- The original value of the vehicle. If it’s new or luxury, or has very low mileage, repairs probably make more sense than if the car was older or already had a low cash value.
- Other exterior or interior damage. Broken windshields, windows, window frames, or doors cost additional money to repair. When hail breaks glass and water gets into the cabin, it can ruin the electronics, and that’s more likely to total the car than the dents themselves.
Two different ways to total a hail-damaged car
Insurers have two primary methods of totaling a vehicle. Each state determines which method the insurance providers operating in that state will use.
Total loss threshold. The state sets a percentage of the vehicle’s actual cash value, like 80%. If the cost to repair a hail-damaged vehicle reaches that percentage, the car is considered totaled. So if a car was worth $16,000 before the hail and repairs will cost $13,100, the insurer will total it: the repairs come to about 82% of its value, over the 80% line. Thresholds range from 60% in Oklahoma to 100% in Colorado and Texas.
Total loss formula. Some states use a formula instead of a set percentage. It adds the salvage value of the vehicle to the cost of repairing it. If that number equals or exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle, the insurer will consider it a total loss.
Some states treat hail differently. Kansas law, for example, doesn’t count a late-model car as a salvage vehicle when the damage is only exterior cosmetic damage from hail or windstorm, even if repairs pass the state’s 75% line. Check your state’s rules if your car is close to the threshold.
Repair or Leave It
Is Hail Damage Worth Fixing?
It depends. If you plan to resell your vehicle someday, it’s a good idea to repair it. Otherwise, its resale value will decrease, possibly by a large amount if the cosmetic damage is significant.
There are a few scenarios where it may not be worth paying for repairs:
- You’d be paying a large amount out of pocket, and you already planned to drive your car into the ground anyway.
- The vehicle is older and has already undergone a few repairs, so you don’t plan to resell it.
- The car is old with a low resale value, and the cost to fix the dents is close to its cash value before the hail damage.
- The car is older, and your insurance deductible is high, increasing the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before insurance pitches in.
The vehicle’s age is the common denominator here. Also, if your insurance policy doesn’t cover hail damage, it may not make sense to pay out of pocket for a repair, especially if the damage is mostly cosmetic. Keep in mind, though, that this can significantly impact your chances of reselling for the price you want down the road.
Leaving hail damage unrepaired can also reduce your options if you’re caught in another hailstorm. Insurers may not pay the amount you request if they see unrepaired dents from a previous storm.
Step by Step
How Do I Navigate a Hail Damage Repair?
While hail damage repair costs can feel overwhelming, taking the process one step at a time is the best way to move forward.
- Assess the damage. Get a reliable professional to examine your vehicle. If it’s still drivable, take it to different body shops for multiple estimates. If you’re not sure how to find a reputable repair center, check out our guide to choosing an auto body shop.
- Check your coverage. If you aren’t comfortable paying the estimated repair cost out of pocket, contact your insurer. Find out whether you have comprehensive coverage and what your deductible is.
- File a claim if it makes sense. If hail damage is covered and the repair cost is higher than your deductible, file a claim with your insurance provider.
- Connect your insurer and your shop. You’ll probably need to put your provider in touch with the auto body shop you’ve selected. Typically they’ll communicate and negotiate numbers.
- Stay in the loop on payment. Your insurance provider will either pay you or the body shop directly. Communicate clearly with both so you’re updated during the process.
Maybe you want to keep your vehicle as it is. If you have an emotional connection to the car, or were planning to drive it into the ground, you can first have it inspected to make sure the hail only did cosmetic damage, and then keep it without filing a claim. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to claim that damage later if another storm hits the car.
If you’re looking for an auto body shop to do your repair, Assurity can help. Our collision repair locator connects you with collision centers we’ve checked for the ability to repair vehicles to the original manufacturer’s specifications, including hail damage and paint repair. Search collision centers near you, and read our collision repair estimate guide to understand what a shop’s estimate means for you.
Quick Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What drivers ask most about hail damage repair and insurance.
Is hail damage worth fixing?
Usually, if you plan to sell or trade in the car someday, because unrepaired hail damage lowers its resale value. It may not be worth paying for on an older car with a low cash value, when the repair would cost close to what the car is worth or your deductible is high. Unrepaired dents can also make a future hail claim harder.
Does insurance cover hail damage?
Some insurance plans cover hail damage. If you have comprehensive coverage, it typically covers weather damage, which insurers treat as a covered peril or an act of God. Standard liability insurance doesn't cover hail damage, and collision coverage doesn't either.
Are hail-damaged cars usually totaled?
No. Most hail damage is cosmetic and gets repaired. CCC Intelligent Solutions found 80% of 2023 claims flagged as hail included paintless dent repair. A car is more likely to be totaled when it's older with a low cash value, when hail cracked the paint on many panels, or when broken glass let water into the cabin and damaged the electronics.
Can hail dents be repaired?
Yes, most can. If the paint isn't cracked and the technician can reach the dent, paintless dent repair pushes the metal back into shape without filler or paint. Large dents, sharp creases, and cracked paint usually need conventional repair, where the panel is filled, sanded, and repainted, or replaced.
How much does paintless dent repair cost for hail?
About $40 to $100 for a single small dent. Insurers price PDR per panel by dent count and size. State Farm's published matrix runs from $85 for one to five dime-size dents on a hood to $1,400 for 201 to 250 half-dollar-size dents on a roof, with 25% added for aluminum panels.
Can I keep the insurance payout and skip the repair?
Technically, yes, if you own the vehicle outright. If it's financed or leased, the check usually names the lender too, and the lender can require the repair. The insurer paid you for that damage, so it won't pay for the same dents again if another storm hits the car. You're also putting your vehicle at risk for rust, particularly if the hail caused paint damage. And if you decide to resell at any point, your vehicle's resale value could be thousands of dollars lower than it would be if you'd gotten the repair.
Will filing a hail claim raise my insurance rates?
It depends. Hail damage is a comprehensive claim, usually treated as an act of God, so it doesn't mark you as a risky driver the way an at-fault accident does. However, if you live in an area where hailstorms are more common, your rates may naturally reflect that. A claim-free discount will typically be removed after the claim, and several claims in a short period can raise your rates. Ask your insurer what your rates could look like before you file, and press for a straight answer if they avoid giving one.
Sources
- State Farm: PDR Pricing Matrix for State Farm Paintless Dent Repair Agreement. Per-panel prices State Farm pays its paintless dent repair vendors by dent count and size, the 25% aluminum add-on, and the $40 oversize dent charge. Effective October 25, 2023. Other insurers use their own matrices.
- Repairer Driven News: CCC predicts continued costlier hail and hurricane damage repairs (June 27, 2024). CCC Intelligent Solutions Crash Course data: 80% of 2023 claims identified as hail included paintless dent repair, and hail claims cost 21.7% more to repair than the average comprehensive claim.
- State Farm Newsroom: State Farm paid over $5.6 billion in hail claims in 2025 (April 21, 2026). Hail claims across home and auto, led by Texas at $1.4 billion.
- Kansas Statutes § 8-197. Kansas’ 75% salvage threshold and its exception for exterior cosmetic damage from windstorm or hail.
- CarInsurance.com: Total Loss Thresholds by State. Which states use a fixed percentage and which use the total loss formula, from 60% in Oklahoma to 100% in Colorado and Texas. Secondary source; check your own state’s statute before relying on a number.
- PR Dents: Hail Damage Repair Cost in 2026. One of the repair shop price guides behind the whole-car ranges in the first table. Shop pricing, not claims data.
Prices on this page are general ranges, not quotes. Insurance coverage, total-loss rules, and title laws vary by state and by policy. Check your policy and your state’s rules before you file or decide to keep a totaled car.
Hail Damage? Start With the Right Shop.
Get estimates from collision centers that have been checked for repairs to manufacturer specifications.