I hate hail. Hail sucks. Hail can kiss my ...

[Blieb]

Nasty storm rolled through Sunday. Large hail for several minutes.

Hail 1/2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G88WjN43hqM
Hail 2/2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qSJPLhcOI

Cars look like golf balls ... no broken glass on ours ... but a massive # of dents. I'm hoping paintless dent removal is an option.

Not sure about roof of house - having someone check it. There is grit from the shingles all over.

Truck Hood (turn volume down, windy):
http://youtu.be/bozCoela3wQ

**** Update 1 ****
Truck in for repair. Should be ready next Week. $5,000 in damage.
Roofer coming to check house Wednesday.

**** Update 2 ****
Truck still in repair. Was supposed to be ready today but a few items were not completed, and they added a nice new scratch that they are going to fix. Maybe ready Thursday.

Second car, $6k damage. Will be totaled. Not sure on payout - we may keep the keys. Weren't planning on a new car for a year or two.

Adjuster and roofer came today. Significant shingle damage, no structural damage. Adjuster will submit for new roof, flashing, vents and gutters. Not sure on costs yet.

 

[SearchMaster]

We had a hailstorm like that a few years ago. There was an associated tornado warning and I really thought we were going to have one since the weather was so weird. It's strange seeing the yard look like you have 2 inches of snow but it's just iceballs.

Aside from the damage (we had none thank goodness), hail is pretty cool.

 

[skyking]

Wow, that sucks!

 

[Meghan54]

Yep, hail sucks. Worst way, I think, is to hit a hail storm while driving on the interstate with no shelter/underpass in sight.

 

[lxskllr]

I'd leave the vehicles along. If you're getting insurance money, bank it for later when you need to fix something important on the cars. Consider them beauty marks, and a result of having an active life ;^)

 

[Schfifty Five]

Nasty storm rolled through Sunday. Large hail for several minutes.

Hail 1/2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G88WjN43hqM
Hail 2/2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qSJPLhcOI

Cars look like golf balls ... no broken glass on ours ... but a massive # of dents. I'm hoping paintless dent removal is an option.

Not sure about roof of house - having someone check it. There is grit from the shingles all over.

Truck Hood (turn volume down, windy):
http://youtu.be/bozCoela3wQ

Without looking at the damage of your car, I'm going to say it's going to cost over $5K to fix the dents/hail damage, assuming your car was parked in the open.

 

[Blieb]

We have 2 cars.
Truck is 3 years old, mint condition. Needs to be fixed. Will be fixed. Value is greatly affected at this point and yes I'm a car snob.

Sedan is 8 years old ... I'm a little concerned they may total it. We were not going to replace it for at least 2+ years.

As much as I usually say "it's only money" or "things are just things" ... easier said than done.

 

[Ken g6]

You don't like to measure the rate at which the hail is falling? If you do that, you can write those numbers down, stick them in a folder, and close it.

Then, any time you like, you can...open hailing frequencies. :sneaky:

 

[Schfifty Five]

We have 2 cars.
Truck is 3 years old, mint condition. Needs to be fixed. Will be fixed. Value is greatly affected at this point and yes I'm a car snob.

Sedan is 8 years old ... I'm a little concerned they may total it. We were not going to replace it for at least 2+ years.

As much as I usually say "it's only money" or "things are just things" ... easier said than done.

In the summer of 2011, I had a 1999 Honda Accord Coupe that was damaged from a crazy hail storm in TX. The insurance adjuster pretty much said the damage was well over $5k just from a quick glance. As my car was about 12 years old, it was only worth about $4,000. Ended up just selling the car to my insurance and got like $3,300 after deductible, etc. Put it towards a new car as I was already in the market for one.

Your sedan is fairly old. I'd say if you can get a decent amount for it from your insurance, then sell it to them and put it towards a new car.

 

[Blieb]

Your sedan is fairly old. I'd say if you can get a decent amount for it from your insurance, then sell it to them and put it towards a new car.

Yeah we'll need to talk this one through. Her car is maybe worth 5k. Mechanically in good shape.

I'd probably rather keep it for another couple years just all banged up. I haven't had a chance to look at hers closely yet. It's been raining the last few days.

 

[Blieb]

I called USAA to ask when the body shop will call.
They said usually within 24 hours, but not always. Best to call direct.

I called body shop and the guy pulled my paperwork right up. Probably just waiting for me to call. I hate that - guess they do it since they have you by the balls anyways.

He said they'll evaluate how much Paintless Dent Removal can be done before more invasive options. I did some research and it looks like we have a decent PDR guy in town that makes rounds at various dealers and body shops.

 

[Insomniator]

Aren't dents purely cosmetic? They would total a car over that?

 

[Blieb]

I would guess body work makes up most of "collision center" work. When you get in an accident they don't just replace the non-cosmetic stuff.

Add up panel removal, resurfacing/replacement, painting, assembly. If multiple panels are impacted, it adds up fast.

 

[Naeeldar]

Aren't dents purely cosmetic? They would total a car over that?

Of course. Insurance is there to repair the car to how it was prior to the accident or in this case storm. In this case if it costs more to repair than it does to total it. Well they are going to total it. The fact that it is cosmetic does not play any role. It's strictly how much does it cost to repair vs replacement value.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Yeah we'll need to talk this one through. Her car is maybe worth 5k. Mechanically in good shape.

I'd probably rather keep it for another couple years just all banged up. I haven't had a chance to look at hers closely yet. It's been raining the last few days.

Yeah it's a tough call. My 12 yr old Accord was still running great. I never had any major problems with it and did routine maintenance on it. My car was in excellent condition and the only reason it was totaled was b/c of the hail damage.

I could have kept the car, but the insurance would have only given me a small amount of money (since it's not being totaled) and I don't even know if they would insure it after that.

I've always wondered, what if you have an old car that has damage to it greater than it's worth and you decide to NOT total it/sell it to the insurance company? Does the insurance company end up just not insuring that vehicle anymore?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Yes hail really really really really sucks. Had some scary huge hail back in 2003 on July 3. It was so loud when it was crashing into the roof that nothing could drown out the sound. Then, when I went outside to look at my car, I was nearly in tears. my "new to me" 1999 chrysler 300m had broken lights, crack on the back windshield, and dents as big as a fist covering the entire body.....

It took the body shop a month (and cost my insurance around 8,000 to fix.) What a nightmare!

 

[Nintendesert]

The dents actually help you get better gas mileage. Be thankful.

 

[Craig234]

Yep, hail sucks. Worst way, I think, is to hit a hail storm while driving on the interstate with no shelter/underpass in sight.

Once I was driving in South Dakota in a rental car, a bit naive about hail. On the interstate.

The radio talked about it and I saw a huge ominous blackness in the sky where I was going, what I call a 'biblical storm', but there was no cover.

When I'd get to an overpass every few miles they were completely packed with cars already, no where to stop.

Then the hail came. Man was it loud. I pulled over before long of course - driving just made it a lot worse - and it pounded very, very loudly. Nothing to do.

When I returned the car it had large dents all over it - but they accepted it back without any charges for the damage. Quite an experience though.

 

[DrPizza]

Aren't dents purely cosmetic? They would total a car over that?

I'd love to be able to get my hands on a well cared for truck that's been totaled due to hail damage. (I'd happily pay a few hundred more than what the insurance company is reporting as the salvage value.)

 

[Fritzo]

Your car needs one of these:

 

[Slew Foot]

The dents actually help you get better gas mileage. Be thankful.

just like a golf ball. its more aerodynamic now.

 

[Markbnj]

Yeah hail damage sucks, and often results in the vehicle being totaled. It all depends on how deep and extensive the damage. If you have to replace most of the body then it can be cheaper to total the thing and sell the parts. As for paintless dent repair, I've used it a couple of times with varying levels of success. If the dents are small and not creased it can often restore the panel shape to as-new condition. Creases are a lot harder.

 

[Blieb]

**** Update 1 ****
Truck in for repair. Should be ready next Week. $5,000 in damage.

Car will probably be totaled. Thinking we'll take the cash and apply toward another vehicle in a year or so.

Roofer coming to check house Wednesday. Tons of shingle grit on the ground.

 

[allisolm]

So sorry you had such damage from that storm. We had the hail as well and I was worried as the car with the sunroof was outside. Fortunately, I didn't find any damage and we live close to where the largest stones were reported. We had lots that were a bit smaller than golf balls. I don't even remember the last time prior to this that I saw hail in Tallahassee.

 

[Ichinisan]

Hail can go to hell.