Hail Damaged Car? Repair, Claim or Sell: What Melbourne Owners Should Do

A hail damaged car leaves you with three options. You can repair it, claim on your insurance, or sell it as is. The best choice depends on the damage, your cover and what the car’s worth. This guide covers each option for Melbourne owners.

What Counts as Hail Damage on a Car?

Hail dents body panels, the roof, bonnet and boot usually take the worst of it. Big hailstones can also crack the windscreen, smash lights and chip the paint.

Check your car in daylight after the storm, also look at it from a low angle, because dents show up better in the reflection. Take photos of every panel.

Also check the glass and lights before you drive. Cracked glass can fail the next time it’s hit.

Repairing a Hail Damaged Car: PDR vs Panel Work

Usually the hail dents get fixed with paintless dent repair, or PDR. A technician pushes the dent out from behind the panel. NRMA says this method skips the respray and usually means faster, cheaper repairs.

PDR only works if the paint is intact. If the paint has cracked or the metal has stretched, you’ll need panel work. That means filler, a respray or a new panel. It costs more and takes longer.

So what does hail damage repair cost varies a lot. One fleet auction manager said quotes for a typical fleet vehicle ran from $1,500 to $4,000. Your car could cost less or more, depending on the dent count and the panels hit. Get at least two quotes.

Making a Hail Damage Insurance Claim

Check your policy first. RACV says hail is typically covered under comprehensive insurance, but not under every policy.

If you’re covered, act quickly:

• Take photos of the damage and the storm date.
• Call your insurer.
• Ask about your excess.
• Get a repair quote.

Compare the excess with the repair quote. On a car with a few light dents, the excess might cost nearly as much as the repair. A claim makes more sense when the damage is heavy.

Don’t sell the car while a claim is open. Talk to your insurer first.

When Is a Hail Damaged Car Written Off?

Many owners ask, “is a hail damaged car a write off?” Sometimes it is, but not often.

In Victoria, a car is written off when repairs would cost more than the car’s value, or when it’s too damaged to drive safely. Hail rarely makes a car unsafe. Cost is the usual trigger. For example, a $4,000 repair on a car worth $3,500 could lead to a write off.

That’s why older, lower value cars get hit hardest. Insurers must report write offs to the state register. Re-registering a repairable write off means passing a roadworthy check and a vehicle identity check, as the Victorian Government explains.

If your insurer writes the car off, you can still deal with the car. Our wrecked car removal service handles cars in that state.

How Hail Damage Affects a Car’s Value

Dents lower what buyers will pay. RACV warns that leaving cosmetic hail damage unrepaired can hurt resale value.

The drop depends on a few things:

• How many dents there are
• Which panels are hit
• Whether the paint is cracked
• The car’s age and kilometres
• What a repairer would charge

Insurance write offs fall further. One auction manager said ex fleet cars written off for hail often sold for about 55 to 60 percent of their pre hail value outside NSW. That figure covers fleet cars at auction, so treat it as a rough guide only.

Repair or Sell: Weighing Up a Hail Damaged Car

Consider the repair quote first and then compare it with what the car would be worth fixed.

• Repair it if the quote is small compared with the car’s value, and you plan to keep it.
• Claim if you’re covered and the repair cost is well above your excess.
• Sell it as is if repairs would cost close to what the car’s worth, or you just don’t want the hassle.

Selling as is saves time, in this you skip the repairs, the buyer inspections and the haggling. Cash for Autos buys hail damaged cars across Melbourne. Our damaged car removal service includes free towing, and pickup is often same day or next day.

For quick pricing, get a quote on our cash for cars page.

Hail Damaged Car FAQ

Is it worth buying a hail damaged car?

It can be, if the price reflects the damage. Check the car for rust, paint cracks and broken glass first. Ask your insurer if it will cover the car before you pay. Get a repair quote too. A cheap price means little if the repair bill wipes out the saving.

Does hail damage affect resale value?

Yes, it usually does. Buyers see dents and expect to pay less. RACV says leaving cosmetic damage unrepaired can hurt resale value. How much you lose depends on the dent count, the panels hit and the car’s age. A quote from a repairer gives you a clearer number.

Can you sell a hail damaged car?

Yes. You can sell it privately, trade it in or sell it as is to a car buyer. Cash for Autos buys hail damaged cars in Melbourne and offers free removal. Tell the buyer about the damage up front. If an insurance claim is open, check with your insurer before you sell.

Featured image: Image by aleksandarlittlewolf on Freepik