What to expect, dent by dent.
After a Maryland hail storm, the two questions every driver asks are the same: how much will this cost, and how long will my car be in the shop? The honest answer depends heavily on dent count, dent depth, and whether paintless dent repair (PDR) is a fit — here's the real breakdown.
Airpark Auto Collision of Gaithersburg — 7615 Rickenbacker Dr, Suite C, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Call (301) 908-0606
Cost: typically $300-$800 as a flat-rate PDR job. Timeline: 2-3 days. Most hail dents are shallow and don't crack paint, making them ideal PDR candidates — the metal is massaged back into shape from behind the panel with no repaint needed.
Cost: typically $800-$2,000 flat-rate PDR, more if panels need traditional repair. Timeline: 4-6 days. At this density, technicians often work panel-by-panel, and a few dents near body creases may require traditional filler-and-paint work alongside the PDR work on the rest of the vehicle.
Cost: $2,000-$6,000+, depending on how much traditional bodywork is mixed in with PDR. Timeline: 1-2 weeks. Roofs and hoods take the brunt of large hail and often have the deepest dents; some may exceed PDR's depth limits and require panel replacement.
PDR preserves factory paint and costs roughly half of traditional filler-and-paint repair per panel, because there's no material, prep, spray booth time, or cure time involved. Traditional repair becomes necessary only when paint has cracked or the dent is too sharp/deep for PDR — we assess every panel and quote both approaches when it's a close call.
After a regional hail event, comprehensive claims volume spikes and adjusters can take longer than usual to inspect and approve. Filing promptly and choosing a shop that documents damage thoroughly (photos, dent maps) speeds up approval. Comprehensive hail claims typically don't affect your premium since the damage isn't your fault.
Light damage (10-20 dents) with PDR typically runs $300-$800. Moderate damage runs $800-$2,000. Severe, multi-panel damage with 50+ dents can run $2,000-$6,000 or more, especially if some panels need traditional repair.
Light PDR jobs finish in 2-3 days. Moderate damage takes 4-6 days. Severe damage with heavy roof and hood dents can take 1-2 weeks, especially if some panels need traditional filler-and-paint repair.
Yes, typically about half the cost per panel, because there's no filler, paint, or booth time involved — just careful manipulation of the metal from behind the panel.
Usually not. Hail is a comprehensive, 'other than collision' claim, and most carriers don't raise rates for weather-related claims since they're not the policyholder's fault.
Most can, since hail dents are typically shallow and don't crack paint. Very deep dents near sharp body creases, or dents where the paint has cracked, may need traditional bodywork instead — we'll quote both if it's a close call.
Yes. Bring your claim number and we'll document every dent with photos and a dent map, submit the estimate, and handle direct billing with your carrier.