The August 26 hail storm left thousands of dented hoods, roofs, and trunk lids across the Denver metro — and body shops are already booking out weeks. If your car took hits, here’s exactly what to do, what it should cost you, and how to avoid the two most common mistakes Denver drivers make after a storm.
Step 1: Document the Damage Before Anything Else
Before you call anyone, photograph your car in good light. Get all four corners of the vehicle, then close-ups of the worst panels — hood, roof, and trunk usually take the most hits. Shoot at a low angle so the dents catch the light. These photos are what your insurer and your repair shop will both work from, and they prove the damage came from this storm and not a later one.
Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
If you carry comprehensive coverage, hail is covered — it falls under “acts of nature,” not collision. You’ll pay your comprehensive deductible and insurance covers the rest. If you’re liability-only, the repair is out of pocket. Not sure which you have? It’s on your policy’s declarations page, or one call to your agent settles it.
One honest note: we’re a repair shop, not insurance advisors. Whether to file a claim on minor damage is a math question — get a free estimate first, compare it to your deductible, and decide from there. That’s exactly why estimates should never cost you anything.
What Is Paintless Dent Repair (and Why It’s the Right Fix for Hail)
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is the industry standard for hail damage. Instead of filling dents with body filler and repainting the panel, a technician massages each dent out from behind the panel with specialized tools. Your factory paint and factory panels stay intact.
That matters more than most people realize:
- Resale value — repainted panels show up on paint-meter checks and vehicle history. Factory paint doesn’t.
- No color-match risk — nothing gets resprayed, so nothing can mismatch.
- Speed — most hail repairs take days, not the weeks a repaint-heavy repair does.
What Hail Repair Costs in Denver
With a comprehensive claim, your real cost is your deductible — commonly $250 to $1,000. Through our hail repair program, deductible assistance of up to $500 is available, which for many drivers means the repair costs little or nothing out of pocket. The estimate itself is free, and we’ll tell you straight if the damage is minor enough that a claim isn’t worth filing.
The Two Mistakes to Avoid After a Storm
Mistake 1: Waiting. After a big storm, every body shop in the metro books out fast. The line only gets longer, and unrepaired dents can complicate a claim if another storm hits before the work is done.
Mistake 2: The parking-lot tent. Every Denver hail season brings pop-up repair operations that follow storms from state to state. Some do fine work — but if there’s a problem six months later, they’re gone. Ask any shop two questions: where will you physically be next year, and what warranty comes with the repair?
Our answer to both: the certified PDR team we partner with sits right next door to our shop on Hinsdale in Centennial — a family-run operation that has repaired 50,000+ vehicles since 1994 — and every repair carries a lifetime warranty for as long as you own the vehicle.
How It Works at ColorWerks
- Send photos. Use the form on our hail damage repair page — four corners plus close-ups.
- Get a virtual estimate — usually the same day — plus your spot in line.
- We handle the claim. Our partner works directly with every major insurer, so you’re not playing phone tag.
- Drop off, pick up. One location in Centennial. Dents gone, factory paint intact.
Hail Damage FAQ
Will a hail claim raise my insurance rates?
Comprehensive claims are treated differently than at-fault accidents, and a single hail claim typically has little effect — but every insurer scores this differently, so ask yours directly. What we can tell you: unrepaired hail damage will reduce what your car is worth at trade-in.
Can hail damage be fixed without repainting?
In most cases, yes — that’s the whole point of PDR. If a hailstone cracked the paint (rare, but it happens with large stones), that panel may need refinishing, and your estimate will say so up front.
How long does hail repair take?
Depends on the dent count, but most PDR hail repairs are measured in days. You’ll get a timeline with your estimate.
Do you handle trucks and SUVs?
All makes and models — cars, trucks, and SUVs, domestic and import.
Get Your Free Estimate Before the Line Gets Longer
Send photos through our hail repair page or call (720) 328-5439. Free same-day estimates, up to $500 off your deductible, lifetime warranty on the repair. Serving Denver, Centennial, Littleton, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, and the greater metro area.