What to Do After a Hailstorm

1. Wait until the storm is safely over

Remain sheltered while severe weather is active. Follow National Weather Service warnings and local emergency instructions, and do not go outside to protect or inspect a vehicle during hail, lightning, high wind, or flooding. Peak Country’s weather pages are informational and do not replace official warnings.

2. Look at the vehicle in good lighting

When conditions are safe, walk around the vehicle without climbing onto it. Look across the hood, roof, trunk or liftgate, roof rails, doors, fenders, and quarter panels. Directional light and clean reflections make dents easier to see because a low spot bends a straight reflected line. Changing your viewing angle often reveals marks that disappear when viewed directly.

3. Do not assume no visible damage means no damage

Shallow hail dents can be difficult to identify outdoors, especially on light-colored paint, dusty panels, curved surfaces, or under broad overcast light. Trim can also conceal the edge of a damaged area. A quick driveway check is useful, but it is not the same as inspecting clean panels under controlled PDR lighting.

4. Check nearby official hail reports

The Peak Country Hail Tracker shows current official-source context, while the Northern Colorado Hail History provides verified NOAA/NCEI observations from completed seasons. The Hail Size Guide explains common diameter comparisons. A nearby hail report does not prove that a particular vehicle was damaged. Reports have varying location precision, and hail can vary sharply over short distances.

5. Photograph obvious damage

Take wide photographs of each affected side and closer images of obvious dents, broken trim, or glass damage. Record the date, approximate time, vehicle location, and any safe observations about the storm. Avoid placing objects on the paint to mark dents. Photographs can preserve useful context, but they may not reveal the full dent count or repairability.

6. Request a professional inspection

A professional hail inspection uses controlled reflection lighting and a panel-by-panel process. The technician evaluates dent depth, location, metal stretch, paint condition, panel material, previous repairs, and access behind the panel. This establishes actual visible damage and helps determine whether Paintless Dent Repair or another repair method is appropriate.

7. Consider insurance without rushing

You may choose to contact your insurer and should follow the requirements of your policy. Peak Country can evaluate visible damage and provide repair-related documentation. Sometimes additional legitimate damage becomes visible after proper access or limited disassembly; when that happens, the repair file may require further documentation and a supplement for insurer review. Coverage and payment decisions remain subject to the policy and insurer.

8. Understand the repair plan

Before authorizing work, ask which panels are suitable for PDR, whether the paint is intact, what access or trim removal is expected, and what realistic result the technician anticipates. Review Peak Country’s repair standards and hail-repair FAQ. Avoid pressing, heating, or glue-pulling dents yourself, since an unsuccessful attempt can complicate later repair.

Keep the vehicle safe while deciding

If glass is broken or a panel has sharp damage, avoid handling loose fragments and arrange appropriate protection or transport. Do not cover a wet vehicle with material that can rub grit across the paint, and do not test dents with household suction tools, boiling water, dry ice, or improvised glue. These approaches can harm paint, trim, wiring, or panel shape and can make the original damage harder to evaluate.

Keep copies of photographs, estimates, and repair discussions in one place. If an insurer is involved, record claim contacts and ask questions when a proposed operation is unclear. Documentation supports an orderly process; it does not replace inspection, repair planning, or a final quality review.

Published September 5, 2026 · Last reviewed September 8, 2026 · Reviewed by Peak Country Auto Hail Repair & Paintless Dent Repair