It’s a familiar Rapid City story: the skies were clear this morning, and by afternoon, a sudden hailstorm rolled through. Now your car’s covered in little dents and dings, and you’re not sure what to do next.
You’re not alone. South Dakota’s weather can be unpredictable, and hail damage is one of the most common reasons drivers visit us at Dent Shop Rapid City.
Whether it’s your first hailstorm or you’ve been through this before, this checklist will walk you through what to look for, how to document the damage, and how to get it fixed—fast, affordably, and without unnecessary stress.
Step 1: Spot the Damage Before It Gets Worse
Once the storm has passed and it’s safe to go outside, do a walk-around of your car. You don’t need to be a car expert—just take your time and look closely.
Where to check for hail damage:
- Hood and Roof – These are the most exposed and most likely to show dents.
- Trunk Lid – Especially if you park rear-in.
- Side Panels and Doors – Look for dings where hail may have hit at an angle.
- Mirrors and Headlights – These can even crack from larger hailstones.
- Windshield and Windows – Look for chips or cracks, especially around the edges.
Some dents are obvious, but others only show up in the right light. If you’re not sure, try crouching down and looking across the surface at an angle, or use your phone’s flashlight to check the reflection. Small dents can blend into darker paint sometimes.
Step 2: Before You Fix Anything—Document Everything
Before you clean your car or take it to a shop, your next step is to take photos.
Use your phone to snap pictures of:
- Each panel with visible dents
- Close-ups of specific areas (like your hood or roof)
- Any cracks or broken glass
- Wide shots showing the whole vehicle.
All of these can be extremely helpful for any future insurance claims. Be thorough and make sure everything’s clearly visible. If you remember the time of the storm or have a weather alert screenshot, save that too—it helps support an insurance claim too.
Step 3: Understanding What Your Insurance Will Pay For
Most hail damage is covered by comprehensive auto insurance. That’s the part of your policy that covers things like hail, vandalism, or falling branches—not accidents with other vehicles.
Here’s what to look for:
- Do you have comprehensive coverage?
- What’s your deductible?
- Have you filed a hail claim in the last 6 months?
If you’re unsure, give your agent a quick call. Sometimes, if the damage is minor and the deductible is high, it might be smarter to pay out of pocket. Other times, it’s fully covered and an easy claim.
Step 4: A Free Estimate
Once you’ve documented the damage and reviewed your policy, the next step is getting a professional assessment.
Our team at Dent Shop Rapid City offers free inspections and estimates, and we’ll walk you through everything—from how bad the damage is to the right solution.
Here’s why so many Rapid City drivers choose us:
- No pressure estimates—just clear, honest advice.
- Fast turnaround—many repairs are done in hours, not days.
- Insurance help—we coordinate with your adjuster so you don’t have to.
Whether it’s a single dent or dozens of dings, we’ll assess the situation and explain your options. There’s no guesswork.
Quick, Clean, and Value-Preserving: Meet Paintless Dent Repair
If you’ve never heard of paintless dent repair, PDR, before, it’s a modern repair technique that removes dents without sanding, repainting, or fillers.
We access the back side of the dent. Then, using precision tools, we gently massage the metal back to its original shape. This means your factory paint stays intact—no mismatched panels or repaint worries.
Why it’s better:
- Retains your car’s resale value
- Eco-friendly (no paint or harsh chemicals)
- Faster and more affordable than body shops
- Often Insurance-approved for hail and dent repair
PDR is perfect for hail damage because most hail dents don’t crack the paint—they’re just surface-level. That makes them great candidates for this quick, non-invasive method.
What Happens When You Ignore Hail Damage?
Here’s where a lot of drivers make the mistake of “waiting it out.” The mistake is: even small dents can lead to bigger, more expensive problems later.
Paint cracks from hail impact can let in moisture, leading to rust—especially if your car is exposed to more rain or snow.
Cracked windshields can spread over time, turning a small fix into a full replacement.
Hail dents lower your vehicle’s resale or trade-in value, even if they seem cosmetic. If you lease your car, you may face penalties at the end of your term if damage isn’t repaired.
At Dent Shop Rapid City, we’ve seen too many cases where a minor ding becomes a major (and expensive) issue later. Getting it fixed early is almost always the smartest move.
Restore Your Car, Preserve Its Value
After a storm, you’ve got enough to deal with—work, errands, maybe a flooded backyard. Your dent repair shouldn’t add to the stress.
At Dent Shop Rapid City, we take pride in making the process easy, from free inspections to seamless insurance coordination. We know how important your car is—and how frustrating it is when weather leaves its mark.
Let’s get your vehicle back to looking like itself again.
Schedule Your Free Estimate Today:
- Visit us at: 3010 Cambell St., Suite 2, Rapid City, SD 57701
- Call: 605-646-5414
© 2025 Dent Shop.
All rights reserved.