Superior Dent Solutions

Paintless Dent & Auto Hail Repair: Austin & San Antonio

Carrie Atkins

Austin Hail Storm Damage Goes Beyond Dents & Dings

When hail season hits in Austin, the damage can go beyond dents & dings.

This article touches on some dangers that can arise after the storm.

Since we started our business in 2016, the auto hail repair industry has changed—some for the better, some for the worse.

Not only do hail-damaged car owners have to deal with the headaches that come with getting their cars repaired, but they are also faced with parking lot stalkers, circus tent set-ups, out-of-town hail chasers, and auto hail repair company scammers and impersonators. 

Dent Repair Scammers - Austin
CircusTent Dent Repair
Caught red handed?
After Picture Dent Repair Scam
Impersonator Dent Company Claiming to be Superior Dent
Parking Lot Dent Repair Guy Stalker

Austin Auto Hail Repair Scam Red Flags.

Parking Lot Stalkers

The persuasive stranger claiming to “fix” dents in your car. You can find them lurking in big box parking lots, car washes, and grocery stores. They promise a quick fix at a low cost. Even if you refuse, they harass you, follow you home, and/or “fix” your car while you’re not looking and then demand money. 

Out-of-Town Hail Chasers

Auto hail repair is an insurance-driven industry, which makes it very appealing for paintless dent repair technicians who don’t drum in enough business with door dings & parking lot mishaps. Some of these technicians might be good at the art of dent repair, but when the storm is over, they take their lifetime warranty guarantee with them.

Circus Tent Set-Ups

They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but one thing is for sure: they are hail chasers. Like the parking lot stalker, these pop-up dent repair guys love big box stores, supermarkets, and abandoned roadside parking lots. They make their living on the go, following hail storms like the ‘deadheads’ followed The Grateful Dead back in the 70s, but instead of smelling like patchouli – they smell of empty promises and subpar repairs.

Scammers & Impersonators

This particular ‘red flag’ was inspired by an actual impersonator experience we had with a couple of paintless dent repair company competitors of ours. They say impersonation is one of the biggest forms of flattery, but we certainly didn’t take it that way. We received a phone call from a gentleman who suspected he was being scammed by a sales guy claiming to work for us. We were concerned and surprised but just assumed it was a one-time-thing. Then, it happened again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Identifying and Handling the Red Flags of Auto Hail Repair in Austin

What are some common ‘tells’ that the person or company wanting to repair my car hail damage is a questionable character?

They approach you in a parking lot, make big promises, and don’t seem that interested in your vehicle. They offer you a cheap repair on the spot. They don’t have a website, and you can’t find them on Google or anywhere else when researching who they are.

How can I tell if this dent repair company is local or from out of town?

Number one, Google them. If you can’t find them as a legitimate Austin auto hail repair company, decline. If you do find them on Google or social media, check for reviews. A quick Google search can save you time and potentially thousands of dollars.

Is this dent-guy for real?

First of all, if this is a thought that pops into your head, they are likely not. If you choose to go against your better judgment, because it happens to all of us, ask for a business card. Ask them questions like Do you work for a local Austin shop? How many years have you been repairing hail damage? Do you have any pictures of your work? Do you have a website? What proof do you have that you are a legitimate paintless dent repair technician? 

How does the parking lot dent repair scam work?

BBB says, “A person approaches you in the parking lot of a store stating they noticed dents on your car. It just so happens that they work at a body shop and can fix them for you! They promise to charge much less than what a shop would and they can make the repairs on the spot while you are shopping. The “repair person” may try to appeal to your altruistic side by claiming that you would be supporting their small business”.

Real-life encounter stories of dent repair scammers.

Parking lot dent repair scam.
Fake Auto Body Repair Scheme Targets Victims With Dents In Cars (Video)
Car Dent Con Artist (Article)
How To Avoid Dent Repair Parking Lot Scammers (Video)

Superior Dent Solutions latest blog posts.

Is a Hail Damage Claim Worth It? 

There is an undeniable weight of anxiety and fear that lives in the shadow of a catastrophic hail storm. These are the top concerns Austin vehicle owners have mentioned when it comes to filing a hail damage claim and whether it is worth it.

Fear of a Total Loss From Hail Damage

We love our cars. We do our due diligence when seeking out the ‘perfect’ car to mirror our lifestyles. This fear rings very true for later-model vehicle owners.

For example, you want the best value for your money when purchasing a used vehicle. You know you could run down to your local dealership and purchase a brand new model but you are more than fine with a gently used quality vehicle. Therefore, you do your research and track down a car, truck, or SUV that has better-than-average ratings, good to great miles-per-gallon, and retains its resale value. After you find it, you purchase it and protect it with a comprehensive insurance policy. You are more than satisfied with your new-to-you vehicle and then it happens.

Total Loss Hail Damage Car Austin Claim
Auto Hail Claim “Total Loss”

It hails and you might start praying. After the storm, you check for hail damage and sure enough, every panel seems to have damage. Now what? As most used car owners know, the value of their vehicle is more pride than monetary resale value.

The Dreaded ‘Total Loss’ Verdict

The dreaded ‘total loss’ phrase creeps into your mind. If the insurance company totals it, you still have a loan to pay off. You know that replacing it will be nearly impossible. Now you start questioning whether filing a hail damage claim is even worth it. This is a tough scenario to swallow.

The vehicle was purchased for $10k, and you have $3k left to pay on it. The insurance adjuster comes out and, unfortunately, calls it a ‘total loss.’ The cost to repair the hail damage exceeds the Kelly Blue Book value of the car after considering depreciation. A few days later, you get a settlement offer plus a buy-back option.

Option 1

Filing a Hail Damage Claim on Your Vehicle

  • Settlement Offer: The car’s pre-loss value is $8,500, and minus your $500 deductible, you are left with $8k. You pay the balance on the loan. You are now down to $5k to purchase another vehicle, but now, you are $1.5k in the hole.
  • Buy-Back Option: Your insurance company offers to let you keep the vehicle for $3.5k. After the $8.5K minus $3.5K minus the $500 deductible, you keep the car plus they write you a check for $4.5k. You pay off the remaining $3k owed to the bank, and you are left with $1.5k and the hail-damaged vehicle that now has a salvage title. You can’t purchase comprehensive coverage on a salvage-titled vehicle.

Option 2

Not Filing, Keeping Vehicle With Hail Damage

If you decide to skip filing a claim altogether, consider the following:

If you have an outstanding loan on the vehicle or it is a leased or rented car, you have a legal obligation to file a claim for hail damage in Austin.

If you own the title on the vehicle, it is up to you to do whatever is right for you. If you do have full coverage, you are paying for a service for events such as hail damage or any other act of nature that might have damaged your car. Filing a hail damage claim is your right and, in many cases, your best option. We will outline why in the next section.

Risks of Keeping Your Vehicle With Hail Damage

  1. Resale value. If you plan on keeping the vehicle until it’s no longer mechanically sound and don’t mind the aesthetic of hail damage, this is your best bet. If you think you might want to sell the vehicle at a later date, expect to sell it cheap.
  2. Future damage. This might not be a scenario you have considered but let’s say you get rear-ended. Hypothetically, you’ve just had it, changed your mind, and decided to file a hail damage claim, after all. An adjuster comes out to assess the damage. They tell you that the damage caused by the hail could have been repaired, and the vehicle wouldn’t have been considered a total loss, but now, with the additional damage, it is a total loss.

DIY Car Hail Damage Inspection

This is something you can easily do at home to get a pretty good idea of whether your vehicle has a pretty good likelihood of being deemed a total loss as a result of hail damage.

Do a quick wash of your vehicle. Move the vehicle into the sunlight. Look at every panel and count the number of dents you can see. Now add 20% to that number. If you see damage, we can almost guarantee there are some small dents that aren’t easily visible without proper PDR LED lighting. Do this for every panel.

You can download the DIY Hail Damage Inspection Worksheet PG 1 | PG 2 to make it easier.

Download FREE!

DIY Hail Inspection Worksheet

The Easy Solution

Austin Auto Hail Damage Inspections are FREE

…and without obligation. If you aren’t sure about your next steps and need some more information, consider calling Superior Dent Solutions for a free inspection at 512-999-7909. If you live in Austin or within 60 miles of our shop in Liberty Hill, we can come to you. We can pretty quickly determine if the hail damage on your vehicle is repairable or a ‘total loss’ if you decide to file a claim. We can also offer solutions and additional options.

Superior Dent Solutions has been repairing hail damage since 2016, and 95% of the vehicles come into our shop for repairs.

Where Would You Like Your Inspection?

Call Superior Dent Solutions today at 512-999-7909 or click on the links below to schedule your free 15-minute hail damage inspection.

Home/Office Inspection
Superior Dent Shop Inspection

Full-Service Hail Repair Body Shop Austin

Auto Body Paintless Dent Repair – Complete Hail Repair in Austin

The Superior Dent Solutions Paintless Dent Repair FIRST Approach

Superior Dent Solutions opened its doors in 2016 as a specialty paintless dent repair shop specializing in auto hail repair.

In March 2024, Superior Dent Solutions added a full line of auto body repair services to its list of in-house dent repair capabilities. As a ‘paintless dent repair first’ shop, we only resort to auto body repair services when they are essential.

Before, PDR technicians were forced to subcontract the necessary auto body work to auto body shops in Austin, TX. This was a viable solution in the past, as auto hail damage could be repaired nearly 90% of the time with paintless dent repair only. Today, damaging hail storms in Austin have increased in severity & occurrence. What does this mean? Instead of just dents & dings, we are seeing vehicles that have broken and sometimes shattered windshields, large dents with paint damage, and car panels with such severe damage that they need a total replacement

As weather patterns have changed, so has the definition of auto hail repair. So have we.

PDR + Auto Body & Paint vs Auto Body Shop + PDR Services

What’s the difference?

Paintless Dent Repair + Auto Body & Paint Shop

Superior Dent Solutions fits into the repair shop’s paintless dent repair + auto body & paint category.

This concept is relatively new, so you won’t find too many of us in Austin, TX. Our technicians mainly consist of paintless dent repair technicians, as auto hail repair is our specialty.

We have added auto body repair, scratch repair, auto body paint, and extensive dent repair to our list of services, so we do not target vehicles that have been damaged in an automobile accident, fender benders, scratch repair, or paint jobs.

Our list of auto body repair services is only offered when a vehicle with hail damage in Austin can not be 100% repaired with paintless dent repair.

This does not mean that our Austin auto body repair services are not top-notch or comparable with those of other Austin auto body shops; it simply means that we do not have to outsource auto body work to another shop.

We have done this to save our customers money, repair turnaround times, and multiple engagements with their insurance company during the auto hail claims process. Selfishly, it saves us from a major logistical nightmare.

Superior Dent Solutions Exterior Parking Lot
SDS Exterior
Superior Dent Solutions Repair Warehouse
80 Vehicle Repair Space
Superior Dent Solutions Hail Damaged Vehicles
10,800 SQ FT
Superior Dent Solutions Exterior
Big Parking Area

Auto Body Shop + Paintless Dent Repair Services

Most of your Austin auto body and dealership repair shops fit this category. We know this because when a significant hail storm hits Austin, we get many of THEIR hail-damaged cars into our shop for repairs.

An auto body repair shop service list typically includes the following:

  • Repair dented, chipped or smashed bumpers and panels;
  • Straighten bent doors, fenders, quarters, and bedsides;
  • Replace windshields, headlight assemblies and mirrors;
  • Remove scratches from exterior paint.

As anyone in Austin, TX knows, hail occurrences have become more frequent and have increased the severity of vehicle damage. As a result, Austin auto body shops have added paintless dent repair to their service list.

This is how most auto body & car dealership repair shops handle paintless dent repair when they want to make additional money during hail season.

  • They hire a temporary paintless dent repair technician to their staff.
  • They add a tent to their location that offers PDR services.
  • They outsource auto hail repair work to an Austin paintless dent repair shop.

We are NOT implying that this degrades the quality of service that an auto body shop can provide for auto hail repair, we are simply informing you about how it works. If you want a quality auto body repair if your vehicle was damaged in a car accident or collision, call a local Austin auto body shop.

Why Superior Dent Solutions for Auto Hail Repair vs Auto Body Shop?

  • All vehicle damage caused by a hail storm can be repaired in one place.
  • Your vehicle repairs will not be outsourced.
  • 100% restoration of your hail-damaged vehicle with a paintless dent repair first approach. Learn more about why this is important in this article.
  • We are NOT a DPR (Direct Repair Shop). We are a customer-first paintless dent repair shop.
  • All Austin auto hail repairs come with a limited lifetime warranty.
  • Pay-no-deductible on auto hail repairs with comprehensive insurance coverage.
  • Superior Dent Solutions has a fleet of loaner cars that are free to customers.
  • You don’t need to leave your home. We come to you. We offer free home inspections and free vehicle pick-up and delivery.
  • Hail claims assistance. We deal with the insurance adjusters to ensure ALL of the auto hail damage is repaired and covered by your insurance company.

Schedule Hail Repair Inspection – Austin, TX

Mobile Auto Hail Repair Inspections or Visit Our New Location!

The new Superior Dent Solutions is located at  115 Holmes Rd Liberty Hill, TX 78642. To schedule your FREE hail damage inspection, call 512-999-7909 or use our online scheduling form to choose a date/time that works for you. We are located in Liberty Hill but provide services to the entire ATX metroplex and surrounding cities.

Liberty Hill too far? No worries, we come to you. From free home inspections to complimentary vehicle pick-up and delivery after repairs, you can leave the driving to us!

Hail Repair Austin Plus Auto Body & Paint

Full-Service Auto Hail Repair Austin, TX

New Location, More Services, 100% Hail Repair Facility

Superior Dent Solutions is excited to announce the opening of their new & improved BIGGER paintless dent repair facility.

Since 2016, SDS owners AJ Ahmed and Stephen Mannino have been repairing hail-damaged cars using the paintless dent repair technique. Although their primary location is in the Austin, TX, area, they spend nearly 65% of their time working in other hard-hitting hail cities throughout the United States. This is a common practice for paintless dent repair shops specializing in auto hail repair.

From Hail Chasing to Full-Service Auto Hail Repair Shop in ATX

In 2022, the Superior Dent Repair team decided to trade in their traveling hail catastrophe repair services for a more permanent business model, providing auto hail repair only in Austin, TX. The final decision was made shortly after the severe thunderstorms that hit the Austin area on Sept. 24, 2023, a hail storm that resulted in over $600 million dollars in roof & auto hail damage. Large hail stones, some estimated to be the size of baseballs and softballs, moved beyond the scope of what paintless dent repair could restore and required auto body & paint restoration. Some vehicles were even classified as a ‘total loss.’

The PDR team functioned out of a 6,000-square-foot warehouse that suited all the paintless dent repair requirements but struggled with any auto body, paint, and glass repair/replacement outsourcing work required for 100% restoration. This was a scheduling nightmare for the Superior Dent Repair team and an inconvenience for their Austin auto hail repair customers.

Mother Nature Changes the Austin Paintless Dent Repair Industry

Increased Hail Storm Severity Equals Increased Auto Hail Damage Severity

Fantastic customer service requirements in the paintless dent repair industry in Austin, TX, have evolved in the last few years. With global warming comes increased storm damage severity and storm occurrences. Not too long ago, a hail-damaged vehicle in Austin could be restored to ‘like new’ condition with paintless dent repair alone. Today, over half of the cars with hail damage require paintless dent removal, paint repair, body damage work, glass replacement, and panel replacement.

In the aftermath of the September 2023 hail occurrence in Austin, Superior Dent Solutions owners decided it was time for an upgrade. The new business model would include a much bigger paintless dent repair facility and the addition of an in-house auto body repair and painting team to accommodate ALL of the services required to restore a hail-damaged vehicle to its original condition.

Superior Dent Solutions’ new & much improved 10,800-square foot state-of-the-art paintless dent repair plus auto body and paint facility is NOW OPEN and located at 115 Holmes Rd., Liberty Hill, TX 78642.

The new location offers a COMPLETE auto hail repair solution for all of Austin ATX & surrounding cities.

Austin Auto hail repair services include:

  • Paintless Dent Repair
  • Auto body repair
  • Auto body paint & scratch repair
  • Large dent repair

Additional offerings:

  • Home hail damage inspections
  • Hail claims assistance
  • Paid deductible on auto hail repair
  • Vehicle pick-up & delivery
  • Valet service
  • Car detail with repair
  • Lifetime warranty

Press Release: Superior Dent Solutions Relocates To New & Larger Facility, Adds Auto Body

Climate change is increasing the size of hailstones & redefining the typical auto hail repair in Austin, Texas. Superior Dent Solutions answers the call.

AJ Ahmed & Stephen Mannino, owners of Superior Dent Solutions, are proud to announce that due to their remarkable growth in the ATX area, they are moving to a newer & bigger location on March 1, 2024. The new address is 115 Holmes Rd., Liberty Hill, TX 78642, and the building is nearly double the size of their previous shop located at 10355 TX-29, Liberty Hill, TX.

Hail is causing more damage in a larger swath of Texas. The increase in hail damage is partly due to the population increase along the Interstate 35 corridor between Central and North Texas, where hail is prevalent. Another contributing factor is anthropogenic warming. Some areas, such as Texas, are experiencing an increase in hailstorms and more damaging hail. Larger hail stones and more hail occurrences are causing damage beyond the scope of paintless dent repair. Shattered windshields, paint damage, and excessive panel damage require a more traditional auto body shop repair approach.

Superior Dent Solutions is a paintless dent repair facility specializing in auto hail repair. The new shop spans over 10,800 square feet. This expansion has allowed them the space to house new equipment to facilitate an all-encompassing auto hail repair experience in one location, including auto body and paint, scratch removal, minor collision repair, and large dent repair.

The new building will also allow the business to add to its in-house fleet of customer loaner vehicles, add paintless dent repair technicians, and service more cars while reducing cycle time.

Despite moving to a new location, Superior Dent Solutions will continue to primarily be a paintless dent repair first facility. “The heart of the business maintains its paintless dent repair first approach to hail repair,” said co-owner AJ Ahmed, “but with the severity of damage caused by last year’s storms forced us to outsource glass, paint, & auto body work. The expansion has allowed us to bring all of those services in-house.”

The fusion of paintless dent repair and auto body repair represents a significant milestone for the ATX area, bringing together expertise under one roof.

The partners expressed their commitment to customer satisfaction. “The expansion not only helps to increase our competitiveness in the auto hail repair market but also provides a better service to our customers,” Mannino emphasized.

With a legacy of excellence and a renewed commitment to serving the community, the newly revitalized automotive destination stands poised to meet the diverse needs of ATX residents for years to come.

Superior Dent Solutions prioritizes customer satisfaction and works for the customer, not the insurance company, to fix their vehicles correctly and safely.

Superior Dent Solutions
Location: Liberty Hill, TX
512-999-7909
www.SuperiorDentSolutions.com

Company At A Glance…
Type: Paintless Dent Repair / Auto Body Repair
Facility Employees: 15+
In Business Since: 2016
Number of Locations: 1
Production Space: 10,800 square feet