The Zen of Paintless Dent Repair

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.

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!

We get it. Why get the hail damage on your car repaired when it’s only going to hail again?

Now that the ATX 2023 hail season has finally come to a close, you might consider just waiting until it hails again to get the repairs. After all, Austin, TX does seem to be Mother Nature’s new hotbed for severe hail storms. As practical as that may sound, Superior Dent Solutions will explain the pros & cons of waiting to file a hail damage claim & getting your auto hail damage repaired.

The Cons to Waiting to Get Your Auto Hail Damage Repaired.

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Read the top 5 reasons why waiting to get your ATX auto hail damage repaired could cost you more in the long run.

More Waiting Could Mean More Damage

If you have preexisting hail damage on your vehicle, a second hailstorm greatly increases the chance that your vehicle goes from repairable to totaled.  Your car’s metal can only take so much mangling before it’s impossible to get it back to its original shape. If a vehicle is declared totaled due to hail damage, you lose big every single time.

Inaccurate Inspection & Estimate to Repair

A majority of insurance adjusters do not specialize in hail inspections and will not quote the cost to repair you accurately. It is not uncommon at all for the initial estimate to be 40-50% of the actual damages to the vehicle. That means you end up with damage not accounted for resulting in out-of-pocket expense to you. Even if you don’t get your vehicle repaired now, we highly suggest scheduling a time to get your vehicle inspected by one of our paintless dent repair specialists to make sure ALL of the hail damage is accounted for and paid for by your insurance company.

Increased Repair Time

Estimating new hail damage on a vehicle with existing damage can significantly increase the amount of time your vehicle is in the shop. Not to mention, most insurance adjusters aren’t experienced enough to differentiate the damage. They do have enough experience though to know if the amount of damage is comparable to the hail damage of your neighbor’s damage. If you have preexisting auto hail damage and haven’t filed a claim from the previous storm, the situation becomes even more arduous. Expect much longer sitting around and “waiting” time while you jump through multiple hoops.

Accidents Happen

If you haven’t had your vehicle’s hail damage repaired, you are driving around with pre-existing damage. Let’s say hypothetically that you are involved in a minor car accident that results in a fender bender. Even if it wasn’t your fault, a repair that would typically cost $500-$1,000 to repair turns into a “total loss.” If you have pre-existing hail damage that bordered on that “totaled” precipice and then add the cost to repair the new damage, you run the risk of your insurance company deeming the vehicle unrepairable.

Multiple Deductibles

Your insurance company knows where your vehicle resides. They also know about any previous hail storms that have hit Austin and the many cities in and around Austin that had hail activity. Ultimately, they know about anything and everything that could potentially damage your vehicle. Insurance companies will collect wherever they can. After all, they are business and they will cash in anywhere they can to avoid costly payouts after a severe hail event. From charging multiple deductibles to under-estimating the hail damage on your vehicle, their #1 goal is preserving their bottom line.

The Pros to Getting Your Auto Hail Damage Repaired ASAP.

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NOW is the best time to get your hail damage repaired and here are 5 reasons why!

Get Into the Best Austin Paintless Dent Repair Shops

The sooner you file your auto hail damage insurance claim in Austin, the more options you have. The best auto hail repair shops in Austin fill up quickly after a hail storm. What makes one shop better than another? Austin has many auto body shops and dealership repair shops but not as many paintless dent repair shops.

Why? PDR shops are dent repair shops that work primarily and sometimes exclusively in auto hail damage repair. After a major hail event, auto body shops & dealership repair shops will either temporarily hire or contract with independent paintless dent repair technicians to take on hail repair work. Your BEST option ALWAYS is to bring your vehicle to an actual paintless dent repair shop for the highest quality of repairs, service, and price.

Accurate Hail Damage Repair Estimates

A majority of insurance adjusters do not specialize in hail inspections and will not quote the cost to repair you accurately. It is not uncommon at all for the initial estimate to be 40-50% of the actual damages to the vehicle. That means you end up with damage not accounted for resulting in out-of-pocket expense to you. At Superior Dent Solutions, we never start repairs until after we do a reinspection. As mentioned above, we typically recover thousands of dollars of missed hail damage by your insurance adjuster. When we discover additional damage, we submit a supplement request to your insurance company to make sure you do not pay any out-of-pocket expense for missed damage.

Faster Repair Time

After a severe hail storm accurance, especially in a large city like Austin, there will be hundreds of thousands of hail damaged vehicles. The sooner you file a hail damage claim on your vehicle, the faster you will get an adjuster out to estimate the damage and get your car in for repairs. If you get your claim submitted within 2 weeks of the storm, repair times typically only about 3-5 days. 2-3 months after the storm, repair times can go up to 7-10 days…sometimes longer.

Rental Car Availability

Procuring a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop for repairs can be tricky after a hail storm. If your insurance policy covers the cost of a rental car, we highly suggest you file your hail damage claim ASAP. When you do this, you will be provided a ‘rental code’ to mention to the rental car agency which will put you in line immediately to pick up a rental. At Superior Dent Solutions, we work with Enterprise & Hertz on a day-to-day basis and in many situations have to wait until a rental is available for our customer before we can start working on the repairs. If you have a secondary vehicle to use while your car is being repaired, that is going to be your best bet. If your insurance policy does NOT cover a rental, Superior Dent Solutions has a fleet of rentals that are complimentary for our customers to borrow while their car is in the shop.

Superior Dent Solutions Perks

Superior Dent Solutions is an Austin, TX local paintless dent repair shop. We have been in business for over 25 years. We also have an in-house auto body repair division that takes care of any paint damage, panel replacement, dents that can’t be repaired with PDR, and more. We pay up to $1000 of your deductible. We have a fleet of rental cars that are complimentary for our customers who do not have loaner coverage. Hail damage inspections are free and can be done at your location or ours. All repairs come with a Lifetime Warranty.

Most importantly, Superior Dent Solutions works for YOU, not your insurance company. We are NOT a Direct Repair Shop and never will be. We never cut corners, use after-market parts, or ask you to pay for anything that should be covered under your insurance policy.

We guarantee it.

Suggested Reading

Top 5 Reasons Vehicle Owners Wait to File Hail Damage Car Claims With Insurance Company

If you live in an area recently hit by a hail storm severe enough to cause dent damage to your vehicle, this is a common question if you carry comprehensive insurance coverage on your vehicle and want the hail damage repaired. Superior Dent Solutions is an auto hail repair shop located in Austin, TX, and we are NOT a DRP—a direct repair provider. What does this mean?

Direct Repair Provider VS Independent Repair Shop

Direct repair shops are auto body shops or paintless dent repair shops that are contracted with your insurance company in order to be placed on their “DRP” list.

Why would an auto body or paintless dent repair shop want to be a DRP?

When an insurance company partners with a shop, the insurance company sends the shop business. This cuts back on the shop’s advertising dollars and ensures a steady flow of business.

What is the difference between a DRP and an independent local auto body/paintless dent repair shop?

Insurance companies usually choose big box repair shops/franchise shops to partner with for a few reasons.

• One reason is because they have multiple locations in multiple cities.
• Secondly, they are usually corporate-owned, and the business model is primarily based on quantity, not quality.
• DRPs often use aftermarket parts instead of original manufacturer (OEM) parts. These parts are mass-produced to work on a myriad of vehicles. As a result, they tend to be of lower quality and rarely fit as well as they should. 
• Finally, labor is cheaper.

Some common DRP shops in the Austin area are Gerber Collision Center, Caliber Collision, Austin Body Works, Crash Champions, Maxwell Ford, and Jeffs Auto Body Repair.

Common Steering Tactics Insurance Company Use

Insurance companies will do everything in their power to send you to one of their DRP shops, they will even employ scare tactics to make you believe that you have no other option. This is all very illegal.

The insurance company sends you to a specific shop for an initial adjuster estimate.

Once you get there and they give you the estimate, the shop tries to tell you that you have to get your repairs done there. They will tell you whatever they can to make you believe THEY are your only option. Insurance companies get very busy with claims when a big hail storm hits your area. Sometimes, they will send their customers to their “Direct Repair Facilities” instead of sending out an adjuster. When they do this, it is an easy way to get you into their pocket.

Remember, DRP shops work for the insurance company to get the best deal so they can pay out less, make as many repairs as possible quickly, and keep a tight grip on the entire hail repair process.

Common scare tactics used in this scenario:

• Insurance won’t cover the repairs if you don’t use them.
• You won’t get a lifetime warranty if you go elsewhere.
• “This is just the process.”

When you file your claim, they start the steering process.

This is when you are most vulnerable. You are already flustered and not sure what your next steps are. Remember, the auto hail repair shop you use to repair your vehicle is your choice. It is called steering, no matter what your insurance company, insurance adjuster, or DRP shop tells you.

For example, this comes directly from State Farm’s website.

“You can choose any shop you like to repair your vehicle’s damage. But if you go with a shop that’s in the State Farm^® Select Service network, you could save time and effort.”

Common scare tactics used in this scenario:

• Insurance won’t cover the repairs if you don’t use them.
• You won’t get a lifetime warranty if you go elsewhere.
• They provide the highest quality and most experience.
• This will make the process faster.

Insurance companies know it’s illegal but steering is still a common practice.

Insurance companies call DRPs many names, but they are still DRPs.

Each insurance company has its unique way of convincing you to use one of its preferred shops. They call them many different things, but in the end, they are all just shops that have agreed to get more business in return for a discounted cost.

State Farm = State Farm Select Service^®

Geico = Auto Repair Xpress

AllState = Good Hands Repair Network

Liberty Mutual = Guaranteed Repair Network Shop

Farmers = Guaranteed Repair Shops

Esurance = E Star Repair Facility

Know Your Rights

You choose who repairs your vehicle, not the insurance company.

Conclusion: Independent shops work for you. DRPs work for the insurance company.

Research before hiring any auto body shop or paintless dent repair shop.