Can You Repair Hail Damage on a Car?

You walk up to your car, the light hits just right, and a glint reveals a few new dents on the roof. Maybe they happened while you were parked or driving around town — but chances are, they came from that quick hailstorm you got caught in while driving through the mountains the other day.

You pulled under an overpass as fast as possible, but it still left two or three dings. Just enough to bug you and make you wonder if it’s worth taking to a body shop. You might wonder if you can handle the repairs yourself — and avoid the cost and downtime of a professional hail damage repair.

Hailstorms happen everywhere along Hail Alley, including Colorado — from Denver to Durango, Boulder to the Springs — and no two are exactly alike. The size of the hailstones, the speed of the storm, and where your car was parked all play a role in the damage you’ll see. Sometimes it’s dozens of deep dents. Other times, just a few small ones make you think, “Maybe I can take care of this myself.”

In this blog, we’ll break down the very few situations where you might be able to fix your hail damage  — and help you decide when it’s time to leave it to the pros.

Who Wants to Do Their Own Hail Damage Repair?

You’re not alone. Many drivers look at minor dents and think, “I can probably handle that.” And in a few rare cases, maybe you can — but it helps to be honest about what you’re up against. Here are a few people who think DIY dent repair will work for them (even though they are probably wrong!)

• Have a few minor dings and think it’s not “worth” a shop visit
  
• Are skeptical about the cost of professional repairs
  
• Would rather avoid an insurance company claim if possible
  
• Don’t mind getting hands-on if it means saving some money

If that sounds like you, take a beat — because what seems like a simple fix often turns into frustration fast. Hail dent repair is a lot harder than it looks, and doing it wrong can leave your car looking worse than when you started.

When You Can Do Your Own DIY Hail Dent Repair (Although Not Advised)

Most hail damage requires a professional shop, but you can do the repairs yourself in some rare cases. That said, there are a few situations where trying it yourself might seem reasonable — if you’re willing to accept the risks.

1. The Dents Are Small and Shallow

Tiny, surface-level dents — roughly the size of a quarter or smaller — are the only ones that stand a chance with DIY. Anything deeper, creased, or stretched is likely beyond what you can fix without the right tools and training.

2. The Panel Is Flat and Accessible

Hoods and roofs are your best bet. They’re flat, easier to reach from behind, and mostly made of steel. Curved or contoured areas like doors and fenders? Much harder to work on — even for pros.

3. The Paint Is Completely Intact

This is non-negotiable. The paint must be intact. If the paint is peeling or cracked, you cannot repair it yourself. In fact, home methods can easily make it worse, leading to rust or peeling. Only attempt a fix if the original paint job is flawless and undamaged.

4. You Don’t Need It to Look Perfect

Be honest about your expectations. If you’re okay with “less noticeable” instead of “good as new,” a DIY attempt might be worthwhile. But you’ll need a pro if you want a clean, factory finish.

5. You’re Fine Taking a Risk Before Calling a Pro

Some people just want to try something before giving up and bringing it in — and that’s fine. Just know that failed DIY fixes can make professional repairs more difficult (and expensive).

DIY might seem like a quick fix in all these cases, but even under the best conditions, it rarely delivers pro-level results.

What DIY Hail Repair Tools Can (and Can’t) Do

Plenty of tools are marketed as “easy fixes” for hail damage, but most deliver disappointing results. They promise cost-effective DIY solutions that can end up costing you even more. Here’s what you’re working with if you go the DIY route.

1. Suction Cup Dent Pullers

These are everywhere — hardware stores, auto parts shops, even gas stations. They’re tempting and straightforward. The problem? They rarely work on minor hail dents, especially those with any depth. Suction tools struggle to get enough grip and tend to pull unevenly, leaving the panel warped or unchanged.

2. Hair Dryer and Compressed Air (Heat & Cool Trick)

This popular internet method involves heating the dent with a hair dryer and then blasting it with a can of compressed air to create a rapid temperature change. In theory, the metal flexes and pops back into shape. It’s inconsistent at best, and too much heat can damage the paint.

3. Boiling Water Method

This one’s better suited for plastic bumpers, not metal panels. Pouring boiling water over a dent and trying to push it out from behind might work for large, flexible surfaces, but it does nothing for hail damage on steel or aluminum body panels.

4. Glue Tab Dent Removal Kits

These kits mimic what pros use in paintless dent repair (PDR) — but without the skill or precision. You glue a tab to the dent, pull with a slide hammer or lifter, and hope it pops out. Sometimes it helps. It often leaves you with uneven panels or high spots that need to be knocked back down — a process that’s easy to mess up without training.

5. Lighting, Angles, and Technique Matter More Than Tools

Professional dent repair isn’t just about having tools — it’s about knowing how to use them. Pros use high-intensity lights to see every contour, apply pressure from the right angle, and spend years learning to move metal without damaging paint. DIY attempts often skip all of that — and the results show.

Even with the right tools, most DIY dent repairs fall short because the real challenge isn’t the gear — the skill, control, and experience behind it.

Skip the Guesswork — Let the Trusted Pros Handle It

DIY dent repair sounds easy — until it isn’t. At Mile High Dents, we’ve been helping Colorado drivers fix hail damage correctly since the 1980s. We were the first in Denver to bring paintless dent repair (PDR), the clean, fast method that removes dents without sanding or painting.

Whether you’ve got a couple of dings or a hood full of hail hits, our team has the tools, experience, and precision to get your car back to looking its best — without the guesswork. Get a free quote online or call (720) 772-0133 to speak with a dent repair specialist.  We’ll handle the hard part.