Does Paintless Dent Repair Work on Hail Damage?

Skip the Paint Booth and Preserve Your Vehicle’s Value

It starts with a sudden summer storm, the sky turns metallic gray, and then the first crack of thunder rolls through the neighborhood. Within minutes, marble-sized hailstones are hammering rooftops and windshields. By morning, the streets glisten, the air smells clean, and your car looks like it went ten rounds with a golf ball machine.

You stand there, coffee in hand, wondering: Is this fixable, and how bad is it going to be? For anyone living in a state like Colorado, right in the heart of Hail Alley, you probably have hail repair in Denver on speed dial. Paintless dent repair (PDR) has become the go-to solution for restoring vehicles after a storm, eliminating dents without the need for sanding, filler, or paint, often in just one to two days.

In this article, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about hail damage so you have the information you need when you get caught in a hailstorm.

For Anyone Staring at Hail Dents and Wondering What to Do Next

If you’re wondering what to do after hail damage, this article is written for you. Paintless dent repair isn’t just a service; it’s peace of mind for drivers who want their car looking right again without losing days to the body shop. 

• You’ve just discovered paint damage from hail and don’t know where to start
• Drivers in Colorado and other hail-prone states who face this every spring
• People who care about keeping their car’s factory paint and resale value
• Busy professionals who need a fast, affordable repair option
• Anyone tired of waiting weeks for traditional body shop appointments

There are many questions about hail damage repair and paintless dent repair, which we answer below.

What Is Paintless Dent Repair and How Does It Work?

Paintless dent repair, often referred to as PDR, has been around for many years. However, over the last decade, it has become the go-to method for minor dent repair due to advancements in technology and techniques. PDR is preferred for dents because, instead of sanding, filling, and repainting the damaged area, skilled technicians use specialized tools to work the metal from behind the panel, restoring it to its original shape.

The success of a paintless dent repair depends on two things: whether the dent is removed and, most importantly, whether the factory paint is preserved. Technicians use a long, curved rod and gently apply pressure from behind the dent to carefully massage it back into place. Because today’s automotive paints are flexible and durable, they can stretch and recover without cracking, which makes PDR possible, offering numerous benefits.

• No sanding, no fillers, no paint
• No risk of color mismatch or overspray
• No loss of your vehicle’s factory finish or resale value

Vehicle owners prefer PDR because it allows you to skip costly repairs and maintain your factory paint, thereby preserving the value. Major auto body work can diminish the value. 

Can Quality Paintless Dent Repair Fix Hail Damage?

When hail hits, it leaves behind dozens, sometimes hundreds, of shallow, round dents on your car’s roof, hood, and trunk. Paintless dent repair is explicitly designed for this type of damage. Because the paint surface usually remains intact, skilled technicians can access the backside of each panel and gently work the metal back to its original contour without disturbing the factory finish.

The technician uses a slender, curved rod and, with gently applied pressure, massages out the dent. This is where the art of PDR comes in. Every push needs to be at just the right force. Too much and you can stretch the dent; too little, and the dent remains. PDR works well for hail damage for the following reasons. 

• The dents are usually shallow and round, ideal for reshaping.
• Modern automotive paints are flexible enough to withstand cracking and recover without damage.
• The technique restores panels without the need for sanding, filler, or repainting.

For 80–90% of hail dents, paintless dent repair completely reverses the damage — preserving your original paint, your time, and your vehicle’s value.

How Much Does Paintless Dent Repair Cost for Hail Damage?

PDR is usually insurance-approved, although you’ll likely have a deductible. Please contact your insurance company to confirm.

The cost of paintless dent repair is determined by the number, size, and location of the dents, but overall, it’s one of the most affordable ways to repair hail damage. Because PDR doesn’t involve repainting or replacing panels, you save both time and money compared to traditional auto body repair.

After a hailstorm, a technician will assess your car panel by panel under specialized lighting to count and measure each dent. Based on that inspection, they’ll prepare an estimate that reflects the number of dents that can be removed and the time required. The process is often faster and less invasive than you might expect, and some vehicles are fully repaired within a day with these expected price ranges.

• Light hail damage: $150–$500
• Moderate hail coverage: $1,000–$2,500
• Severe hail damage: $3,000+, depending on panel count and accessibility

Because PDR preserves your original paint and panels, it’s not only the most cost-effective repair method, but it’s also the best long-term value for your vehicle.

Choose Denver’s Trusted Hail Damage Repair Experts

Paintless dent repair is perfect for minor dents and dings, and it often works flawlessly on hail damage, provided the metal isn’t stretched and the paint isn’t chipped or cracked. Mile High Dents has been helping Denver drivers since the 1980s and was one of the first to introduce PDR to the area — making our technicians among the most experienced and highly trained in Colorado.

We live and work right here in Denver, so we understand the destructive impact of hail. Paintless dent repair is as much an art as it is a science, and when you choose Mile High Dents, you’re trusting local experts who know how to deliver a flawless, factory-level finish every time.

PDR is as much an art as it is a science. Get a free quote online or call (720) 772-0133 to speak with a dent repair specialist. We’ll take care of getting your vehicle restored and back on the road.