Field notes from every catastrophe season.
What we learn on the ground, translated into useful reading for owners, fleet managers, and dealer principals.
Latest articles
Converse, TX Hail Storm — September 10, 2026
The National Weather Service logged hail up to 2.5 inches in Converse on the night of Thursday, September 10. Auto Hail Techs crews are deployed. Here's what to do with your vehicle and how the Texas claim works.
The 2026 Hail Season by the Numbers
Nearly 6,900 hail reports across the US in 2026, led by Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. What the season's data says about where hail damage is concentrating and what it means for vehicle owners.
Does Hail Damage Total a Car?
Hail can total a vehicle, but far less often than people expect. Here is how insurers actually decide, what pushes a hail car over the line, and what to do if yours is called a total loss.
Your Hail Damage Deductible, Explained
Hail is a comprehensive claim, not collision. Here is how the deductible works, when it is worth filing, and why some states let a repairer help with it and others do not.
PDR vs Body Shop for Hail Damage: Which Do You Need?
Paintless dent repair keeps your factory finish and costs less. A body shop repaints. Here is how to tell which one your hail damage actually needs, and why the wrong choice costs resale value.
How Long Does Hail Damage Repair Take?
Most hail repairs run a few days to two weeks. Here is what actually drives the timeline, why catastrophe season changes it, and what you can do to move your car up the queue.
The First 48 Hours After a Hail Storm: A Checklist
What to do with your vehicle in the two days after a hail storm, in order. Photographs, claim timing, what not to do, and the questions to ask before you let anyone touch the car.
What Hail Damage Does to Resale Value
Unrepaired hail damage cuts what a dealer will offer. So does a repaint. Here is how trade-in appraisers actually assess a hail car and why repair method changes the number.
Hail Damage on a Leased Car: What You Need to Do
Lease agreements make you responsible for damage beyond normal wear. Hail is not normal wear. Here is how to handle a hail claim on a leased vehicle before turn-in costs you.
Dealership Hail Repair: Getting Inventory Back on the Line
A hail event on a dealership lot is an inventory problem before it is a repair problem. How on-site catastrophe crews work, what to ask for, and how to keep units retail-ready.
Fleet Hail Damage: Planning for Downtime Before It Happens
A hail event can take a whole fleet off the road at once. How to plan repair sequencing, keep units working, and handle a multi-vehicle claim without stopping operations.
Hail and Your Windshield: How Glass Changes the Claim
Glass is often the largest single line on a hail estimate. How windshield, sunroof and backglass damage is handled, why some policies treat glass separately, and what to check before you agree to a repair.
Denver Metro Hail and Flooding — August 16, 2026
Hail piled up to three feet deep in Douglas and Arapahoe counties on August 16, 2026, stranding drivers and prompting vehicle rescues. What deep hail accumulation does to a car beyond the dents.
How to Spot Hail Damage on a Car
Hail damage is close to invisible in flat daylight, which is why so much of it gets missed. How to check a vehicle properly, panel by panel, and what to look for when buying used.
How to Protect Your Car From Hail
You usually get minutes of warning, not hours. What actually works to protect a vehicle from hail, what does not, and the preparation worth doing before the season starts.
Why a Hail Estimate Has to Be Written Under Lights
Photo estimates and parking-lot walkarounds routinely miss a large share of hail damage. Here is what proper PDR lighting shows that daylight cannot, and why short estimates cost you time.
Connecticut's July 4, 2026 Hail Storm May Have Broken a State Record
Baseball-sized hail fell across Bristol, Plainville and New Britain on July 4, 2026, with reports of 3-inch stones that would beat Connecticut's 1969 record. What it means for vehicle owners in the Northeast.
Twin Cities Hail — June 2026
Two hail events hit the Twin Cities metro in June 2026, including 2 inch plus stones from Roseville through northern St. Paul on June 19. What Minnesota vehicle owners should check.
Springfield, MO Hail Storm — April 28, 2026
A supercell dropped hail up to 4.75 inches across the Springfield metro on April 28, 2026, damaging thousands of vehicles. What the NWS recorded, and what to do if your car was caught in it.
Jet, Oklahoma Hail — April 17, 2026
The April 17-18, 2026 tornado outbreak produced 3.25 inch hail at Jet, Oklahoma, the largest of the event. What Oklahoma drivers should do when hail and tornado damage land on the same claim.
7 Shocking Facts About Hail Damage in Houston
Houston's severe-weather season produces some of the highest per-storm vehicle damage counts in the country. Here's what every owner should know.
Rio Grande Valley Hail — March 7, 2026
The March 5-7, 2026 severe weather outbreak produced 4.5 inch hail in the Rio Grande Valley, the largest of the event. What South Texas vehicle owners should know about early-season hail claims.
5 Reasons PDR is the Best Choice for Dealerships, Fleets, and Retail Customers
From inventory turn to resale value, paintless dent repair is the only method that keeps the factory finish intact. Here's why it matters.
How Much Does PDR Cost? A Complete Pricing Guide
A transparent breakdown of what drives paintless dent repair pricing — dent count, panel difficulty, access, and what insurance covers.
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Pick a date and an exact time. We inspect every panel under proper PDR lighting, write the full scope, and walk you through what your insurance will cover — before you commit to anything. We come to the vehicle for the inspection, then the repair happens at our San Antonio shop on Culebra Rd.
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