Imagine this: You walk out to your car after a hailstorm, give it a glance, and everything looks fine. No shattered windows, no massive dents. But what if your vehicle has suffered damage you can’t see at first glance?
Hail damage isn’t always obvious. In fact, many vehicle owners don’t realize their car has been affected until weeks or months later—when small dents become rust spots, paint chips start peeling, or even minor cracks in the windshield spread. By the time these issues become noticeable, repairs can be far more costly.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to spot subtle signs of hail damage and why getting it repaired promptly can save you from bigger headaches like hail damage car repair costs down the road.
Common Signs of Hidden Hail Damage
Even if your car looks fine at first glance, hail damage can be subtle and easy to miss. Below are some common signs that your vehicle may have suffered damage from a recent storm.
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Hard-to-Notice Dents
This type of damage is some of the most difficult to spot. The hail dent is often small enough that when looking closely, it blends in with the rest of the chassis. Check whether the surface shines too much, which could indicate parts of the bodywork have been damaged. A flashlight can also be used to check for damage at night by highlighting the body’s surface.
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Paint Damage
Over the years, hail strikes on a car can result in minimal chips forming in the vehicle’s paintwork on a cumulative basis. This effect gradually worsens over time as the chips develop further, leading to rust, which can deteriorate the car’s structure. In case the paint is showing signs of peeling or additional fractures forming, the vehicle has most likely sustained significant amounts of hail damage.
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Alteration Caused Inside the Car and Windows
Although the chips may not prove the visibility of each crack or fissure in the windshield splinter, they are more than likely all too easily seen as a minimum of one hail strike will have embedded some cracks. Damaging chips like these will only worsen as time goes on and vehicles are put into extreme heats, causing even more fractures to happen.
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Roof and Hood Dents
Your car’s roof and hood often suffer from damage due to a hailstorm. Furthermore, car owners often overlook small bumps or dents in these areas because they usually aren’t easily detected as they require a closer inspection to spot. For a better check, run your hand over the entire surface to check for any dips or outgrowths.
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Door and Trunk Alignment Issues
In some cases, hail can slightly alter the alignment of your car’s doors, trunk, or even sunroof. If you notice difficulty closing or sealing them properly, it might be due to unseen structural damage from the storm.
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Unusual Noises While Driving
If your vehicle starts making strange noises or has increased wind resistance after a hailstorm, it could indicate damage to the body panels or trim. Even minor dents can affect aerodynamics, leading to subtle changes in your driving experience.
Get Professional Hail Damage Repair at Ted’s Dent Works!
Don’t let hidden hail damage ruin your car’s appearance or value. Call Ted’s Dent Works today for a professional inspection and experience the paintless dent repair near you that you can trust.