What to bring to the conversation
- Vehicle year, make, model and relevant equipment
- Symptoms, when they occur and prior diagnosis
- Vehicle location, access and preferred timing
FREE PREPARATION RESOURCE
Paintless dent repair inventory and assessment workbook
Free fillable dent-repair worksheets for a panel-by-panel inventory, provider assessment and finish limitations, included access work, approval questions and proposal comparison.
View the checklist and download the fillable PDF ↗FIND HELP. COMPARE OFFERS. YOU CHOOSE.
Hail damage
Tell us what you need. Pros can review your request and send you offers. You decide who to hire.
Request a panel-by-panel assessment.
Start my requestFree to request. No need to hire anyone.
What information helps?
Share what you know. You do not need to know every detail.
- The problem or the result you want
- Where you need the service
- When you would like help
- Your budget, if you have one
Do not guess measurements or costs. You can ask a pro to check them.
Want to learn more before you start?
Open the guide for costs, useful questions and planning tools. You can start your request without reading it all.
Automotive · THE PROJECT GUIDE
Hail damage.
Get the details right.
Request a panel-by-panel assessment.
Share clear photos and the affected panel locations. Ask for an in-person assessment of access and finish limitations before expecting a fixed outcome.
Explore freely · Compare thoughtfully · You choose the professional
THE WORK BEHIND THE WORDS
Make this particular service clear.
Start with the distinction below, then define the deliverables and boundaries. If something is unknown, ask the provider to assess it.
Hail damage · the key conversation
Request a panel-by-panel assessment.
What to ask for in return
A written description of hail damage, the assumptions behind the price and which items need further assessment. Ask the provider to explain affected panels, dent assessment, access, finish expectations in the context of your request.
| Detail | Get this in writing | Keep the comparison fair |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle, panels and damage map | Record VIN or exact year/make/model/trim, panel material if known, affected panels, numbered dents, prior repair/refinish history, paint condition, warning indicators and the evidence supplied. | Compare the same dent inventory and the same assessment stage. |
| Suitability and repair objective | Label each dent PDR-suitable, unsuitable or pending access; state the agreed objective, finish limitations, stop criteria and any conventional-repair or refinishing boundary. | Distinguish PDR, limited improvement, preparation for paint and referral. |
| Access, removals and protection | List access method by panel, trim or headliner removal, glass/electrical/sensor areas, clips and one-time-use items, corrosion-protection work, cleanup and expressly excluded operations. | Make hidden access work and retained systems visible. |
| Authorization, evidence and handover | Define insurer or owner roles, supplement process, added-damage approval, condition photos, acceptance lighting, completed dent map, unresolved items and written warranty terms. | Compare control of changes and verifiable closeout rather than promises. |
UNDERSTAND THE PRICE
See the parts. Then compare the total.
A useful budget explains what the money covers. Keep these cost areas visible rather than relying on a package name or headline figure.
Diagnosis or callout
Specified parts or products
Repair and installation labor
Associated services and disposal
What changes the scope?
Share clear photos and the affected panel locations. Ask for an in-person assessment of access and finish limitations before expecting a fixed outcome.
Ask providers to explain how affected panels and dent assessment affect their assumptions. Separate confirmed information from items still awaiting assessment.
What does the chart show?
The planning tool compares amounts you enter over the same period. Fixed charges, rate × quantity, monthly charges and extras stay separate. Its cumulative-cost graph makes different upfront and recurring arrangements easier to understand.
Published references, where available below, show their own units, source and period. They remain separate from your calculator inputs. Employee wages and producer-price indexes are context, not the price a provider will charge. Ask for current proposals for your actual scope.
Explore employee wages by state
Related occupation: Automotive Body and Related Repairers. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. These are employee wages, not contractor billing rates, business fees or an installed-project estimate.
$17.74U.S. · 10th percentile
$26.39U.S. · Median hourly wage
$42.28U.S. · 90th percentile
The median divides employees into two equal groups. The percentile figures describe the wage distribution; they are not minimum and maximum prices. Unpublished or suppressed estimates remain “Not published.”
Mean wages and interpretation
| Area | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $26.39 | $28.70 |
A provider’s charge also covers costs such as nonbillable time, supervision, vehicles, equipment, insurance, administration and profit. The selected occupation may cover only part of a multitrade project. OEWS does not measure self-employed contractors’ fees. No wage-to-quote multiplier is applied, and these snapshots do not establish a current labor-price trend.
BLS national and state source tables ↗ · SOC 49-3021 · Reviewed October 8, 2026.
YOUR PLANNING DESK
A clearer brief. A better starting point.
Build your request, compare entered costs and download a branded planning pack. Your selections stay here until you choose to continue.
Start with the details that matter.
No account needed to plan. Keep private documents, account numbers, credentials and sensitive case details out of this brief.
Also consider: Vehicle location, access and preferred timing. Leave unknown details for the provider to assess.
Review your starting brief
Review before continuing. You can edit the wording below. Manual edits stay in place until you choose to regenerate from your answers.
335 characters
Next, review the request in PickYourPro.ai. An account is required to complete it. This step does not send invitations or commit you to a provider. Service availability and provider participation vary.
Opt-in saves form answers only. Manual brief edits, comparison values and checklist selections are not saved. Download a copy to keep them; avoid saving on shared devices.
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO HANDOVER
Know what happens next.
- 1
Describe
State the vehicle details and observable symptoms.
- 2
Diagnose
Agree what the initial charge covers.
- 3
Authorize
Review findings, parts, labor and the approval limit.
- 4
Collect
Keep the itemized record and written service terms.
A planning sequence, not a promised duration. Actual timing depends on the service, the information available and the provider's agreed scope.
WHEN YOU WANT THE DEEPER VIEW
The details worth resolving early.
Paintless dent repair is a condition-dependent repair path, not a promise that every dent can be removed without refinishing. Give each provider the same exact vehicle identity, affected-panel map, damage history, finish condition and available photos, then ask for an in-person assessment under suitable lighting. Compare which dents and panels are judged suitable, the access and removal plan, what remains uncertain, and when the work pauses for a different repair recommendation. This guide helps organize that conversation; it cannot determine repairability from photos, prescribe a method, interpret insurance coverage or guarantee an invisible or unchanged finish.
For this particular project
Begin with the exact loss date, vehicle location, VIN or full vehicle identity, insurer and claim status if applicable, and whether glass, lamps, trim, weatherstrips, roof rails, moldings, cameras, antennas or warning indicators are affected. Ask for a panel-by-panel hail map rather than a single dent count: include hood, roof, decklid or liftgate, fenders, doors, quarter panels and any nonmetal parts; number or group dents by agreed size and severity bands; and record paint cracking, sharp hits, body-line or edge damage and prior refinishing. The estimator should distinguish what was inspected under repair lighting from what remains hidden by dirt, glare, trim or access limits. Require each panel to show the proposed path—PDR, replacement, conventional repair/refinish, limited improvement, or pending disassembly—and list the evidence supporting a supplement if the insurer's first estimate differs. Define roof and upper-body access explicitly, including headliner, console, grab-handle, curtain-airbag, wiring, antenna and sunroof areas; do not assume interior removal is included or harmless. Record exterior adhesive use, removed trim, replacement clips and moldings, glass or scan work, cleanup and backside corrosion protection where applicable. Separate the insurer's estimate and payment position from the shop's repair plan and the owner's authorization; this guide cannot interpret coverage. Establish who approves added dents or changed methods, whether work pauses, and how photos and revised lines are shared. At pickup, reconcile the original estimate, supplements and final order against the completed panel map and collect finish observations, removed-part records, unresolved damage and written warranty terms. Scheduling after a storm is capacity dependent and should not be guaranteed.
Use these questions to write my brief ↗- 01Identify vehicle & map dents
- 02Inspect finish, material & access
- 03Classify repair paths
- 04Authorize & perform work
- 05Review panels & records
What is being assessed, dent by dent?
Create a panel map that numbers each dent and records location, approximate size and shape, sharpness, depth, body-line or edge involvement, nearby bracing, paint cracking or chips, prior refinishing and other visible damage. Ask the provider to label every item suitable, unsuitable or pending better access and lighting. A panel count, photo or hail estimate alone does not prove that each dent has the same method, effort or likely finish.
How will the provider reach the damage?
Require an access plan for each panel: existing opening, limited trim removal, interior or luggage-area access, wheel-liner access, headliner or lamp removal, adhesive pulling from the exterior, or another disclosed approach. List glass, airbags, wiring, antennas, cameras, sensors, insulation, sealers, clips and one-time-use items that could be affected. Ask how the exact panel material and current vehicle-maker information change the plan, and authorize disassembly separately when hidden conditions cannot be known.
Where is the boundary between PDR and other body work?
Ask the provider to explain the suitability criteria used for stretched metal, sharp creases, panel edges, body lines, double-wall areas, aluminum or high-strength material, cracked paint, corrosion and earlier filler or refinishing. Define whether the proposal is PDR only, a limited attempt with agreed stop criteria, preparation for conventional refinishing, or a referral for body repair. Do not compare these different objectives as if they promise the same finish.
What records and acceptance process close the job?
Agree on pre-work photos and lighting, the approved dent inventory, removal/reinstallation scope, authorization for added dents or conventional work and how an insurance supplement is handled. At handover, review the same panels in agreed lighting and collect the completed dent map, removed-part and clip record, finish observations, restored backside corrosion protection where applicable, unresolved items, care instructions and written warranty terms. Acceptance should document what was delivered, not claim factory-new metal or perfect visibility from every angle.
What changes with location and conditions?
- Hail frequency and storm volume can affect inspection queues, covered storage, parts or trim availability and scheduling. Record the actual loss date, current vehicle location, insurer deadlines and provider timing; do not treat a target date as guaranteed.
- Estimate, authorization, teardown, supplement, storage, insurer and repair-facility rules vary by state. California BAR and Department of Insurance sources below are state-specific examples, not nationwide legal or coverage advice.
- Road salt, coastal exposure, heat, prior corrosion and earlier refinishing can affect backside coatings, paint condition and repair choices. Ask the provider to document actual findings and the current vehicle-maker protection requirements rather than assume a regional condition is present.
Documents to collect at completion
- Approved panel-by-panel dent map and pre-work condition photos
- Completed, deferred and unsuitable dent list
- Access methods and removed/reinstalled trim or components
- Replacement clips, fasteners and one-time-use items where included
- Finish observations, pre-existing defects and unresolved conditions
- Backside inspection and restored corrosion-protection record where applicable
- Insurance estimate, approved supplements and final itemized repair order
- Care instructions and written workmanship or finish terms
Compare these promised records before choosing a provider. Keep the originals alongside your planning pack.
PICKYOURPRO.AI · YOUR NEXT STEP
Explain it once.
Compare with more clarity.
Turn what you have learned into a focused request. Give providers the same starting information, review their responses and ask questions about differences in scope, timing and fees.
- 1
Build a clear brief
Describe the service, your priorities and what needs assessment.
- 2
Review responses
Compare what each provider proposes and clarify open questions.
- 3
Choose your provider
Consider relevant experience, scope and terms—not just the lowest number.
Requesting and comparing proposals is free for clients. Provider participation, availability and response times vary. Confirm any separate consultation or inspection charge. Review project unlock terms for later project stages.
GOOD QUESTIONS, CLEARER CHOICES
Before you choose.
What should I include in a hail damage request?
Request a panel-by-panel assessment. Include affected panels, dent assessment, access, finish expectations where known. Leave unknowns for the professional to assess.
Can I compare prices before an assessment?
You can compare the stated assumptions, scope and fee basis. Ask what must be checked before an offer is final and whether a consultation, inspection or diagnostic visit has a separate charge. For this service, start by clarifying affected panels.
How should I handle a lower price?
Ask which tasks, deliverables and terms differ. Use the cost tool to compare the same period and quantities, then review exclusions and professional fit. The smallest calculated number is not a recommendation.
Does the planning pack create an agreement?
No. It records your brief and entered scenarios. You still need to review and agree the provider’s actual proposal and terms. Keep original documents and approvals.
What happens after I continue to my request?
Your reviewed brief enters the existing PickYourPro.ai request process. You will need an account and can confirm the remaining details before completing the request. Provider participation and availability vary.
Are these live market prices?
The planning calculator uses your entered figures. Published references elsewhere on the page are separate, dated observations with their own sources and limitations. Neither is a live provider quote. Employee wages are not billable labor rates, and a producer-price index is not an installed project price.
TRANSPARENT BY DESIGN
Sources and editorial notes.
Prepared by PickYourPro.ai with AI assistance · Framework published October 7, 2026. Expanded research review: Sources checked October 12, 2026. These service-planning questions have not been independently reviewed by a licensed specialist. Local requirements and professional suitability need individual verification.
- FTC: auto repair basics ↗
Background on estimates, diagnosis and repair authorization. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- California Bureau of Automotive Repair: Write It Right ↗
January 2026 state-specific quick reference on estimates, teardown, authorization, supplements, invoices and repair records; it is not nationwide law. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- California Department of Insurance: So You've Had an Accident, What's Next? ↗
State-specific consumer background on claims, repair estimates and shop choice; actual policy terms, facts and current state rules control. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR: Corrosion protection after paintless dent repair ↗
Industry guidance that tool contact may disturb backside E-coat or wax even when the outer finish is not refinished, supporting an explicit backside-protection question. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR: OEM Technical Information Matrix ↗
Industry quick-reference for locating vehicle-maker body materials, repair guidelines and corrosion-protection information; the current exact-vehicle procedure still controls. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR: Rivian position statement on paintless dent repair ↗
Vehicle-maker-specific position indexed by I-CAR illustrating that PDR limits and corrosion-restoration requirements can be brand and vehicle specific, not universal. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- I-CAR: Honda/Acura weld-on attachments ↗
OEM-response example showing that material strength, body-repair-manual review and restored corrosion protection can govern a dent-pulling choice; it is not a procedure for other vehicles. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- U.S. EPA: Collision Repair Campaign ↗
Federal background on refinishing emissions and the Auto Body Rule when work crosses into paint stripping or surface coating; it is not a consumer repair method or facility certification. Source checked October 12, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
Methodology and updates
Scope questions are organized by service and buying process. The planning calculator uses only entered values. Separately labelled reference charts use public source observations; no private PickYourPro project history is used. A permanent page address does not make a dated reference permanently current. Substantive changes should update the editorial record.
October 7, 2026: initial guide, service-specific scope, planning worksheet and cost-comparison tools published.
Sources checked October 12, 2026: expanded option comparisons, project-specific buying questions, regional considerations and completion records.
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