ShaneAlan

TriC

Hail damage is readily and perfectly repaired by paintless dent removal (PDR). It is, however, not cheap. We went through it after a storm in 2006 and the insurance company paid out some $17,000 for PDR repairs to 4 vehicles. I would strongly urge you to get at least one PDR estimate before buying it, so you have a clear idea what you're looking at in repair expense. It will, of course, also help in evaluating its worth.

Good question about insuring it. Does it have a clear title? If not, you may have a problem. If it does, a lot should depend on whether you are going to have it fixed and whether you will carry comprehensive coverage.

SW17LS

I've owned two hail damaged vehicles. Neither one you could tell once they were repaired.

Now, it is possible for hail damage to be so bad it cannot all be repaired...you need to see it.

UDel

Depending on the damage it may be cheaper just to find replacement panels, hopefully in the right color or have them painted then to try to repair the hail damage. Hail mainly just damages the horizontal surfaces and sometimes front bumper area if it was driven in it so you are mainly talking hood, roof, and trunk damage, the roof would be not be able to be replaced but the trunk and hood can. Never had a hail damaged car but I would consider it if the price was low enough, you also have to consider it will show up on Carfax and other sources as hail damage and that can lower the value.

SW17LS

BTW, neither of my hail damaged cars ever showed up on the Carfax. The first one was hail damaged while I owned it, and it had $6,000 worth of PDR done to it covered by insurance, nothing on the Carfax. The second was my 2011 Jeep which I bought after it had been hail damaged and repaired on the lot. That was never on the Carfax either, and I signed a disclaimer when I bought it that it would reflect on the carafe (it was discounted and it was a lease).

So, if its not on the Carfax now it likely won't ever be,

ShaneAlan

Tec80

Our 2012 has very light hail damage, and I don't care. It actually improves fuel economy, on the same principle as a golf ball.

mckellyb

My '08 has light hail damage, and while it initially caused me to hesitate, because I live in Fort Worth...chances are good it's going to "git got", again. Meh. It's been two years since I bought it, almost don't notice the texturing any more.

I've considered going the PDR route, but I can see, after spending a few grand having it put right, someone hits me and it's totaled.