Extreme Hail Damage Repair

Auto hail repair performed by Michael Bocek, ARC certified hail specialist and master craftsman.

A bad storm can leave dents on nearly every panel that faces the sky. Extreme hail means more panels, more access work, and often aluminum. Here is how we handle it at our Springfield and Lincoln shops.

Get your estimate Call 217-306-4175

What paintless dent repair is

Paintless dent repair (PDR) works the metal back into shape from behind the panel, so the factory paint stays on the car. Tools push the dent out from behind. When we cannot get a tool behind a dent, we glue pull it from the outside.

PDR needs paint in good condition. Aluminum panels need specialized aluminum PDR technique: aluminum has less metal memory than steel, so it is worked in smaller steps. More in Aluminum hood and truck dent repair.

How hail damage is assessed

Hail comes down, so the roof, hood and trunk take most of it. We look at the car clean, indoors, and under professional PDR lights, and we check every panel. Our guide How to check your car for hail damage shows where to look.

the small ones will look like the big ones when the â€œbigâ€ dents are only removed.

Michael Bocek, on fixing only the big dents, 217dent.com

Our extreme hail repair process

Estimate
Estimates are free. Start online with our estimate form, then we inspect the car in person, clean, indoors and under PDR lights.
Insurance claim
If it is an insurance job, your claim number and email are all we need to get started. Our Insurance Claim Process guide shows how to file, with claims numbers for major insurers (download the PDF).
Schedule
Write your claim number down, call us with the claim number, and schedule your car. We work with adjusters and bring the proper lighting.
R&I and extreme dismantle
Big hail jobs need parts removed and reinstalled (R&I) to reach the back of each panel. On extreme hail jobs that can mean an extreme dismantle of the vehicle: headliner dropped, glass removed, trim and lights off, so we can reach every dent from behind.
Paintless dent repair
Each dent is pushed out from behind or glue pulled. Aluminum panels get specialized aluminum PDR technique and take longer.
Quality check
Every panel is checked again under PDR lights.
Delivery
Everything removed goes back on, and you pick up your car at the shop. All repairs are done in our shop.

Real vehicles in our shop

2024 Toyota Tundra

Extreme hail damage on an aluminum hood, aluminum doors and aluminum bedsides, all being repaired with specialized aluminum PDR technique. This is an extreme dismantle of the vehicle: the headliner is dropped and the door glass is out so we can reach the dents from behind. Repair in progress.

Aluminum: hood, doors, bedsides

2025 Toyota Tacoma SR

A 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR in our shop, next to our Auto Hail Repair Here sign.

2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Extreme hail damage on an aluminum hood and a steel roof, fenders, doors, quarter panels and lower liftgate. The aluminum hood gets specialized aluminum PDR. This is another extreme dismantle job: the headliner is dropped to reach the roof from inside. Repair in progress.

Aluminum: hood
Steel: roof, fenders, doors, quarter panels, lower liftgate
Fiberglass: upper liftgate

Passenger side of a black 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon in the 217 Dent shop with the headliner dropped — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: passenger side with the headliner dropped for roof access (extreme dismantle). Repair in progress.

Black 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon in the 217 Dent shop, driver-side rear corner view, license plate blurred — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: rear corner view, driver side, in the 217 Dent shop.

Steel driver fender of a black Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon with reflection lines broken by hail dents — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: steel driver fender, reflection lines broken by dents.

Steel passenger front door of a black Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon near the mirror, with a distorted reflection from hail dents — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: steel passenger front door by the mirror.

Passenger quarter panel of a black Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon at the fuel door, hail dents in the light lines — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: steel passenger quarter panel at the fuel door.

Steel lower liftgate of a black Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon by the Cadillac emblem, hail dents in the reflection — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: steel lower liftgate by the Cadillac emblem.

Edge of the aluminum hood of a black Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon under a PDR light board, dents along the body line — 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, extreme hail damage: aluminum hood edge under a PDR light board, dents along the body line.

2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

A black 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid under our PDR lights.

Passenger roof rail of a black 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with dents circled by the tech — 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, passenger roof rail, dents circled by the tech.

Driver roof rail of a black 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with a PDR light board on a stand above it — 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, driver roof rail with a PDR light board on a stand.

ADAS calibration

ADAS calibrations were performed pre-repair, mid-repair, and post-repair. Full calibration was completed on all mirrors, the windshield, the rear hatch, the cameras, side impact sensors, bumper sensors, seatbelt sensors, seat weight sensors, and optic sensors.

Federal law states that customers are allowed to choose their repair facility, not the insurance company. 217 Dent has your best interest at heart. Your insurance company does not.

From the 217 Dent Insurance Claim Process guide, 217dent.com

217 Dent also has emergency repair facilities nationwide.

Service area

We repair hail damage at our central Illinois shops: Springfield, Monday to Wednesday, and Lincoln, Thursday to Saturday, both 9 to 5. In-shop repairs only.