Think You Don't Have Hail Damage? Here's How to Check Before It's Too Late

Most People Don't Even Realize Their Car Has Hail Damage

It's more common than you think. Plenty of Central Texas drivers have hail damage and don't notice it for weeks or even months. Why?

Paint color: Light colors like silver, white, and light gray hide dents better than dark colors.
Reflections: Bright sunlight, shadows, and parking lot lighting can mask dents.
Time of day: Damage is often invisible during midday glare but shows up in early morning or late afternoon.

By the time some drivers notice, insurance claim windows are closing, and resale value has already taken a hit.

How to Spot Hail Damage at Home

While nothing beats a professional inspection, you can do a quick check yourself:

Change the Lighting

Park your vehicle in a shaded area or wait until early morning/late afternoon.
Avoid direct overhead sunlight, which can wash out dent shadows.

Check from Different Angles

Stand at the front corner of the car and look across the hood, roof, and trunk at a low angle.
Move slowly—dents will sometimes only show up from a very specific viewpoint.

Run Your Fingers Across the Panel

Close your eyes and lightly glide your fingertips across the surface.
Your hands can feel shallow dents that your eyes miss.

Use a Flashlight at Night

A bright handheld light at an angle can reveal dents by casting sharp shadows.

Hail Damage vs. Other Damage

It's easy to confuse hail dents with dings from door impacts or road debris. Here's the difference:

Hail dents: Typically round, shallow, and scattered across large horizontal panels (hood, roof, trunk).
Impact damage: Often deeper, with sharper creases, usually localized to one area.
Paint cracks: If the paint is chipped or fractured, you may need more than paintless dent repair (PDR).

When Paint Damage Changes the Game

Most hail damage can be repaired with PDR, which keeps your original factory paint. However, if hail impacts were strong enough to chip or crack paint, you'll need additional paint and bodywork.

Paint damage is more common with:

Older vehicles (brittle paint)
Very large hailstones
Multiple impacts in the same spot

The Best Way to Be Sure

While DIY checks can help, the only way to know for certain is under professional hail inspection lighting. Shops that specialize in hail repair use dark warehouse environments with specialized light tunnels or strip lighting. These conditions make even the smallest dents visible—and that's exactly what our HailMatch Certified Partner Shops use.

Make sure to keep an eye out for storms on our News page. Check your car occasionally and when you need it, we'll be there to connect you with the best local shop around.