Hail repair cost is driven by one thing: dent count multiplied by dent size across each affected panel. The insurance industry's CCC ONE matrix is the pricing system, and it's remarkably consistent across carriers and across shops. Here's the full breakdown.
The three severity tiers
The industry thinks about hail damage in three tiers based on dent count per panel and size classification:
Light damage: $1,500 – $3,500. 50-100 dents total across 3-5 panels, dime-to-nickel size. Typical scenario: a car that was out in a single 15-minute hailstorm with smaller stones. Repair time 3-6 hours.
Moderate damage: $3,500 – $8,000. 100-300 dents across 6-10 panels, nickel-to-quarter size. Most common hail claim we see — the storm was longer, the hail was larger, and most panels got touched. Repair time 1-3 days.
Severe damage: $8,000 – $15,000+. 300+ dents, quarter-and-larger size, damage across every panel. Often includes oversized dents that bill per-dent. These are the claims that sometimes get flagged total-loss — and that we sometimes save. Repair time 3-7 days.
The markups that stack on top
Beyond the base matrix, several scenarios add to the total:
- Aluminum body +25%. Ford F-150 (2015+), Tesla, Rivian, Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche. Full aluminum guide.
- High-strength steel (HSS/UHSS) +25%. Common on newer vehicle roof rails and B-pillars.
- Double-metal panels +25%. Truck beds, rear quarters on sedans. Glue-pull required.
- Extended-roof vehicles +25%. Full-size SUVs, passenger vans, extended-cab trucks. More panel surface, more technique.
- Oversized dents $40-$50 per dent. Anything larger than a half-dollar bills as a separate line item.
On a moderate-damage F-150, you can see how these stack: $6,000 base + 25% aluminum + 25% extended-roof = $9,000 total.
What insurance actually covers
On a comprehensive claim, insurance covers the repair minus your deductible. Your deductible is typically $500, sometimes $250 or $1,000. Some carriers cap out at $2,000.
Example: $5,500 repair, $500 deductible. Insurance pays $5,000, you pay $500. Except most of our customers pay nothing because deductible assistance is available on qualifying claims. Ask us about it.
What drives up the quote you're looking at
If an insurance estimate came in unusually high or low, one of these is usually why:
Dent count vs dent size. 200 quarter-size dents costs more than 200 dime-size dents — size matters as much as count.
Panel complexity. Hood and roof are the cheapest panels per dent because they're large and accessible. Quarter panels and rocker panels cost more because of trim R&I.
Pre-existing damage. If a previous repair used body filler, that panel either can't be PDR-repaired or requires extra work — and sometimes gets quoted for replacement.
Body shop vs PDR pricing for hail
A body shop doing the same hail damage runs 30-50% higher than PDR because of filler, paint, and labor hours. That's why insurance prefers PDR — it's their cheaper option. Full comparison.
How to get a real number
Free 30-minute inspection at our shop or at your location. We walk the vehicle under LED line boards, count every panel, and produce a CCC ONE estimate — the same number that goes to your insurer as the supplement. No obligation.
Start online and we'll schedule the inspection within 24-48 hours during hail season.