How to repair your car after hail damage

04 Oct 2023

Hailstorms can wreak havoc on your car, with impacts ranging from minor denting to major damage
QBE’s national Hail Repairer Network partner, Action Smart Group, offers quick assessments and an innovative, less invasive way to repair your car
With a focus on customer service and regular repair progress updates, we aim to get you back on the road quickly

Hailstorms come and go fast, but they can leave a trail of devastation in their wake.

Damage caused to cars and other vehicles by hail can range from minor denting to smashed windows or windscreens. While usually, a vehicle can be repaired by experts to its pre-hail-damaged state, in the worst cases, insurers may assess a car as a total loss.

What to do if your car has been damaged by hail

If your car has been damaged during a hailstorm, it’s important to notify us as quickly as possible.

In the event of a major hailstorm, QBE's hail repairer may set up facilities in localities affected by the storm within days of a hail event, where customers are able to have their vehicles reviewed and assessed at a suitable time that meets their needs.

After assessment, we can either book your vehicle in for repairs at a convenient time (subject to parts availability), or if the vehicle is significantly damaged, review the vehicle as a potential total loss.

Paintless dent repair is a smart solution for your car’s hail damage

Close up of car mechanic fixing the hail damage on a car panel

QBE’s national Hail Repairer Network partner Action Smart Group provides an end-to-end solution for customers in their time of need. For most damaged cars, their specialised hail repairers will use a less invasive technique called paintless dent repair, or PDR.

PDR means that a moderately damaged car can be repaired in days, whereas a conventional repair through a traditional panel shop could take weeks.

Customers’ cars are assessed under a light tunnel so that technicians can locate all damage, and are then repaired by PDR experts, who massage out the dents using special tools.

The PDR method works best for light to medium hail damage. Anything more severe needs to go through a conventional repair process, which is also arranged by QBE and managed by Action Smart Group.

What you need to know about QBE’s national Hail Repairer Network

QBE is here to help our customers get their cars repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible with an optimum customer experience
We partner with end-to-end hail repairer Action Smart Group who specialise in PDR and conventional hail repairs, providing a one-stop shop for the assessment and repair of your vehicle
When you choose to use our national Hail Repairer Network for your hail repair, you will be offered travel vouchers for a Taxi or Uber (up to $50 each way) to help you get to and from the repair shop
You’ll be kept informed of your vehicle’s repair progress
All repairs guaranteed

QBE can help you weather the storm

Learn more about QBE’s car and vehicle insurance cover and get a quote today.

For fleet vehicles, contact your broker or QBE authorised representative to discuss our Commercial Motor insurance.

This advice is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. You must decide whether or not it is appropriate, in light of your own circumstances, to act on this advice. To decide if QBE’s products are right for you, please ensure you obtain and consider the Policy Wording or Product Disclosure Statements and Target Market Determinations, available online at QBE.com/au. Insurance issued and underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545).