Hail Damage - Will My Car Be A Write-off?

[katelouise88]

Hey guys,

just wondering if anyone could share some opinions on this topic.



My car was damaged in the hail storm that occurred a while ago now, but I am yet to attend a a AAMI assessment as they have been really booked up (go figure). The damage is not that bad compared to other damaged cars I have seen. I have about 25-27 dents in total: a handful on the roof, a handful on the bonnet, a couple on the doors and a couple on the panel that joins the doors to the roof. Not all panels are damaged. Also, half of one of my mirrors got smashed off and will need to be replaced/ re-sprayed. The dents are not very deep compared to other damaged vehicles I have seen.



Do you think my car will be written off? It's insured for about $7000-$8000. I automatically assumed that it would be repaired but I've spoken to other people who made claims on hail damaged cars and a lot of them were written off!



The assessment isn't for a couple of weeks but I was just wondering if anyone had any idea of what will happen, whether it sounds like my car will be written off.



Thanks so much for any help.

[iblis.raeb]

The first question that needs answering is: "does your coverage include acts of nature?"

[glen]

sounds written off to me...especially the damage to the roof is the main problem as it is not easy to replace the roof!! <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[katelouise88]

[quote name='iblis.raeb' post='25915' date='Apr 7 2010, 04:57 PM']The first question that needs answering is: "does your coverage include acts of nature?"[/quote]



Yes, it does, my insurance covers everything. I've got full comprehensive. I've already made the claim with them and stuff, I'm just waiting to go to the assessment where they actually assess the damage on your car.





[quote name='glen' post='25919' date='Apr 7 2010, 04:59 PM']sounds written off to me...especially the damage to the roof is the main problem as it is not easy to replace the roof!! <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]



Yeah, I thought as much... I've heard that the roof and bonnet can be repaired quite easily these days with a method of 'paintless dent repair' or something but its the ones on the doors and adjoining panels that are the problems. But yeah like you said... it looks like it's going to be written off anyway! Ugh hailstorm!

[glen]

i would be interested to see how they fix the roof ...i would not know where to start <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[katelouise88]

[quote name='glen' post='25921' date='Apr 7 2010, 11:51 PM']i would be interested to see how they fix the roof ...i would not know where to start <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]



Apparently they 'suck' the dents out with some sort of suction device, that or pop them out from the other side (which would involve removing the roof lining etc..) No idea how effective this technique is or how widely used it us though! Oh well I guess I'll just see what happens, but looks like it's a write-off.

[glen]

ah ok....suck out the hail damage! i will keep it in mind if i get dents <img src='http://www.melbournechat.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />