Frequently Asked Questions

Top Questions

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a method of removing minor to moderate dents from a vehicle’s
body without repainting. Technicians use specialized tools to gently massage and push the
metal back into its original shape from behind the damaged panel, and sometimes use glue-
pulling and light tap-downs on the outside to correct high spots.

Whenever possible, we use Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) to restore your vehicle. It is our preferred method due to the many advantages it offers over traditional repairs.

  • Faster turnaround times – often completed inhours instead of days.
  • More affordable – PDR is both less intrusive and a higher quality repair.
  • Preserves your factory paint, protecting long-term value.
  • Environmentally friendly – no harsh chemicals or paint used when repair is 100% PDR.
  • Ideal for minor hail damage – effective, non-invasive, and efficient.

Thanks for booking your repair appointment online—we’re excited to help get your vehicle back
to pre-storm condition! Just a heads-up: your selected appointment isn’t officially confirmed until
a Nexterra representative connects with you directly. We’ll be reaching out soon to review the
details and lock everything in—just to make sure we get it right from the start. Keep an eye out
for our call or message!

Nexterra is headquartered in Nashville, TN, and its services are offered to customers throughout
North American, Australia and Europe. In the U.S., we have technicians in every state. We will
also deploy additional resources when necessary. Nexterra customers do not have to wait
several months for repairs to be completed when a catastrophe strikes!

Depending on the weather and volume of claims in your area, a typical inspection can take place within a few days. The inspection itself is typically completed within 30-45 minutes depending on damages. In some areas of high volume, we may have a Drive-in location available for even faster, and more thorough inspections.

Many comprehensive auto insurance policies cover hail damage repairs. You should reach out to your carrier to confirm your individual coverage. Our team works directly with all major insurance providers to handle your repair from start to finish with minimal hassle to you.

We welcome you to be a part of our inspection process, however, you do not need to be present for the entire inspection itself. The appraiser may need access to the interior of the vehicle for items such as the VIN (Vehicle Information Number) sticker inside the door and the odometer
for a mileage reading. Your assigned Field Appraiser can provide more details to you or make other arrangements prior to inspection if needed.

A supplement is an adjustment to the original repair estimate to cover additional hail-related
work identified after the initial inspection. It ensures all discovered damage is addressed
fully—based on what becomes visible or measurable once the vehicle is further evaluated or
prepped—without compromising repair quality.

Repair time depends on several factors:

  • Extent of hail damage: A few isolated dents can often be handled in hours or a day. Large panels with dense clusters, multiple panels, or “sleepers” can push the job into multiple days.
  • Vehicle prep and access: Some panels need trim removal or other prep before PDR can begin, which adds time.
  • Shop workload / scheduling: Peak seasons (like after a storm) can create backlog; your appointment slot and queue position affect when work actually starts.
  • Supplement discovery: If additional damage is found after the initial inspection (see related FAQ), the scope can expand, extending the timeline.
  • Weather & conditions: Severe weather, especially ongoing storms, may delay work or require rescheduling for proper lighting and safety.
  • Parts or ancillary work: While pure PDR rarely needs parts, if related work (e.g., minor trim repair/replacement) is required, that can add coordination time.

What to expect:

  • You’ll get a projected completion window before repairs begin or during the initial inspection.
  • If scope changes (supplements) or unexpected issues appear, we’ll communicate any impact on timing before proceeding.
  • If you need the vehicle sooner, ask about priority options—sometimes minor jobs can be fast-tracked if the schedule allows.

Conventional repairs are used when the damage goes beyond what paintless dent repair can reliably fix. Instead of massaging the metal back into shape without affecting the finish (like PDR), conventional repair typically includes some or all of the following steps:

  • Damage assessment to determine that the dent, paint crack, stretched metal, or previous repair precludes PDR.
  • Panel preparation, which may involve removing trim, separating panels, or stripping damaged paint.
  • Dent correction with body filler (e.g., “Bondo”) to rebuild low spots or smooth out large deformations.
  • Sanding and priming to create a uniform surface.
  • Color matching and painting, including blending into adjoining panels if needed.
  • Clear coat application and curing, followed by polishing and reassembly.

Conventional repairs are needed when hail damage can’t be fully corrected with paintless dent repair. Common reasons include:

  • Paint damage: The impact has cracked, chipped, or otherwise compromised the paint.
  • Metal deformation: The metal is stretched, sharply creased, or shaped in a way PDR can’t safely restore.
  • Access or severity limits: The size, location, or complexity of the dent prevents effective PDR.
  • Prior repairs/bodywork: Previous work has altered the panel’s behavior, making PDR unreliable.
  • Visual/finish requirements: Achieving a seamless appearance requires filler, sanding, and repainting.

When conventional repair is required, the process includes filling, sanding, color matching, painting, and finishing to restore both appearance and protection.

Our appraisers are highly trained at vehicle damage inspections; however, your shop of choice can submit a Supplement to ensure all damage is covered at the time of repairs. Additional damages are common, expected, and anticipated during repairs. Please be sure to provide a
copy of the Nexterra estimate to your shop and request they follow the Supplement Instructions contained on the Estimate. Most shops are familiar with the supplement process with insurance companies.

What to Expect

Nexterra’s process involves a thorough outdoor inspection, detailed documentation, and ongoing assessments to ensure all damage is identified and repaired. Preferred paintless dent repair offers faster, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly restoration, while conventional repairs are coordinated through a trusted network. We emphasize transparent communication, customer advocacy, and a seamless repair experience supported by a lifetime warranty.

  • Appraisal appointments typically take 30–45 minutes, length of time can vary based on severity.
  • Appointments are scheduled based on customer availability, and we strongly recommend remaining present for the full duration of the appointment.
  • A thorough outdoor inspection during daylight hours (note: some dents may not be visible right away and can be captured during supplements).
  • Photos and notes will be taken to document all visible hail damage.
  • An assessment sheet will be completed to guide the estimate.
  • We will take time to answer any questions you have about the assessment, your repair options, next steps, the overall process, or any other questions you have at that time. 
  • Initial estimates are written after photos are taken to ensure accuracy.
  • Once assigned to repair technician, additional assessments will be completed throughout the process called supplements and updates will be made as needed.
  • Final assessment, including supplements, will be completed and will always ensure all damages are repaired.

Our Process

Whenever possible, we use Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) to restore your vehicle. It is our preferred method due to the many advantages it offers over traditional repairs:

  • Faster turnaround times – often completed in hours instead of days.
  • More affordable – PDR is both less intrusive and a higher quality repair.
  • Preserves your factory paint, protecting long-term value.
  • Environmentally friendly – no harsh chemicals or paint used when repair is 100% PDR.
  • Ideal for minor hail damage – effective, non-invasive, and efficient.
  • Lifetime warranty – provided by Nexterra and backed by insurance carrier.
  • When Conventional Repair is needed, Nexterra provides the following: 
    • Coordination with a shop from our Choice Repair Network
    • Schedule your shop appointment
    • Arrange a rental car, if applicable
    • Handle all communication with the shop and insurance company
    • Deliver the keys back into your hands when work is complete

 

Our Commitment

  • No surprises – we will keep you informed every step of the way.
  • Transparency first – we explain the “why” behind each step of the process.
  • Customer-first service – we advocate for you to receive a complete, proper repair.
  • A better repair experience – we take care of the details, so you don’t have to.

Top Repair Questions

Thanks for booking your repair appointment online—we’re excited to help get your vehicle back to pre-storm condition! Just a heads-up: your selected appointment isn’t officially confirmed until a Nexterra representative connects with you directly. We’ll be reaching out soon to review the details and lock everything in—just to make sure we get it right from the start. Keep an eye out for our call or message!

Nexterra is headquartered in Nashville, TN, and its services are offered
to customers throughout North American, Australia and Europe. In the
U.S., we have technicians in every state. We will also deploy additional
resources when necessary. Nexterra customers do not have to wait
several months for repairs to be completed when a catastrophe
strikes!

Payment, including any deductible owed, is due on the day of the
repair, prior to the technician’s departure.

We offer an online payment link that can be sent directly to your cell phone or email. We can also take payment over the phone. A check can be mailed to our office directly or you may present a check to your technician onsite.

Your banking institution may have a daily limit that has exceeded your requested amount.

Present the signed check to your technician on the day of repairs.

Insurance companies will include the lien holder on a claim payment if you have an outstanding loan for the vehicle. If your insurance company does not have your repair facility information once they received the estimate, they will include the lienholder to expedite claim payment.

A supplement is an additional payment for the labor and materials needed to address damage missed or not visible at the time of the initial inspection. Some damage is hard to see in direct sunlight, but it will become apparent once the vehicle is reinspected under controlled conditions. There may also be parts price increases on replacement parts.

Repair times vary based upon the severity of the damage.

Occasionally, a vehicle owner may prefer an allowance instead of having the part repaired or replaced. This is very common when the damage is limited to minor, cosmetic damage. Appearance allowances are typically used when the damage clearly doesn’t affect the operational safety of the vehicle.

Yes, you are welcome to choose your shop of choice. No insurance company can make an insured use a particular repair facility

Traditional auto body repairs include grinding, use of body filler, sanding, painting, and replacement of major panels on vehicles. These repairs are needed when paintless dent repair cannot be performed.
Backordered parts are out-of-stock parts that do not have a specific release date from the manufacturer. Many times, after a hailstorm parts availability can be an issue.
We will make arrangements to install your parts once they are available from the manufacturer.
Since 1998, Nexterra Solutions Group has been delivering full-service auto restoration and claims management solutions.
Our appraisers are licensed where required and our PDR technicians are certified in paintless dent repair.
No. We only need access to the vehicle and your keys.
As ceramic coating is not an Original Manufactured Equipment item offered on most makes and models. This will fall into aftermarket coverage which will need to be verified by your insurance company. If there is coverage, we can help replace this item for the full amount or what the policy limit would allow for. If no coverage is available, then it would be an out-of-pocket expense to have replaced.
A Clear Bra, or Paint Protection Film, is not an Original Manufactured Equipment item offered on most makes and models. This falls into aftermarket coverage which will need to be verified by your insurance company. If there is coverage, we can help replace this item for the full amount or what the policy limit would allow for. If no coverage is available, then it would be an out-of-pocket expense to have replaced.
No, we do not offer payment plans.
Contact your insurance company to ensure you have rental coverage and they can assist you with obtaining a rental.

Top Claims Questions​

Depending on the weather and volume of claims in your area, a typical inspection can take place within a few days. The inspection itself is typically completed within an hour. In some areas of high volume, we may have a Drive-in location available for even faster, and more thorough inspections.
Our drive-in locations are intended to provide not only the best customer service experience, but also provides our appraisers optimum shelter and lighting conditions to inspect your vehicle and capture the most damage possible, resulting in a more accurate estimate for repairs to your vehicle. The drive-in process allows you to choose the most convenient time for you to come to our location for an inspection without waiting for an appraiser to be in your area. Our drive-in inspections are typically completed in less than an hour, so you can make the most of your busy schedule.
Typically, your insurance company will prefer an estimate for storm damage to be completed by a Nexterra appraiser prior to the vehicle being taken to a shop.
Our field appraisers try their best to complete inspections as quickly as possible, however, it can be difficult to perform an inspection during rain or snowstorms. Your appraiser may ask if you have a covered area to inspect the vehicle under, such as a carport or a garage. If the weather is a concern, please reach out to your appraiser for more information.
Our appraisers are highly trained at vehicle damage inspections; however, your shop of choice can submit a Supplement to ensure all damage is covered at the time of repairs. Additional damages are common, expected, and anticipated during repairs. Please be sure to provide a copy of the Nexterra estimate to your shop and request they follow the Supplement Instructions contained on the Estimate. Most shops are familiar with the supplement process with insurance companies.

We welcome you to be a part of our inspection process, however, you do not need to be present for the entire inspection itself. The appraiser may need access to the interior of the vehicle for items such as the VIN (Vehicle Information Number) sticker inside the door and the odometer for a mileage reading. Your assigned Field Appraiser can provide more details to you or make other arrangements prior to inspection if needed.

Nexterra is a national repair provider specializing in PDR and we can come to you anywhere in the United States! This way, you are guaranteed to not only receive top notch repair quality but also a lifetime warranty on the repairs of your vehicle. If you find yourself needing repairs, give us a call or email to booking@nexterras.com

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) has been a common and effective repair method for decades and is typically the best method of repairs for a vehicle after a hailstorm. PDR is a skilled practice that may not be available at every body shop or collision center. If you choose to proceed with repairs from your local shop, you may be liable for the additional expense if they are incapable of PDR. Be sure to provide a copy of your Nexterra Estimate to your shop and ensure they follow the Supplement Instructions contained on the Estimate.

Nexterra is a national repair provider specializing in PDR and we can come to you anywhere in the United States! This way, you are guaranteed to not only receive top notch repair quality but also a lifetime warranty on the repairs of your vehicle. If you find yourself in this situation where your shop cannot do PDR repairs, give us a call or email to booking@nexterras.com

The deductible is a specified amount of money that the insured must pay as a portion to the loss of a claim. This payment is typically made to the shop at the time of repairs.

If another storm or incident occurs after our inspection process, please contact your Insurance Company’s Adjuster to discuss. In some instances, we may need to re-inspect the vehicle once a new claim is opened.

Top Experience Questions​

PDR- Paintless Dent Repair is the most common and effective process in repairing hail damaged vehicles while restoring them to their pre-loss condition. There are several methods that can be utilized to perform PDR. Such as, R&I (Remove and Install) of certain items listed on your estimate in order to gain access to the underside of a panel. Once access has been gained, the technician is able to use their tools to gently massage the dents back to factory form. Of course, there are a few other methods that can be used but this being the most common. Rest assured all repair methods utilized by Nexterra are safe for your vehicle and its factory finish.
You can call our Nexterra Repair Hotline at 629-206-9122 or email us at Repairs@Nexterras.com and a dedicated member of our Claim & Repair Experience team will be on the other line waiting! We are here to make it as easy as possible to schedule your repairs and ensure all your questions are answered. We can quickly arrange the date that is most convenient to your schedule. We offer Saturday and Sunday appointments as well!
Great question! We wish that every repair could be as quick as an oil change and, in fact, most repairs can be completed in just one day. However, if your vehicle has sustained greater damage than one day’s work will allow, we have concierge options in place to ensure your repair is still completed 100%. For example, should we need to arrange for an in-shop appointment because the damage is too severe to repair through our mobile process, we can arrange for one of our Nexterra flatbed tow trucks to pick up your vehicle for repairs and then return it to you at no additional cost to you.
All of Nexterra’s mobile technicians are equipped with customized mobile repair units that provide certain protection from the elements allowing us to complete repairs in a space as small as a driveway.
Yes! Nexterra’s technicians are fully equipped to replace minor parts at your home. We order these parts ahead of your repair so the technician can install them at the time of repair at your residence and/or place of business. This includes trim pieces/moldings, tonneau covers, emblems, etc. Items such as hoods, roofs, and other major sheet metal replacements would need to be repaired at one of our Choice Repair Network facilities. If this is the case, we’ll still schedule everything accordingly for you!
If additional damage is found on your vehicle other than what was on the original estimate, we will file what is called a supplement. This means our technician will update documentation, take the necessary supporting photos of the damage, and we will process accordingly with your insurance company without delay to your repair. Don’t worry, you will not incur any additional out of pocket expense should there be a supplement. Your only out of pocket cost is your deductible, which remains the same.
The short answer is no, you do not. However, we never encourage anyone to leave their vehicle’s keys anywhere unprotected as the technician will need access to the vehicle’s keys while performing repairs.

This is one of the most frequent questions when it comes to insurance claims and repairs. We understand, as this may be your first ever claim. Your deductible is simply the set amount that you are responsible for paying out of pocket for your vehicle’s repairs.

  • Ex. If your estimate total is $4800.00 and your deductible is $500.00 you will receive a check for $4300 from your insurance provider. The remaining $500 will be paid by the insured (you) totaling the full balance of $4800.
Nexterra offers several ways to make payments! We can easily send a secure payment link via text message or email. Yes, it’s that easy! We also accept physical checks. You can simply hand the endorsed check provided by your insurance carrier along with your deductible to our technician at the time of the repair. We can just as easily take payment over the phone via credit or debit card, as well.
Every case is different, and of course we will always operate within your insurance policy guidelines. That being said, if you decide that you do not want to replace certain parts on the estimate, you may be eligible to receive what is called an appearance allowance. This means that the cost for said parts replacement plus the cost of labor to install can be applied towards your deductible balance, decreasing, or eliminating your out-of-pocket costs.
Of course! Because we are a Guaranteed Repair Provider for your insurance company, we can schedule your hail damage repair while the estimate is still being completed. We will simply send over our Repair Authorization for signature to upload on file with your estimate and you will be good to go.
Absolutely! We have the ability to schedule mobile glass replacement with our preferred mobile vendors ahead of your paintless dent repair appointment date. If your vehicle’s windshield requires calibration with your vehicle’s safety or driver assistance systems, we may need to schedule an in-shop replacement appointment and we can certainly prioritize your vehicle’s repair to accommodate safety concerns.
Yes, all of Nexterra’s work is backed with a National Lifetime Warranty for the time that you own or lease the vehicle. Not only do you receive this warranty from Nexterra, but our warranty is also backed by your insurance provider. This means, should you ever have any issues related to your repair with Nexterra no matter where you are, you are covered!