Expert Hail Damage Repair by Nexterra

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.