When thunderstorms bring damaging winds and hail, large pellets of hail can cause significant damage to a vehicle. A new car can look 10 years older in a matter of minutes after being riddled by hail. Repairing damage from hail is actually not as difficult or expensive as you might think. With a little patience, your vehicle can be back to it's original tip-top shape in no time.

The Sun

Placing your car out of a garage or enclosure after a hail storm can often be the best method for repairing any damage. Parking your vehicle in direct sunlight will allow the metal on your vehicle to quickly heat up. As the temperature on your car's exterior warms, small dents the hail left behind will often pop out. When this happens, the vehicle is often left looking as if no damage has ever occurred. If hail damage happens in the late fall or winter months and it is not too severe, you may want to wait until the warmer summer months arrive as the dents will pop out then. You may end up saving yourself a lot of money by simply letting nature take it's course.

Hair Dryer

Repairing hail damage to your vehicle that is more extensive or when the weather isn't sunny may leave you resorting to using an unusual but effective method. Finding the right tool will lead you not into the garage but to the bathroom. The hair dryer that you use daily is one of the best tools for repairing hail damage. It provides enough heat to the affected area to remove dents but does not damage the paint. Simply place the hair dryer directly over the dent, about an inch from the car's surface for about 30 seconds, then spray the same area with CO2, and wait until the dent pops out. The downside to this method is that you must take care of each dent individually so if there is a lot of damage to your vehicle, this process can be lengthy.

Glue Repair Kit

When none of the above techniques work, you might want to consider purchasing a glue pulling repair kit from an auto parts store. The kit will contain a plastic tip that you will glue to the center of the dent and allow to dry. Attach the pulling tool to the plastic tip. The tool may clip or screw on depending on the kit. Firmly pull the tool until the dent is removed. Apply the releasing agent, also included in the kit, to the plastic tip. Ideally once removed, the plastic tip and glue will leave no residue. However, if the dent is particularly extensive or if your car is older, glue repair kits can cause damage to a vehicle's paint job. These kits generally cost around $15.

Source:

MySpace.com: Glue Pulling

Wisebread.com: Removing Car Dents