Timely PDR maintains the clean history buyers want. Because technicians massage metal without paint or filler, the repair often stays off Carfax entirely, preserving the “no damage reported” status that grabs attention online. Spending a small amount today secures a higher sale price later, covering the repair and putting extra cash toward your next vehicle upgrade.

Some drivers postpone repairs thinking they’ll file one large claim after the next big hailstorm. That strategy can backfire. Insurers subtract pre-existing damage from fresh estimates, leaving you responsible for earlier dents anyway. Worse, if the car is totaled later, adjusters calculate actual cash value minus prior damage, reducing the payout you’d use to replace the vehicle with an equivalent model.

Waiting also risks missing claim deadlines. Most policies require hail damage be reported within a set period, often twelve months. If you cross that line the company may deny coverage outright, turning what could have been an insurance-funded repair into an out-of-pocket expense. By scheduling a quick, free inspection soon after the storm, you start a dated record, lock in coverage, and give yourself flexibility to choose repair timing without running afoul of policy fine print or future adjuster skepticism. That peace of mind is priceless during unpredictable Missouri weather.