Sunday evening's hailstorm in southeast Nebraska caused widespread damage to cars. If your vehicle was damaged, there are six steps you should take to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition, according to The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies.

If your vehicle is damaged in a hailstorm, Progressive recommends that you take the following steps:

   1.  Call your insurance company immediately to report the damage.

   2.  Discuss your repair with your insurance company and your body
       shop. Hail damage to sheet metal may need to be hammered and
       painted. However, trained technicians may recommend paintless
       dent removal (PDR), which involves using specially-molded
       metal tools on the underside of a damaged part that won't
       disturb the factory finish. This method is often utilized by
       manufacturers and dealers to repair new vehicles and will not
       invalidate paint warranties.

       PDR cannot be performed if the dents are too large, if there
       are too many dents or if the paint finish is damaged. Prior
       body damage that required plastic fillers or bonding may also
       make PDR difficult. Your insurance company will be able to
       determine the severity of your damage and consult with you and
       the body shop on which repair method makes the most sense for
       your vehicle.

   3.  Find a reputable facility. Save time and money by asking your
       insurance company if it has a preferred PDR provider. If you
       choose a repair shop on your own, contact the Better Business
       Bureau or get referrals from friends. Ask the shop how PDR
       works and how they access hard to reach places to make the
       repair. The preferred method is to pull the dents from the
       outside rather than drilling holes to access the dent from
       beneath the panel.

   4.  Find out how long the repair will take. Paintless dent repair
       is an efficient and effective technique for repairing damage
       to your vehicle, and may be completed within a day. However,
       in southeast Nebraska, lots of cars were damaged, so the work
       may take a little longer due to the volume of vehicles that
       need to be repaired.

   5.  Make sure your vehicle is repaired to your satisfaction.
       Before accepting your vehicle, look at the surface in
       fluorescent lighting and from several angles so that you can
       see all the details. Check for any remaining dents before you
       take your vehicle home.

   6.  Ask if the shop guarantees its work. If you notice a flaw in
       your vehicle's repair, you should be able to have it fixed at
       no additional charge. Know how your body shop will handle any
       problems you might have with your vehicle after the repair.
       Get guarantee and contact information in writing. Ask your
       insurance company if it guarantees the work of its preferred
       body shops.

Taking these simple steps can help you get your vehicle repaired and get you back on the road. In addition, ensuring that you receive safe, high quality, cost effective repairs, keeps the cost of your claim down and can help to keep down the cost of auto insurance for all consumers.

Progressive is the third largest auto insurance provider in Nebraska based on 2004 direct written premium.
For more information, go to driveinsurance.com.

-Progressive-