After a hailstorm, a vehicle is covered in dents, but the paint is most often undamaged. That's exactly why it doesn't need to be repainted in most cases.
With paintless repair we remove the dents from the inside, using special tools, with no sanding, filling or painting. The original factory paint stays untouched — a difference you notice immediately after the repair, and even more so when you sell the vehicle.
Why no repainting means more
Factory paint is applied under conditions that can't be fully replicated in a workshop. Once it's sanded and repainted, there's no getting that back.
For you, this means three things:
- Your vehicle's value stays intact. Paint thickness can be measured with a gauge, and any serious buyer or dealer will do exactly that. Repainted panels lower the price, even when the work is flawless.
- The vehicle has no repaint history. There's no shade mismatch that shows up in the sun years later, no seam between old and new paint.
- The repair is faster. There's no prep, drying or curing time for paint.
When paintless repair is possible — and when it isn't
This is a question many shops avoid. We tell you up front.
Paintless repair is generally possible when:
- the paint above the dent is undamaged — not cracked, chipped or scraped
- the dent is in an accessible spot that can be reached from the inside
- it's sheet metal that can be gradually worked back into its original shape
Paintless repair isn't possible, or isn't enough, when:
- the paint is cracked or chipped — then repainting is needed, otherwise rust starts at that spot
- the dent is on a sharp edge or a fold line of the bodywork
- the dent is over a reinforcement or a bonded joint, where there's no access from the inside
- the metal is stretched — with very large hailstones
- plastic parts, glass, headlights or the sunroof are damaged — these need to be repaired or replaced separately
In practice, hail damage is often a mix: most dents are fixed with paintless repair, while individual panels need to be repainted or replaced. After the inspection we'll tell you exactly what falls into which group — and how much of each.
Probably the best car care in Slovenia.Boštjan Stojan, Google review
What to do right after a hailstorm
- Photograph the vehicle in shade or diffuse light. This is the single most important tip on this page. In direct sunlight, shallow dents are practically invisible and won't show up in photos. If you photograph the damage at midday in a parking lot, the estimate will show less damage than there actually is.
- Take a general shot and close-ups — the whole vehicle from an angle, then each surface individually. Hail hits the roof, bonnet and boot lid hardest, because they're horizontal.
- File your insurance claim as soon as possible — most insurers set a three-day deadline from the event.
- Don't delay the inspection, even if the dents don't look severe. Where the paint is cracked, rust starts under the surface and shows up in a visible spot by the following season.
// insurance
What your insurance covers
Hail damage works differently from most other claims — and it works in favour of filing.
| Your cover | What applies |
|---|---|
| Partial comprehensive for hail / natural disasters | Generally no deductible and no loss of no-claims bonus — the damage is paid out in full |
| General comprehensive (kasko) | Hail is covered, but the deductible applies |
| Third-party liability only | Hail isn't covered — liability cover only pays for damage you cause to others |
With a scratch or a windshield, it's often smarter to pay yourself. With hail, it's generally the opposite: if you have partial comprehensive cover for hail, filing a claim costs you neither a deductible (franšiza) nor your bonus.
We work with Triglav, Sava, Generali, Groupama and others. We handle the claim, the estimate and the paperwork for you — more about the process.
Terms vary between insurers. Check your policy, or tell us what cover you have, and we'll tell you what applies in your case.
// our process
How it works with us
-
01
Inspection under controlled light
We count the dents under a special reflection-line light — in daylight, some of them simply aren't visible. Only this kind of survey shows the real extent of the damage.
-
02
Filing the claim and estimate
We handle it for you.
-
03
Disassembly, where needed
For access from the inside, trim panels, the headliner or individual parts often need to come off.
-
04
Paintless repair
We gradually work every dent back into its original shape — no sanding, no paint.
-
05
Inspection
A final check under the reflection-line light; the surface must be free of any trace.
-
06
Reassembly and handover
You'll pick up your vehicle washed and ready.
If any part still needed to be repainted, we tell you at the estimate stage — not only when you pick up the vehicle.
// price
Price
The price depends on the extent of the damage, not the vehicle as a whole:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of dents | With hail, this is the main factor |
| Size of the dents | Larger hailstones mean deeper, more demanding dents |
| Which panels they're on | The roof, bonnet and boot are usually hit hardest |
| Accessibility | Where trim needs to be removed, there's more work involved |
| Material | Aluminium panels are more demanding than steel |
| Whether repainting is needed anywhere | Panels with cracked paint are treated separately |
Send us photos taken in shade — the estimate is free. For an exact count we need to see the vehicle under the light, since some dents don't show up otherwise.
// why choose us
Why Ekocar
// frequently asked
Questions about paintless repair
A correctly performed repair leaves no visible trace. We check the result under a reflection-line light, which reveals things that aren't visible in daylight.
No. That's the whole point of the process — the panel is reshaped from the inside, and the paint stays untouched.
Then paintless repair isn't enough on its own and the part needs to be repainted. If that isn't done, rust starts at that spot.
Under partial comprehensive cover for hail, generally not, and the deductible usually isn't applied either. Under general comprehensive cover, the deductible does apply.
No. Third-party liability only covers damage you cause to others. You need comprehensive cover for your own vehicle.
In shade or overcast weather. In direct sunlight, shallow dents simply don't show up in photos.
It depends on the number of dents and how many parts need to be removed. We give you a timeframe once the estimate is confirmed.
It depends on the extent of the damage. Send us photos taken in shade — the estimate is free.
// area served
Clients from Izola, Piran and Portorož too
Our workshop is in Koper — after a hailstorm, bring your vehicle from Izola, Piran, Portorož or Ankaran too, the journey to us isn't far.
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