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Bethlehem, PA / Lehigh Valley / Mike Acevedo

Hail. You file. Carrier decides.

You open the comprehensive claim. Mike writes the repair estimate and any needed supplement. The carrier decides coverage and payment under your policy, then you pay Mike.

First step
You file
Coverage
Carrier decides
Estimate
Mike writes
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5.0 / 235
Read the verified Google reviews
Small dents visible on a panel under Mike's PDR light
Real small-dent cluster photographed under Mike's PDR light.

The questions that decide whether this repair fits.

Price, panel access, repair setting, finish, and insurance are easier to judge before a calendar gets involved.

  • What’s it cost me?

    Your policy decides

    On an approved claim, the carrier pays you under the policy, generally less your deductible. Self-pay hail work starts around $800 by dent count.
  • Will my rates go up?

    Ask your carrier

    Hail usually falls under comprehensive coverage, but rate treatment depends on your policy and claim history. Confirm before filing.
  • How is it priced?

    By dent count

    A PDR matrix in bands (1–5, 6–15, 16–30+) — not charged per individual dent.
  • How fast?

    Scheduled after inspection

    Mike sends the written price within 24–48 hours. Repair timing depends on the panels, dent count, and access.
  • Will it need paint?

    Not when PDR fits

    Mike checks paint condition, access, panel material, and dent depth before promising a paintless result.
  • Aluminum hood?

    Assessed first

    Aluminum responds differently from steel, so Mike confirms the technique, repair fit, and price before work starts.

Four handoffs. Mike stays in all four.

  1. 01

    Text Mike a photo

    Include the year, make, model, a full-panel view, a side angle, and a close-up.

  2. 02

    Get the written price

    Mike reviews it himself and replies within 24–48 hours with fit and price.

  3. 03

    Choose the right setting

    Driveway or Bethlehem shop, based on access, light, space, and job size.

  4. 04

    Walk the panel together

    Mike repairs it and checks the final contour with you before keys back.

If you see thirty, I’m going to see seventy. I’m gonna start putting my lights on it.

Mike Acevedo, owner-operator, ARC-Master

Panel by panel

Where hail lands and how Mike reads it.

  1. Roof

    A wide surface where ordinary light can hide the true dent count.

  2. Hood

    Material, bracing, and insulation all change the available tool path.

  3. Trunk

    The outer skin, inner structure, and lip each affect access.

  4. Doors & sides

    Vertical panels can show a different pattern from the horizontal surfaces.

  5. Pillars & edges

    Tight curves and reinforcement can limit whether PDR fits.

How hail is priced

Dent-count bands, not individual line items.

Hail is evaluated with a PDR matrix in dent-count bands. If you file and the carrier approves the claim, it pays you under the policy, generally less the deductible. You pay Dent Sorcery for the completed repair.

  1. Band 01

    1–5 dents

    Counted by panel under reflected light.

  2. Band 02

    6–15 dents

    Panel material and access still affect the estimate.

  3. Band 03

    16–30+ dents

    Mike confirms the full scope before scheduling.

Recent work / Lehigh Valley

Real repairs from Mike's working ledger.

5.0

235 Google reviews

  • Before and after paintless dent repair: Nissan XTerra, Hatch damage

    Nissan XTerra

    Hatch damage

  • Before and after paintless dent repair: Chrysler Crossfire, Multiple dings on door

    Chrysler Crossfire

    Multiple dings on door

  • Before and after paintless dent repair: Subaru, Large dent · rear quarter

    Subaru

    Large dent · rear quarter

See the repair evidence

Send the panel. Get the price.

Your name, phone, and clear damage photos are enough. Mike reads them and sends a written price within 24-48 hours.

  1. 1
    Full panelShow where the dent sits on the car.
  2. 2
    Side angleLet the light reveal depth and shape.
  3. 3
    Close-upShow paint, edges, and sharp creases.

Upload the damage

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Call Mike

Hail Damage questions, answered plainly.

Will filing a hail claim raise my insurance premium?

Hail usually falls under comprehensive coverage, but Dent Sorcery cannot promise how a claim will affect your rate. Policy terms, carrier rules, and claim history vary. Ask your agent or carrier before filing if rate treatment will affect your decision.

How many dents is too many for paintless repair?

There's no upper limit on dent count for PDR — I've done cars with 200+ dents and brought them back to factory. The limiter isn't quantity, it's depth and paint integrity. As long as the paint isn't cracked and the panel isn't bent past metal-memory, PDR works. Most full-vehicle hail jobs in the Valley fall in the 80–250 dent range. They go through.

What is a supplement and why does Mike file it?

When you file a hail claim your adjuster writes the initial estimate based on a quick walk-around — usually conservative because they can't see every dent under harsh light. A supplement is the formal request to add the dents they missed, the matrix work, R&I costs, etc. Body shops file supplements all the time. I write yours up for your adjuster when I assess your car, so the claim reflects the actual repair. You don't chase paperwork.

Does PDR work on aluminum hoods and panels?

Yes — but it takes longer and costs more per dent because aluminum has different metal memory than steel. Most modern luxury vehicles (BMW, Audi, F-150, etc.) have aluminum hoods. I have the tools and training for aluminum PDR. Insurance rates aluminum work at ~1.4x the steel matrix, which is fair and standard. I write that into the estimate — no surprise charges.

How long does a full-vehicle hail repair take?

Most full-vehicle hail jobs are 1–2 days at the Bethlehem shop. Compare to body shops, which typically quote 2–4 weeks for the same damage because they're repainting every panel. PDR has no paint to dry, no body filler to cure, no clear coat to bake. You drop off Monday, drive home Tuesday or Wednesday in most cases.

What if my deductible is $1,000 — is it still worth filing?

Almost always yes for hail. A typical full-vehicle hail repair runs $3,000–$8,000 of body work or $2,000–$5,000 of PDR. Your $1,000 deductible covers a small fraction. If the damage is light (10–15 dings, mostly horizontal panels) and the body shop quote is under $1,500, paying out-of-pocket to me directly might save you the claim entirely. I'll tell you which path makes sense after I see the photos — for free.

I'm not sure if my car has hail damage — should I get an inspection?

Yes, and it costs you nothing. Hail dents in normal lighting are nearly invisible — you need PDR-grade lighting and a trained eye. After a big hail event, ask about a quick walk-around at my shop or at your home. I count the dents, photograph them, and tell you whether to file a claim. No obligation.

What if hail also chipped my paint or cracked my windshield?

Then you have a mixed claim. PDR fixes the dents — body shop or glass shop fixes the paint chips and windshield. Most carriers handle multi-shop claims fine. I'll coordinate with the shops you choose so the paperwork lines up. Your claim is one file; the work is split based on what each shop is best at. I won't take work I can't do better than someone else.

Can you do mobile hail repair, or do I have to come to the shop?

For full-vehicle hail I usually need the shop — controlled lighting, full toolkit, and overnight parking matter on big jobs. For partial hail (one or two panels) I can come to you. Schedule with me, send photos first, and I'll tell you which works.

Is PDR or a body shop better for hail damage?

PDR is better for hail in nearly every case where the paint is intact: it costs the carrier 1/3 to 1/2 of body-shop repaint, takes 1–2 days vs. 1–3 weeks, and preserves your factory paint (which preserves resale value). Body shop becomes the right call only when hail cracked the clearcoat or hit the pillars. I'll tell you on the spot which applies.

How much does hail damage repair cost on aluminum vs steel?

Hail PDR on aluminum panels (Audi, BMW, Tesla, F-150 since 2015) bills at roughly 1.4× the steel matrix because the workflow shifts from rod-dominant to glue-pull-dominant — each pull is smaller, the heat ramp is slower, and the time goes up. Insurance carriers pay the aluminum surcharge as part of comprehensive coverage; your deductible doesn't change.

Will paintless dent repair preserve my resale value better than repaint?

Yes — significantly. A repainted hood or roof shows up on a CarFax inspection and on a buyer's blacklight check, and dealer trade-in tools deduct $500–$2,000 per repainted panel. PDR leaves zero record because there's no paint work — the factory finish stays intact and there's no body-shop entry. On a hail car with 4–8 affected panels the resale gap can run $2,000–$8,000 lifetime.

Send the hail damage.

Mike replies with a written price within 24–48 hours and confirms the right repair setting.