# How to Read a Hail Repair Estimate (Arizona) | Line by Line

> PDR counts by panel and dent size, R&I access lines, refinish, glass, depreciation and the deductible: every line on an Arizona hail repair estimate, explained.

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# HOW DO YOU READ A HAIL REPAIR ESTIMATE?

Quick Answer

Read it one panel at a time. Most hail estimates price paintless dent repair panel by panel from two things: how many dents and how big. Then come lines for taking parts off to reach the dents (R&I), conventional repair and paint where the paint cracked, glass, and any adjustment for aluminum panels or oversized dents. At the bottom, the total minus your deductible is what the insurer pays. Check three things: every damaged panel is listed, the counts look like what you see, and any depreciation is itemized in dollars, which Arizona’s rule A.A.C. R20-6-801(H)(6) requires. Text yours to (602) 935-6008 and we’ll walk you through it.

By [Shah Jiwani](https://dgcollision.com/about/shah-jiwani/) · Owner, DG Collision Center
Updated October 29, 2026
3 min read
I-CAR Gold Class · PPG Certified

Line By Line

## THE LINES ON A HAIL ESTIMATE, DECODED

| Line | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PDR, by panel | Dents on one panel (roof, hood, a door) priced from the count and the size | Every hit panel appears, and the count matches what you see in good light |
| Dent size | Often grouped as dime, nickel, quarter or half-dollar | Bigger dents cost more to push; a roof of quarters isn’t a roof of dimes |
| Oversized dent | A dent beyond the size groups, priced on its own | Listed separately, not folded into a count |
| Aluminum panel | An adjustment for aluminum hoods, roofs or doors, which are slower to repair | Applies only to panels that really are aluminum |
| R&I | Remove and install: headliner, moldings, roof rails, lights taken off for access | Roof dents almost always need the headliner lowered |
| Repair + refinish | Conventional bodywork and paint where hail cracked the paint | Paint lines include blending into the panels next to it |
| Glass | Windshield, sunroof or back glass the hail broke | Cameras behind the windshield may need calibration after glass work |
| Depreciation / betterment | A reduction for wear or for new parts that improve on old ones | Arizona requires it itemized in dollars; ask if it isn’t |
| Deductible | Your share, subtracted from what the insurer pays | Matches the comprehensive deductible on your declarations page |

Estimating systems label lines differently, but nearly every hail estimate carries these pieces. Our own price ranges are published on our [Phoenix hail cost page](https://dgcollision.com/answers/how-much-does-hail-damage-repair-cost-in-phoenix/).

## WHERE ESTIMATES USUALLY DIFFER

Counts. A count made from photos and a count made under PDR lights rarely match. The light board shows dents a camera flattens out. When our count is higher, we send it to your adjuster as a supplement with photos.

Missing panels. Roof rails, pillars and the tops of door frames take hail too and are easy to skip. A missing panel is a missing line, not a pricing argument.

Access. If the roof is on the estimate but the headliner R&I isn’t, the repair can’t be done as written. Adding the access lines is one of the most common supplements.

What the bottom line means for you. On qualifying claims from the October 20–21, 2026 Phoenix storms, we cover the first $1,000 of the deductible shown on that last line; if yours is higher, the rest is case by case, and we do our best. Your choice of shop is protected by A.R.S. § 20-468. General information, not legal advice.

### Can’t Make Sense Of Yours?

Text a photo of every page to (602) 935-6008. We’ll point out anything missing and set up the repair, the pickup and your free loaner.

Text My Estimate
Call (602) 935-6008

Related Questions

## ASKED ALONGSIDE THIS ONE

**Q: What does R&I mean on a hail estimate?**

A: Remove and install. It’s the labor to take a part off so the dents behind it can be reached, then put it back: the headliner for roof dents, or moldings, rails and lights.

**Q: Why are dents listed by size?**

A: Larger dents take longer to push out. Hail estimates usually group dents by size per panel, and dents too big for the groups get priced on their own.

**Q: Why is my deductible subtracted from the estimate?**

A: The insurer pays the repair minus your comprehensive deductible. On qualifying Phoenix claims, we cover the first $1,000 of that deductible.

**Q: My estimate shows a depreciation deduction. Is that allowed?**

A: It can be, but Arizona’s rule R20-6-801(H)(6) requires betterment and depreciation reductions to be itemized and stated in dollars. Ask your adjuster for the breakdown.

Next steps: [Estimate too low?](https://dgcollision.com/answers/insurance-hail-estimate-too-low-arizona/) · [Got the check?](https://dgcollision.com/answers/insurance-check-for-hail-damage-arizona/) · [How PDR works](https://dgcollision.com/paintless-dent-repair-phoenix/) · [Our Phoenix shop](https://dgcollision.com/hail-damage-repair-phoenix/)