Paintless dent removal removes small dents and dings from your vehicle without painting or refinishing.

Using specialised tools, trained technicians are able to target specific areas on your car in order to remove dents quickly and safely. Paintless dent repair can save you time by not having to wait for paintwork or bodywork to dry. It is a method widely used in the automotive industry because it delivers quick repairs to small dings, shallow dents on the car's exterior to original factory condition. Since no painting is involved, there's no need to match colours either. If you were ever curious about performing the paintless dent repairs yourself, it's really pretty simple if you know what you're doing. There are kits available for purchase so anyone can get started but remember, it takes more than just a few tools and some elbow grease in order to properly repair dents. The process almost always guarantees less work for you and fewer headaches down the road.

Paintless dent repair (PDR), collision repair and dent removal process

Just like traditional dent repair, there are three steps involved in the paintless dent repair process: assessing the damage, removing the dented area, and finally restoring your vehicle to its original state. If you have ever seen someone use a stud finder at home to locate studs behind drywall or plasterboard, this method works much the same way, only with a few "studs" holding your car's metal body panels in place. A technician will use an array of equipment to mark the locations of these studs and then proceed with removing your dent.

Because paintless dent repair work requires smaller tools and targeted equipment, the damage is typically limited to the dented area only. This means that there won't be any secondary bodywork required to restore your car's original finish. Even though paintless repair uses heat for removing the auto body dents, it forces no additional chemicals into your vehicle or onto its surface so you can have peace of mind that no harmful toxins are being used on your car.

The process of paintless dent removal is faster than traditional dent repair methods by a panel beater, but the results are quicker. You don't have to wait for longer times for repairs to be completed. The paintless dent repair method is definitely the more economical choice to remove dings with a better end product. Most paintless dent repairs are less time consuming and take a day or less to finish.

How does paintless dent removal work?

The process begins with a technician inspecting the vehicle to gauge how many dents there are and what kind of damage they have caused. This can be done by using a special light source, which reflects shadows from the dents to provide a clear view of their location and depth. Once the damage has been identified, all loose or broken paint will be carefully removed from around the area. The dent will then be 'pushed' out with a special tool to return it back to its original shape. At this point, almost all repairs could be completed in a single step. However, if further attention is needed, a second round of pushing may be required. After this process has been finished, any exposed metal will be treated with chemicals that prevent rust and corrosion. Paintless body repair does not utilise body filler nor paint to fill dents in repairing dents. Paintless dent repair is non-invasive. Generally speaking, custom tools are used to restore the vehicle's body to its original position. The process is repeated severally to repair a deeper dent. This approach to small dent removal helps preserve the resale value, which is the case when body filler and paint are used.

What does paintless dent removal cost?

Paintless dent repair (PDR) is less expensive than traditional auto body repair work. The way it is performed means there is less labour and wastage involved. Repairing a single dent with PDR can take between 30 minutes and an hour, whereas traditional repairs may take two or three hours. You may even be able to do the repairs yourself if you have the correct tools and knowledge

What kind of dents can paintless dent removal fix?

Paintless dent removal (PDR) is ideal for smaller dents. It is recommended where the paint surface has not sustained any damage. Some examples include:

  • Hail storm damage.

  • Fender benders.

  • Minor door dings.

  • Minor bumper scuffs.

  • Small bubble repairs.

You can't fix major damage, such as holes in the body of a car. Paintless dent repair is suitable for larger shallow dents damage. The PDR process is ineffective in the repair of very sharp dents and body creases.

You can use paintless dent removal to make your vehicle look better than it did before an accident.

There are some bigger dents that are simply too complicated to repair with PDR. If this is the case, you may be better off consulting an auto body shop or panel beater for traditional repair methods.

How successful is paintless dent removal?

Paintless dent repair is very successful at bringing the vehicle's exterior back to its pre-damage condition. Once repaired, dents are much less noticeable than before because the paint has not been affected, and the damages blend in with existing damage on the vehicle. It is an alternative to standard body repairs, which involves repainting the entire vehicle. There are many benefits associated with paintless damage repair, including:

Better quality repairs

PDR returns your car to its normal state without affecting the original paint job. PDR only works on small dents that do not require extensive bodywork. If you leave larger dents alone, you can save yourself some money because there will be no need for touch-ups or repainting after the dent is removed. However, touch-ups may still be needed if deep scratches were caused by dents.

Less downtime

When you have PDR carried out, your car will be ready to drive away in less than an hour. This means it has minimal impact on your day-to-day activities. You don't have to waste time transporting your vehicle to and from a service centre or waiting around while repairs are completed.

Saves you money

PDR is the cheapest way of repairing minor dents, saving you up to 70% off traditional methods of repair work. It is a virtually no-risk method for returning a damaged car back into its original condition at a much lower cost than that required for body shop work or repainting. Car owners with older cars should especially consider paintless dent removal, as it is a cheaper and more practical option than repainting. Paintless dent removal (PDR) requires professional-grade tools, skills like those with highly trained technicians who use specific techniques to deliver lasting results. If you attempt these repairs yourself, you might end up causing more damage than good.

How can you fix hail damage?

Hail damage repair works by pushing the metal surrounding the damage back into its original shape. This means that no filling materials are required, just some gentle tapping with special tools that form an extremely hard alloy to push out dents without adding any extra weight. Hail damage will only affect the surface of the metal, so it will not have much impact on your car's structural integrity. PDR hail damage on both aluminium and steel panels.

How much does paintless dent repair cost?

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is around 30% cheaper than traditional repairs, with prices, often including call-out, around $150. There are a variety of factors that can influence the cost of PDR, including the below.

  • The severity of damage to your vehicle.

  • Number of dents needing repair.

  • Bodywork is needed to restore the original shape and finish.

For example, if you have hail damage to your car's hood and fenders, as well as a couple of door dings, the overall amount of damage will be greater than just one large dent on one panel or door. In turn, there will be an increase in the labour time required to complete the task. The same applies to vehicles with extensive paintwork damage after being involved in accidents. This type of repair is much more involved and will take a lot longer to complete. Interested in a career in collision repair? Take a look at the JobOutlook website.