Paintless dent repair or paintless dent removal (PDR) as it is commonly referred to is a process that removes minor dents from a vehicle without the need for major body work. An extensive range of minor body damage can be repaired using this method, provided the surface paint is not damaged. Common application for paintless dent repair include hail damage, minor door dings, bodyline damage and even larger dents.

How Does PDR Work?

Paintless dent repair works by pushing on panels in order to return them back to their original form. In the world of autobody repair this technique is commonly called push to paint or push to prep. The paintless dent repair variation of this method utilizes various pushing tools in order to restore dented areas back to their original form. The success of this process is dependent on several factors including the paint’s elasticity, however most modern paints are elastic enough to allow for a large degree of success with PDR. Another factor is the shallowness of the dent, in general the less deep the dent the greater likelihood PDR will be a suitable option for repair. The most common tools and techniques used involve the use of metal rods and body picks to push out dents from the inside. Other methods can utilize glue and specialized tabs to pull out dents from the outside. Heat is often used in order to increase malleability and prevent chipping or cracking of the paint.

How Much Does Paintless Dent Repair Cost?

Depending of the severity and size of the dent you need repair PDR can range from under a hundred dollars to a few hundred dollars and can save you a significant amount of time and money on bodywork.

If you have minor body damage or small dents in your vehicle come down to northwest autobody in Sandpoint or Pondaray in order to see if your vehicle is a good candidate for paintless dent repair.