What is paintless dent repair?

In the automotive reconditioning and repair industry, PDR stands for Paintless Dent Repair. It is the fastest, most cost effective, and least invasive way to repair door dings and dents on your vehicle. Highly skilled PDR technicians use specialized lights and hand tools to slowly and methodically sculpt the car’s sheet metal back to its original form. Paintless Dent Repair does not involve sanding, body filler, or repainting. The process retains the value and integrity of your vehicle while preserving the original factory paint finish. Paintless Dent Repair is the preferred method of hail damage repair, approved by all of the major auto insurance carriers around the world.

Why choose paintless dent repair for your vehicle?

  • Time saving - Most PDR jobs can be completed in 1-4 hours. On the contrast, most conventional body repairs and repaints require 3-14 days.

  • Cost effective - PDR is usually far less expensive than conventional body repairs or part replacements

  • OEM paint finish is retained - The paint job your car receives from the factory is more consistent and far superior to any aftermarket paint job at a body shop. Experienced PDR technicians can remove your dents, while not affecting the strength or look of your OEM paint finish.

  • No report - Most people pay for PDR repairs out of pocket. If no insurance claims or accident reports are submitted, there is no record of damage on your car on Carfax or any other database.

  • Value retention - When you have your car repainted, the value instantly decreases. Dealers who buy cars have special devices they use to scan the car and know if it was repainted. If they note aftermarket paint on the car, they will significantly decrease the value of your trade-in. PDR avoids this situation, thus maintaining the highest value for your vehicle.

Please watch the video below to learn more about paintless dent repair and watch PDR technicians in action.

Limitations of paintless dent repair

Paintless dent repair is a fantastic way to fix small dings and dents on your car. However, it does have its limitations. PDR does not address chips and scratches in the paint. PDR is not a viable option for large or complex collision damage. Deep/sharp dents along with stretched metal also makes paintless dent repair very challenging or not possible in certain situations. Also, some areas of the vehicle are completely sealed and not accessible from the interior side of the metal. If PDR technicians are not able to gain access behind a dent, they might not be able to remove it. A secondary glue pull option can be implemented. Glue pulling involves attaching plastic tabs to the outside of the car with specialized glue. A lifting device then pulls the glued tab up, lifting the dented metal. Glue pulling has its limitations too and is mostly used on noncomplex shallow to medium depth dents that are not accessible with PDR hand tools.

PDR is a niche industry. We specialize in fixing small dings and dents, and making people happy. Damage on cars varies greatly. Sometimes PDR is the answer. Other times a conventional body shop repair is the right choice for the damage on your car. If you have any questions or want to see if the dent on your car is a good candidate for paintless dent repair please call, text, or email Dent Hero to learn more.

 
 
Richard Routson

Dent Hero+ founder, Richard Routson has been pushing dents since 2003. He started his PDR journey with Dentmasters in Tysons Corner, Virginia. He then acquired a segment of the business in 2019 and rebranded as Dent Hero in Arlington, Virginia. Dent Hero focuses on servicing body shops and individual retail clients.

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Sometimes disassembly is required for PDR