Teeth. We all hate them. They are unsightly, depreciate the value of our cars and even affect a status symbol for some people. Most people are hesitant to repair these blemishes because we all know that a body shop is very expensive. But, if we knew there was an alternative that typically costs 2/3 less than the traditional method, we’d think twice before living with that car scar.

Paintless dent removal (pdr) is a process in which minor dents and dents can be removed by using specialized tools that allow a dent to be pushed (or lifted) without disturbing the paint surface. The offended panel is accessed, and with these special tools and the tooth is massaged with carefully placed pushes or pulls. If the paint is intact, the dent is not stretched too deep (deep), and access allows, it can be repaired with pdr.

There are two ways to repair a dent using the paintless method:

  • It is accessed behind the dent in any given panel and pressure is applied through a specialized set of metal rods until the dent is flattened again.
  • If access is limited behind the panel, it is possible to repair a dent with a special glue. A plastic tab is attached to the top of the tooth with this special hot glue. Once the glue cools, it adheres to the flange and the panel to be fixed. Grasping the plastic tab and pulling it out removes the tooth. This method is much less precise and usually requires tapping down on the parts of the tooth that have been pulled out too far.

Traditional body shops have to grind the paint, apply body filler (bondo), sand the filler to reshape the panel again, prime, sand, paint, clear coat and finally wet sand and polish. With the amount of work they have to do, it’s no wonder why traditional body shops are expensive.

Now, I’m not here to criticize the older methods. I have great respect for what they do. I even worked for a body shop so I know how hard your job is. I’m just trying to explain how paintless dent removal can be a great alternative to traditional body shops given the right conditions. If, in fact, your paint finish is tarnished and cannot be corrected by wet sanding and buffing, a full-service body shop is your best chance for a flawless repair.

Now the whys:

Save Money – Paintless dent removal is 1/3 to 2/3 less expensive than the previous option for repairs. No materials are needed (usually) to make a pdr. Fewer supplies means lower cost, and since most paintless dent technicians are completely mobile, they don’t have the expensive overhead of a proper body shop. All this means that the costs are much lower for you.

Save Value: As in the value of your car. Everyone knows that if your car has been repainted, it reduces the value of your car when you sell or trade it in. The integrity of a factory paint job is far superior to that of a refinish. Factory paint jobs are baked at very high temperatures in extremely clean conditions, creating the best paint surface possible.

Save time: The traditional body shop, for small repairs, takes 3-5 days to complete the job. Most paintless dent removals can be done in a matter of hours, sometimes less than an hour. Again, since technicians are often fully mobile, repairs can be done at home or work while you go about your business. An added bonus is that since you won’t have your car out for more than a few hours, you won’t have to rent a car until the repairs are done, saving you money.

Why remove dents without paint?… Why not?