Paintless Dent Repair - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?
Paintless Dent Repair is a cost-effective way of repairing dents in motor vehicles where paint has not been chipped or cracked.
PDR technicians learn to read a special light and use a range of tools to massage the dent back to original condition without the need for filler, bogging or spraying. Skilled PDR technicians repair dents in doors; roofs etc. seamlessly and can most times do these without needing to take the part off the car. Click here to see the PRD Before & After photo gallery.
Where did PDR originate?
In the 1940's Mercedes and BMW developed a Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) system to repair small dents created during the manufacturing process. Repairmen known as "dingmen" would use their knowledge of metal and specialized tools to access and massage out minor dings and dents working from the inside of the damaged panel.
Although PDR disappeared in the factories with manufacturing improvements, it has made a strong comeback due to dealership demand.
What kinds of dents and be fixed using PDR?
Paintless Dent Repair is a cost-effective way of repairing dents in motor vehicles where paint has not been chipped or cracked. Talk with your local PDR technician for a free assessment.
What are the benefits of PDR?
Quality: This method is the closest you can get to the dent never happening in the first place. No grinding, fillers, or primers are needed because your original factory paint is not disturbed.
Cost:
Repairs are typically between one-quarter to one-third the cost of conventional dent repair
Time:
Many dents can be fixed in less than an hour. Hail damage is typically fixed in one day with PDR. A body shop may take 2-3 weeks for the same type of damage.
No more problems:
With body shop repair problems can arise after you have
left the shop such as paint shrinkage or problems with the filler. Once a dent has been removed properly with PDR the problem never comes back.
Environmentally Friendly:
Since this process keeps the original factory paint on your
vehicle, there is no need for the paint, chemicals, or other toxins that are used extensively in body shops when repairing dents. PDR is 100% environmentally friendly.
Will my paint be damaged?
No. Today's factory paints are very flexible and will not be damaged in any way by this process. PDR is the only way to repair a dent and still keep your factory paint.
Will dents be 100% gone?
In most cases the dent will be completely gone however the deeper the dent the more difficult it is to repair. Even on larger dents most people are amazed at the results.
Can any dent be fixed?
No. The most important factors in determining if a dent can be repaired by PDR are depth and location.
Depth:
Dents the size of a dinner plate or larger can be fixed successfully, as long as they are not too deep. On the other hand, some dents that are as small as a 10c piece but very deep cannot be fixed using PDR because the metal is too stretched. Cracked paint can also be an indication that a dent is too deep.
Location:
Areas such as some quarter panel opening lips, some forward areas of heavily braced bonnets, or the very edges of some panels are examples of bad locations.
The most common dents fixed are the size of a golf ball and under. Most (about 95%) of minor dents can be fully repaired.
Will dents come back?
Absolutely not. Once a dent has been removed properly with PDR, it never comes back.
