PARS Answers Your Questions about PDR (Paintless Dent Removal)

Q. What is PDR?

A. Paintless dent removal

(PDR) is a technique believed to have first been used in the 1940s in German automobile manufacturing plants to remove dents that occurred while cars were still on the assembly line. It has come a long way since then, but it remains the best way to remove minor dents without the cost of repainting and the difficulty of matching sometimes faded colors. Dents are removed without touching the original finish.

Q. How is paintless dent removal accomplished?

A. Paintless dent removal uses special tools that allow the trained technician to work on the underside of the metal and gently massage it back to its original shape. The bodies of today’s cars are formed under intense pressure, giving the metal “memory” regarding the car’s original shape. An auto repaired using paintless dent removal techniques can be returned to its original shape without using paint or fillers, and the repair can be done more quickly and less expensively than with body shop techniques. Typically, PARS will not keep your vehicle more than 3 days to complete the dent removal.

Q. What are the benefits of paintless dent removal?ed?

A. Paintless dent removal is less expensive (usually 10-50% less) and faster than body work. And, it is the best way to maintain maximum resale value of your vehicle. Here’s why:

  • You keep your car’s original finish, which was baked on under temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It cannot be replicated outside the manufacturing plant.
  • You also keep your vehicle’s Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) parts in place, including seals, panels, etc.

Paintless dent removal is a “green” process that does not use chemicals and, unlike body work that requires painting, does not leave your car smelling like chemicals.

Q. Can you repair all dents using PDR techniques?

A. With recent improvements in PDR tools and techniques, it is now often possible to remove dents up to the size of a football. But, PDR is most effective in the following situations:

  • 1990 model year and newer vehicles
  • The paint has not been broken or cracked
  • The dent is not near the edge of a panel
  • The panel has not had previous body repair

PDR is especially effective for hail damage, because with hail damage the vehicle’s finish is usually not damaged, and PDR can maintain the original finish.

Q. I’ve read about do-it-yourself techniques online using dry ice and also hair dryers. Do those work?

A. No. And, they are likely to cause additional damage to your car’s finish.

Q. What does paintless dent repair cost?

A. Use our Online Estimate Tool to find out. If you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage, you pay only your deductible. If you are not sure what your deductible is, check your policy or call your insurance agent or insurance company. If your coverage includes a “loss of use” provision, the cost of a rental car while your car is being repaired is also covered. Because hail is considered an “Act of God,” a claim for hail damage will not increase your insurance premiums.