How much does Paintless Dent Removal cost?
Matilda Douglas-Henry, 29th March 2021
Paintless Dent Removal (or PDR) is the easiest and most affordable way to repair panel damage. In this type of repair, a skilled panel beater uses a specific set of tools that allows certain dents, dings, and other afflictions to be removed from your vehicle without needing to repaint. Paintless Dent Removal is a quick and straightforward solution to getting your car road-ready again, and the fact that no paint is required makes it much cheaper than other smash repair methods, and can be done as a mobile service or in an auto shop. In this article we will tell you all you need to know about Paintless Dent Removal, such as:
- The types of tools and techniques used for Paintless Dent Removal
- The long-term benefits of Paintless Dent Removal
- How much Paintless Dent Removal costs
For more information on panel beating beyond PDR, our Panel beating article breaks down all the essential information, including more panel beating techniques and how to save money when looking for the right technician.
What tools and techniques are used for Paintless Dent Removal?
Due to the seemingly straight forward nature of Paintless Dent Removal, many car owners opt to fix this type of panel damage themselves. DIY kits are a popular and common acquisition, and typically rely on suction tools as the main device to fix the dent. At DingGo, however, we recommend you go to a trained professional. Paintless Dent Removal is a much more complex process than it seems, and panel beaters have spent years refining their skills. It’s not too pricey to hire a skilled technician, and the work they perform on your vehicle will be of superior quality.
Paintless Dent Removal uses specific tools to carefully reshape the damaged panel into its original form, ensuring that they do not crack any of the paint in the process. Each panel beater has their own approach to PDR, with hundreds of personalised tools that they have customised to their preferred process.
Some common Paintless Dent Removal procedures include:
- Removing interior trims that interfere with the dent;
- Using heat and fluorescent lights to avoid chipping the damaged area;
- Applying hot glue to areas that tools can’t access, then pulling the dent out with a hammer once set;
- Tapping down the repair*.
Pictured is a PDR technician using a special light, glue gun and hammer to identify and repair small hail dents.
What are the long-term benefits of Paintless Dent Removal?
There are many benefits of Paintless Dent Removal, making it one of the most economical forms of vehicle repair. Perhaps most importantly, a PDR-repaired dent will never resurface, making it a better alternative to using filler and paint as well as heightening its cost efficacy.
The fact that Paintless Dent Removal doesn’t rely on filler or paint spray, nor sanding, makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to panel repair. It is also the fastest and most affordable method.
How much does Paintless Dent Removal cost?
On average, Paintless Dent Removal will cost you between $150 and $250 for each damaged panel. However, the price varies significantly depending on the size, location, and nature of the dent. A more sophisticated dent will be in the $450 range, and in some instances it will be even pricier. Typically, dent repair using PDR will take no more than a few hours.
One of the most popular applications for Paintless Dent Removal is for the repair of Hail damage, which often leaves small dents on your vehicle that can be fixed with Paintless Dent Removal. Hail damage can be often be more complex and affect more panels than most people who self assess realise. For that reason it's always worth having your hail damaged car assessed by a professional as the full scope of damage is often no obvious to the untrained eye. As a results Hail damage repair using PDR is often more expensive than expected and can cost up to $15,000, and will have your vehicle off-road for possibly a few weeks.
You can find out more about repairing your hail damaged car in our 'How to fix hail damage' article.
Conclusion
Paintless Dent Removal is an efficient and economical method to ensure that your car is road-ready again in no time. Looking for the best PDR specialist near you? Use DingGo’s quick quotes service today.