Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Pricing & Costs
How much does a dent actually cost to repair with PDR?
This is by far the most common question that we receive from clients. “I have damage on my car. I want it gone. But how much is dent repair going to cost me?”
As you might be able to guess, the honest answer is “it depends.” But we know that’s not super-helpful for owners. Whether you work with our team or not, we want to empower you to be a smart consumer, so here are a few of the main factors that go into our repair quotes with a few examples of prices –
Type / Size of Dent
Pretty much any solid object can put a dent in your car. Whether it’s hail, a rolling shopping cart, a coasting car, or a 9 iron golf club – every object makes a different dent. Some require more time, planning and tools than others. This plays the largest factor in the cost. Generally dents start at $125 for a 1/2″ ding and go from here. On average, after the first inch, every additional inch costs $50. A 3-5″ baseball sized dent may be closer to $200-300. While a large 2-3 foot dent on a bedside or door may be as much as $1000 or more. Size of damage is the main factor that effects the time a repair takes and therefore, size make up the majority of the cost.
This 1/2 ” door ding was on a flat steel panel and was able to be repaired without removing any panels.
This total cost for this repair was $125.
Location of Dent
A dent can happen pretty much anywhere on a car’s body. And different car panels require more time, planning and tools than others. A car hood dent will be very different from a driver door panel which is very different than a wheel-well dent. Dings on a body line can be more time consuming to repair than a flat panel. And aluminum is much more rigid and is more challenging than traditional steel. We call these ”Factors” and they may add to the base cost. Generally speaking, the more “simple”, straightforward, and easy to access a dent location is, the less the repair will cost.
Paintless Dent Removal & Installation
Some dents are able to be repaired without the need to remove any parts while others may require some R&I in order to access the damaged area. A tail light may need to be removed or a fender liner pulled out. Even a headliner or a door trim panel removal is sometimes required in order to properly repair the damage. Removal and installation is a big part of a proper Paintless Dent Repair and we will be happy to asses your needs in person.
This 4″ dent was located on a body/contour line of the front fender and required the removal of the fender liner to repair.
The total cost for this repair was $452.50.
Car Dent Repair & Make/Model/Year
Every car is different. We work on everything from classic Model Ts to Bentleys to Hondas and everything in between. Metal alloys, paint quality and age can all make removing dents more or less difficult. Generally speaking, aluminum and high strength steels are more challenging to repair than traditional steel and will therefore increase the time spend and cost.
This 14″ dent was located on a body/contour line of a front fender and required removal of the interior trim panel to repair.
The total cost for this repair was $1028.80.
How much does hail damage cost to repair?
Hail damage is priced completely differently using a matrix for size and dent count.
Other PDR Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some other FAQs about our dent repair service.
What is Paintless Dent Removal? (PDR)
Working from behind or on top of the dent, technicians use specially designed tools to massage the metal back to its original position.
Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) is the process of removing dents, dings, and creases from vehicles without affecting the original paint finish. PDR is much quicker and normally much less expensive than traditional body shop repairs.
How long does paintless Dent Removal take?
Most repairs can be done in under an hour, but it depends on the type, location, size and number of dents.
With modern parts shortages, many collision centers will need to keep a clients car for 2-3 weeks and even up to several months. With Paintless Dent Repair, this is simply not the case.
Because we are repairing the damage rather than replacing the part, there is little to no delay for us to begin on your repair. Its not always exact but for us, a good rule of thumb is that it normally takes about 1 hour for every inch of damage to the car.
So a small door ding may take an hour (or less) where a large 2 or 3 foot dent on a bedside may take a few days to repair completely.
Will Car Dent Repair hurt the value of my car?
No! Quite the opposite, removing the dents and dings will increase the market value of your car. All dealerships use PDR technicians to remove dents from their cars on their lots so they can improve the value of their inventory. We have worked with nearly all makes & models, including luxury & high end cars.
Does insurance cover the costs?
We are more than happy to work with any insurance company, however our repair cost are generally less than your deductible and will therefore not need to involve your insurance.
We can certainly advise you on the best course of action once we see your vehicle.
How do you deal with parts and waste?
First, since we repair rather than replace exterior body parts – we keep car parts out of the landfill. Since we pull dents out with tools and technique, we create very little waste compared to traditional body shops. In addition, we don’t use any harsh chemicals or bonding agents – so there’s no risk of poor disposal. Any remaining parts are recycled through our parts partners or other recycling programs.
Moving Forward
One of the biggest concerns that you may have is making sure that you are choosing the option that makes the most sense for your budget. We get that completely. One of the advantages to having us look at your vehicle is our ability to quote you not only our repair cost, we can also give you a professional opinion on a body shops price as a comparison. Making sure that you choose the option that is right for you is our highest priority.
Like any professional service, there are plenty of other factors in the cost & pricing of paintless dent repair. We have years of experience to do the job quickly and effectively. And we want you to be thrilled with the service we provide. If you want to know the cost of repairing your car’s dent – request a free quote!