Published June 26, 2024
Paintless dent repair, usually shortened to PDR, removes dents by slowly pushing and massaging the metal back into shape from behind the panel. Because nothing is sanded, filled or painted, the factory finish stays as it was. When a dent is a good fit, PDR is often quicker and less expensive than conventional body work.
How it works
The technician reaches the back of the dent through existing openings, or by removing trim, a tail light or an inner panel. Using long metal rods and a light board that shows the shape of the dent in reflections, they work the metal up in many small pushes until the surface is level again. Some dents are pulled from the outside instead, using glue tabs that are removed afterwards without harming the paint.
Dents that are usually a good fit
- Door dings from parking lots
- Hail dents on hoods, roofs and trunk lids
- Shallow, rounded dents on flat or gently curved panels
- Dents where the paint is not cracked, chipped or scraped
When PDR is not the right repair
- The paint is broken. If the paint is cracked or chipped, the panel needs refinishing anyway, so the dent is repaired conventionally.
- Sharp creases. A deep, sharp crease has stretched the metal. It may improve with PDR but often needs body work to look right.
- Panel edges and body lines. Metal is doubled or reinforced there and hard to move cleanly.
- No access. Some areas cannot be reached from behind without major disassembly.
- Repainted or filled areas. Older filler or thick aftermarket paint can crack when the metal moves.
In those cases the dent is straightened, filled if needed, and refinished to match. Our dent and scratch repair page explains that process.
A quick check you can do yourself
Look at the dent in daylight from a low angle. If the paint is smooth and unbroken, the dent is rounded rather than sharp, and it sits away from the panel edge, there is a good chance PDR will work. Run a fingernail over any scratch nearby: if it catches, the scratch has gone through the clear coat and will need paint work regardless.
Photos that help us judge
- One wide shot of the whole panel
- One straight-on shot of the dent
- One shot along the panel at a low angle, which shows the depth
Send those photos and we will tell you whether the dent looks like a candidate for paintless dent repair or needs conventional repair, then confirm in person.
