Door dings and hail damage — no repaint required
PDR preserves original factory paint (which matters for resale). Find verified PDR specialists across 85 U.S. cities.
Get Free Quotes →Why PDR is the right choice when it works
Paintless dent removal is a specialty technique where a technician massages metal panels back to their original shape without touching the paint. When it works, PDR is faster, cheaper, and preserves your car’s original factory paint — which usually translates to 5-10% higher resale value vs. a repainted panel.
✓ Ideal PDR candidates
- Door dings and shopping-cart dents
- Hail damage across a hood, roof, or trunk
- Minor parking-lot bumps that didn’t crack paint
- Body creases up to 4 inches with no paint damage
⚠ When PDR won’t work
- Paint is cracked, chipped, or crazed at the impact point
- Sharp creases or deep gouges (metal has yielded past PDR range)
- Damage on aluminum panels (different process, different tools)
- Dents on the very edge of a panel (structural rigidity is different)
What PDR costs
| Damage | PDR cost | Body shop repaint |
|---|---|---|
| Single door ding | $100 – $200 | $400 – $650 |
| 3-5 dents on one panel | $275 – $600 | $700 – $1,200 |
| Light hail (20-50 dents) | $1,500 – $3,000 | $4,000 – $6,500 |
| Severe hail (100+ dents) | $4,000 – $8,000 | $8,500 – $16,000 |
For hail damage, PDR is almost always insurance-covered under comprehensive. Your out-of-pocket is just the deductible.
Get a PDR quote in your city
Multiple PDR shops competing on the same repair — send one form, get 2-3 quotes back within 24 hours.
Get Free PDR Quotes →Top cities with PDR specialists
How to vet a PDR technician
PDR is a craft skill. The difference between a mediocre tech and a top one is visible — properly done PDR is undetectable even under bright light. Ask any PDR shop these three questions before committing:
- How long have you specialized in PDR? Anyone with less than 3 years should not touch aluminum or hail-scale work.
- Can I see before/after photos of similar damage? Serious PDR shops keep portfolios of their work.
- Do you provide a written guarantee? Reputable shops guarantee the dent will not return, or they redo it free.