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Paintless Dent Repair’s Frequently Asked Questions

dents from hail

If your car has gotten dings and dents from hail or debris and you’re looking into ways to fix it, you may have come across paintless dent repair (PDR). If you’re unsure what PDR is, these frequently asked questions and answers can help you learn more about how it works and why it’s beneficial.

What is PDR?

PDR is a process used to remove dings and dents from a car’s body without removing or altering any paint. This is achieved by carefully assessing the damage, gaining entry to the dent, and then applying slow pressure to work out the dent using specialized tools. PDR is considered an environmentally friendly car repair method that can be carried out quickly and at an affordable cost.

Are There Any Benefits of PDR?

The good news is, PDR has many benefits for both your vehicle and budget. For starters, by choosing PDR, you ensure your dent is repaired through quality processes. That’s because you won’t need extras like fillers or primers that can cause filler or paint shrinkage, even if your car has dents from hail.

PDR is also a more cost-effective dent repair option, due to both the cost of repairs and the fact that this method restores vehicle value to pre-dented condition.

Besides saving money on the repairs themselves, you can also save because PDR typically repairs dents in a fraction of the time needed for other methods meaning no rental vehicle necessary. Last but not least, PDR is an environmentally friendly method that eliminates the need for paint, toxins, and other chemicals that are used by vehicle body shops and which can be harmful to the environment.

Where Do I Find Quality PDR Technicians?

Whether you need to fix dents from hail or other common causes of dents such as car doors, falling tree branches and road debris, your best bet is to go with a reputable company that employs certified PDR and hail technicians. Find a brick and mortar shop near you that guarantees their work and adheres to the nationally accepted standards for the industry.

Will PDR Damage the Painting on My Car?

It’s normal to worry about resale value if you have substantial dents from hail on your vehicle. However, with PDR, the paint on your car will be 100% safe, since this technique slowly bends the dent out and the panel into its original position. It also helps that the paint used on cars today is not easily susceptible to damage from slight impacts.

Does PDR Completely Remove the Dent?

Minor dents are much easier to remove, but it can be tricky getting rid of deeper, creased dents. Still, PDR can do a stellar job of eliminating the damage. The good news is once fixed, the dents will not come back. However, keep in mind some dents can’t be fixed with PDR, especially if they’re too deep or are in a difficult location.

Contact Dent Shop to learn more about the benefits of PDR and determine if your vehicle damage is suitable for this type of repair. Schedule your free estimate today!

The 5 Most Common Causes Of Car Dents

hail damage

Besides dents caused by auto accidents, vehicles can also be dinged and dented in other scenarios, such as debris falling or being blown into a car, or weather events like storms that cause hail damage. In this article, we look at the most common causes of car dents and damage covered by an insurance claim.

Car Doors

There’s a reason why you should always give room for clearance when parking near other cars. Automobile doors are one of the most common causes of car dents. Picture this, the people in the car next to yours are in a hurry or careless enough to open their car doors with enough force to hit your side of the car. By the time you return to your vehicle, the only evidence left is an ugly dent. To avoid this, always choose the most open area of a parking lot you can find.

Grocery Carts

Car doors are not the only thing that can hit and damage your car. While grocery carts may look harmless, if they’re left at an incline, they can roll with enough momentum to hit your car and create a dent. Unfortunately, most grocery store shoppers don’t care where they leave their cart, so it’s up to you to ensure your car is out of harm’s way.

Weather

Wind alone can blow umbrellas, bicycles and other debris into vehicles easily. If you live in an area prone to hail storms, then you may experience a few cases of auto hail damage. If a hailstorm is particularly wild, the hail damage can be extensive. The best thing is to always keep up to date with the weather news. If there’s a hail prediction, keep your car safe and undercover to prevent or minimize hail damage. The same also applies to other weather events, such as windstorms and tornadoes.

Falling Objects

There are many instances where falling objects can dent your car. If you’re parked under a tree, small tree branches and even acorns can fall with enough force to leave dents in your car. Additionally, if you’re parked under a high-rise building, any object that falls from such a height can hit your car with enough force to cause a dent. Avoid parking under trees or next to tall buildings if possible.

Tight Spaces

You can dent your car while attempting to squeeze it through a tight space. This can be a parking space, your garage or on the road while trying to pass another car. If you want to avoid dents, your best bet is to give yourself plenty of room to maneuver. Declutter your garage so you have plenty of space to park and open all vehicle doors.

Knowing the most common causes of car dents will helpfully make you more cautious and proactive about keeping your car protected, both on the road and in your public parking safety measures. In the event your vehicle does sustain dents and dings, know that this damage can be covered by an insurance claim. If you require assistance filing and managing your insurance claim, and require top-notch dent or hail damage repairs, contact Dent Shop today. Our team offers free estimates and can help you navigate the insurance claims process.

What Types of Auto Damage Can PDR Fix?

car hail damage

Did you know that almost 90% of dents can be repaired using paintless dent repair (PDR)? Even though a wide variety of dent removal can be accomplished with PDR, it pays to fully understand if your auto damage can be repaired before you take it to a technician. Let’s learn a little bit more about what factors affect whether paintless dent removal can take care of your auto damage.

Auto Dent Complexity

Dent complexity plays a big role in whether or not PDR will be able to solve your auto damage problems. When we talk about complex dents, we’re typically not referring to minor car hail damage. A complex dent has two components that a PDR technician will need to assess: creasing and depth.

Dent creasing occurs when part of the exterior of your vehicle has been bent or squeezed together. For instance, if the hood of your car was bent to the point where a crease occurred in the hood, it would be difficult to get that ridge out of the metal without replacing it completely. Whether or not PDR can fix a creased dent is up to the technician and the size of the dent.

Dent depth also plays a critical role in determining whether PDR will be a feasible repair method. Shallow dents are typically easier to repair than deep dents, no matter what type of dent repair you’re investing in. When a dent is very deep, it’s possible that the car’s paint has been compromised. If the paint hasn’t been compromised, your PDR technician will likely be able to fix this for you. It’s also important to understand that if your factory finish paint is damaged, then the exposed metal can and will rust. The term “paintless” mean that dents are removed without harming or altering the paint, which cannot be done if there’s exposed metal that will require repainting or panel replacement.

Cause of Vehicle Dents

The cause of your dent may also play a role in whether PDR can be used as a solution or not. For instance, car hail damage, especially from smaller hailstones, is a common reason to use PDR. The larger the hailstone is, the bigger the dents will be. Since hailstones are mostly rounded, the dents they leave behind don’t usually leave a crease. These dents are typically round, shallow and easier to pop out with PDR techniques. Dents from door dings and debris are also great candidates for PDR because the dents are typically shallow and the car’s paint isn’t compromised. Sports accidents, such as a baseball or basketball hitting your car, can be fixed with PDR techniques as well. Much like hail, these objects will leave a shallow, round impression in your car that typically doesn’t compromise the exterior paint.

Whether you need PDR to repair damage to your vehicle ultimately depends on the nature of your car’s dents. For all of your PDR needs, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Dent Shop today for a free estimate.

Making These Mistakes with Vehicle Hail Repair Could Cost You

vehicle hail repair

If you live in an area of the country where hail storms are common, you’re all too familiar with the vehicle damage they can cause. Vehicle hail damage can range in severity depending on the intensity of the hail storm, but thankfully, following some of these best practices can get your vehicle fixed and back on the road again quickly. For starters, here are some potentially costly mistakes to avoid after your car gets dinged by hail.

Ignoring Hail Damage

For less severe hail storms, oftentimes the damage may not seem that bad to the untrained eye. Some vehicle owners may be tempted to ignore the pockmarked imperfections across the hood, roof and trunk. However, that’s no excuse to ignore the damage. Hail damage can lower the resale value of your car, truck, motorcycle or more by thousands of dollars. If you were to get in a collision afterward, the cost of repairs compared against the lowered vehicle value may cause your insurance company to total the vehicle prematurely. When you spot the first signs of hail damage on your vehicle, it’s important to take action right away.

Waiting Until the End of Hail Season for Repairs

It may hail again before the end of the season, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to have your vehicle hail damage repaired. Leaving hail damage as is could mean the next storm exacerbates it. As a result, you could end up with damaged paint, bigger dents and a more expensive repair bill. If the second hail storm ends up cracking the vehicle paint, you’ll be forced to get either replacement panels or the damaged section filled in and repainted with costly conventional methods. That’s why you shouldn’t wait until hail season is over before investing in dent removal.

Failing to File an Insurance Claim

Calling your insurance agent doesn’t have to be the first thing you do after sustaining car hail damage. That said, you shouldn’t avoid filing a claim for fear of your premiums increasing. Unlike collisions, hailstorms are hardly your fault – they’re considered acts of nature that are covered under comprehensive auto insurance policies. Not taking advantage of your insurance policy to offset the cost of hail damage repair means that you’ll pay more out of pocket. When in doubt, do whatever you can to offset vehicle repair costs. Try to ensure your claims adjuster’s repair estimate matches the average anticipated repair costs by receiving an estimate from a reputable local dent repair company.

Choosing Traditional Dent Repair Instead of PDR

Paintless dent repair (PDR) is one of the most effective methods of hail damage repair you can invest in. Not only is this process efficient and non-damaging to your car’s valuable paint, but it’s also much faster and more cost-effective than traditional methods of dent repair. Traditional dent repair often requires leaving your car in the shop for a week on average while waiting for prepping, filling, repainting and finishing work to be completed. When you want to save money and time and wish to restore your vehicle’s value, PDR is the way to go.

Vehicle hail repair can be an expensive venture if you fail to file a claim, choose traditional methods, wait to get the damage repaired or avoid the problem altogether. Don’t let these mistakes cost you even more money than you need to spend! For all of your vehicle dent repair needs, PDR questions and a free hail damage repair estimate, don’t hesitate to contact us at Dent Shop today.

3 Benefits of Using PDR for Small Dent Repair

small dent repair


Hail can wreak all kinds of damage on your property; unfortunately, vehicles are some of the most common hail damage victims. If you’re dealing with car hail damage, here are a few reasons you should rely on paintless dent repair (PDR) to get it fixed.

PDR Is More Efficient

Getting vehicle hail damage fixed can be a time-consuming process depending on the chosen repair method. Traditional repair methods often take weeks to complete, thanks to a long, step-by-step process. PDR, on the other hand, is a much more efficient way to get rid of those small dents from hail.

During a PDR session, your technician will utilize a specialized tool to slowly press your car’s dented exterior back into its original shape. This is typically done by removing a panel from the inside of your car to gain access to the interior of your vehicle’s body. Once your technician has access to the area where the dent is, they can simply pop it out. Depending on the number of dents from hail damage in your vehicle, this could take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two on average.

PDR Is More Cost-Effective

There’s no denying that auto repair is an expensive venture at times. This is especially true when you’re investing in traditional dent repair work. This type of dent repair work typically requires fillers, grinding, painting many layers, drying time and buffing as part of the workflow. When you choose paintless dent repair, there’s no need for all of those extra steps. It’s called paintless for a reason, after all. PDR doesn’t require any additional work or supplies, which makes it a much more cost-effective option for small dent repair. Less time, less labor and fewer materials mean spending less money on repairing your hail damage.

PDR Offers Better Preservation of Value

Resale value for cars is a finicky thing. As soon as you drive them off of the dealership lot, they start to depreciate. Traditional dent repair methods often require new paint, which isn’t guaranteed to match or last as long, thus reducing your car’s resale value. Fortunately, PDR techniques don’t interfere with your vehicle’s paint at all. The entire goal of PDR is to repair small dents without any damage to your car’s protective factory finish paint. In doing so, PDR can help preserve the value of your car.

Working with PDR technicians for small dent repair is your best bet after sustaining car hail damage. Not only will you likely have your car back within a day, but you’ll also save money and preserve your car’s protective paint. For all of your vehicle hail damage repair needs, don’t hesitate to contact our professional PDR team at Dent Shop today.

What You Need To Know About Driving In a Hailstorm

hail dent removal

In the event you get caught out driving in a hailstorm, the safest thing you can do is to park your vehicle by the roadside or under shelter as quickly as you’re able. However, that is not always possible. Data from the National Weather Service suggests that it takes a hailstone the size of a golf ball (1.75 inches) to cause some hail damage to a vehicle. If the hailstones are smaller than that, you might choose to keep driving. In this article, we look at what you need to know about driving in hail.

Stay Calm

It can be nerve-wracking to drive in a hailstorm. However, as scary as it is, you must stay calm and know that you’re safest sheltered in your vehicle. Do not panic or leave your vehicle, since you can also end up being hurt by the impact of the hailstones. You should only leave your vehicle if you’re able to park it in a parking garage. Note that it may take some time for the storm to pass, so check the weather on your phone once you’ve pulled over to determine how long the hailstorm may be.

Stay on the Road

Driving during a hailstorm can be dangerous, as your visibility and that of other drivers is affected. However, if you are caught in a hailstorm, keep on driving until you find a safe place to pull over. If you park under an overpass, make sure to keep your emergency lights on and your vehicle out of traffic. In some cases, hail damage can include shattered windows, so be sure to shelter underneath a blanket in your vehicle if you’re unable to drive any further but haven’t found a safe place to park.

Protect Yourself

What you need to do if you find yourself driving in a severe hailstorm is to find a sheltered place quickly. This may even require you to change direction and head towards the nearest secure location. Firstly, you must assess the situation and decide if it would be safer to keep driving or to go park somewhere. If driving presents a danger to you, then get to a shelter as soon as you can. If you cannot continue driving due to low visibility or safety, pull over. You may be tempted to pull a blanket over your vehicle to protect it, but you must weigh the risks to your own safety first if you get out of the vehicle. Risking serious injury or head trauma is often not worth it.

Driving in a hailstorm presents several challenges, one being your safety and the other being hail damage to your vehicle. Therefore, you must do everything you can to ensure that your car is safe, but more importantly, that you are secure as well. To do this, stay calm so you can make sound decisions that are not panic driven. In the event a hailstorm does damage your vehicle, contact Dent Shop for a free estimate, swift and superior hail damage repairs and hail damage claims assistance.

How To Prepare For a Hailstorm

dent removal cost

When the average consumer spends around $400 every year on car maintenance alone, the thought of having to deal with hail damage repair expenses certainly isn’t a fun one. If your area experiences frequent hailstorms and you’re worried about the dent removal cost for hail damage, here are a few tips to help you prepare and protect your vehicle.

Know When a Hailstorm Is Coming

The first step in preparing for a hailstorm is being aware that it’s going to occur at some point or another. Once you know that a hailstorm is headed your way, make sure you’re staying alert and checking the skies every now and again. It’s important for you to keep an eye on the forecast throughout the day; it may help to check an app or website that shows a weather radar map. If you live in an area where hail storms are common, you must always know the signs of an incoming storm. Typical signs of an imminent storm include dark clouds, strong winds, heavy rainfall, distant thunder and lightning. Hail can form in thunderstorms with a high moisture content when there are strong updrafts and part of the cloud layer is enveloped in freezing temperatures.

Protect Your Vehicle

Once you know a hail storm is headed your way (or the conditions are ripe for a hail storm), you will want to make sure your property is safe. The cost of repairing damaged property after a hailstorm can be crippling. Your vehicle should be your first priority, since it is vulnerable during hail storms and can be protected easily with preparation. Make sure you move your car to your home’s garage or a covered parking garage at work if possible. You can end up with shattered glass, dents, paint damage and broken mirrors, among other forms of damage. If you don’t have a garage or a covered carport, don’t leave your vehicle out unprotected. Use thick blankets or comforters to give your car at least a little bit of protection against incoming hailstones.

Have a Plan for Dealing with Vehicle Hail Damage

Even the best-laid plans can go to waste during a hailstorm. If your car’s protection wasn’t adequate or a hailstorm caught you by surprise, it’s important to have a plan for dent repairs. One of the best options for repairing dents from hail is paintless dent removal. This type of repair is used to fix dents without paint damage, since by pushing out the dent cavity while maintaining the paint, your vehicle stays protected without risking rust or loss of value. Not only is this an efficient method of dent repair that fixes the appearance and value reduction of your car, but the paintless dent removal cost is also pretty reasonable and the workmanship has a lifetime warranty. With this dent repair method, there’s no need to pay for expensive replacement parts or new paint jobs over bondo and filler placed in the dent cavity. With paintless dent repair, the dents are truly fixed, simply because the process involves slowly massaging the metal exterior back into its original shape and position.

Hail storm preparation is primarily about safety. The more you prepare, the less you will have to deal with the damage, dent removal cost and repairs later. If the weather catches you by surprise, reach out to Dent Shop with photos of your damage or drop by for a free estimate. We offer premier hail damage repairs, PDR services, stellar customer service and hail damage claims assistance – contact us today!

What Does Hail Do To A Car?

paintless dent repair cost

The severity of damage that hail can do to your car is dependent on hailstone size, wind speed and the duration of the storm. In this article, we will look at the type of damage you can expect to find on your car after a hailstorm.

Dents

Dents are the most common type of damage after a hailstorm. Their size and severity vary with the intensity of the storm and the size of hailstone it produces. They often appear the roof, hood and trunk of the vehicle, and can bounce or get swept sideways into the sides of the car as well. Fortunately, most dents from hail are relatively minimal, aren’t too deep and can be repaired without complication thanks to paintless dent repair. Paintless dent repair is one of the most common methods of removing dents from hail damage. This particular technique can be used to repair dents when there is no damage to the vehicle’s paint. Paintless dent repair cost varies depending on the auto repair shop you select and the extent of the hail damage in question. PDR can work on dents of any size, even the smallest ones, crease dents or large, shallow dents. In addition, this process is much swifter than conventional methods that involve filler and repainting, with paintless dent repair used to complete hail damage repair within a few days.

Paint Damage

As hail falls, it can scrape and land on your vehicle with such impact that it scratches, cracks or chips the paint as it dents the vehicle. Unfortunately, paint damage can occur regardless of the size or duration of the hailstorm if the hailstones are big enough. Many vehicle owners may be unaware of the significance of paint damage – which allows the exposed metal to rust and spread over time, requiring panel replacement. Once the paint gets cracked or scratched, you need to get expensive, laborious conventional repairs that require more paint removal to prep the surface for filler and then repainting.

That’s why it’s so important to cover your car before a hailstorm hits. If you have a covered garage or carport, keep your car there until the hail passes. This is the best way to avoid paint damage as a result of hail.

Damaged Glass

Severe hailstorms can also cause cracks in any glass or plastic on the exterior of your vehicle. This is typically a result of hail falling at an angle as a result of high winds. Hailstones can also bounce up off of the ground and cause damage that way. They can also shatter glass completely if they hit your car at just the right angle. Be sure to repair any glass damage on your vehicle as soon as you can after a hailstorm. Even a small chip or crack can grow and spiderweb across your vehicle, putting yourself and your vehicle occupants in danger.

Misaligned Mirrors

A severe hailstorm with large hailstones can knock your car’s side mirrors out of place. In other rarer instances, side mirrors can be completely shattered. Always check your mirrors after a hailstorm. If they are misaligned, you must adjust them. Do so carefully if your mirrors get adjusted automatically instead of manually. If your side mirrors won’t align properly and you don’t have an adequate view, you will need to have them replaced as driving without them poses a serious safety risk.

Remember to always thoroughly inspect your vehicle after a hailstorm for damage and then take appropriate action. If your vehicle is dented but the paint is intact, don’t hesitate to call and find out about the paintless dent repair cost and timeframe for repairs. Contact Dent Shop today for premier service, top-notch repairs, claims assistance and more!

The Best Repair Option for Dents and Hail Damage

paintless dent repair

Dents, dings, crease dents and hail damage are all common forms of vehicle damage that can occur over the course of owning If you’re worried about the consequences of such damage on your vehicle’s appearance and resale value, you’re not alone. Here’s some information about the top method to repair dents and hail damage: paintless dent repair.

How Does Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Work?

A skilled PDR professional knows how to properly assess, estimate, prepare and methodically fix the vehicle hail damage, using industry-grade tools under well-lit conditions. Since a vehicle’s metal frame and durable paint are relatively flexible, professionals can slowly use tools to push and pull the dented metal back into its original place. The final result should be a smooth surface all around, as if the hail damage or dent never happened.

Types of Dents That Require Paintless Dent Repair

Paintless dent repair is mostly suited for minor repair work that does not include scratched or chipped paint. For instance, minimal hailstorm damage from smaller hailstones is fixable with PDR methods. The following are two types of dents that a paintless dent repair can fix.

Round Dents – These dents are often caused by round objects such as golf balls, hailstones or rocks. These form immediately on your vehicle after contact with the object. As the name suggests, they have a rounded shape to them. Fortunately, they’re fairly easy to remove with PDR.

Crease Dents – These are intricate dents that can stretch the metal of your vehicle. Crease dents are often formed when something long and thin, such as a tree branch, somehow impacts the side of a vehicle. As long as there’s no damage to the paint, PDR may be a viable repair method. These dents can take time to crease out, but advanced tools and technology have improved the process.

Costs of a Paintless Dent Repair

You would be surprised to find that over 90% of car dents can be repaired by paintless dent methods. If a hailstorm leaves your car with minor automotive damage, you should consider using this fast, cost-effective, minimally invasive method. Getting your car’s dented exterior to return to its original state can be done by a skilled PDR technician, but the costs will depend on the following factors:

  • The size of the dent.
  • The depth and shape of the dent.
  • Where the dent is located.
  • The number of dents on your automobile.

Once your technician has assessed the above factors, they’ll be able to determine how much time and effort it will take to remove the dents from your vehicle. That’s why hail damage is a costly form of automotive damage, because of the numerous dents and dings located all over your vehicle. In the past, vehicle owners had to replace panels entirely or use costly conventional methods to fix vehicle hail damage. Thanks to PDR, automotive hail damage or dents can be repaired at a fraction of the time and cost, while also returning the vehicle to its original value.

In summary, hailstorms can cause costly damage to your automobile, but there are suitable repair options that can effectively fix the various dents and dings. Paintless dent repair performed by certified professionals will save you time and money on fixing your dents. Contact Dent Shop today for cost-effective, high-quality repairs – text our estimate portal for a quick assessment or drop by for a free estimate!

Understanding PDR and the Hazards of Hail

paintless dent removal

Hail can cause severe damage to property, cars and your wallet. Even with a comprehensive auto insurance policy, the out-of-pocket costs to fix vehicle hail damage can be quite high. This is due in part to the type of traditional method often used to repair vehicle hail damage, which is highly expensive due to being labor-intensive, time-consuming, and requiring parts and paint for a step-by-step process. Overall, the cost for insurance grows with inflation as well as the higher cost of vehicle repairs – a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) found that the countrywide car insurance expense across the United States rose 2.7% — up to $889.01 from $865.34.

Traditional hail repairs cost you and your insurance company a significant amount, which is why there’s a more suitable option that’s proven to be more beneficial for you, your vehicle and your insurance company: paintless dent repair.

What Is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?

Paintless dent repair is the best way to fix dents from hail when there isn’t any paint damage. This method is cost-effective, doesn’t require parts or repainting, fixes the value and appearance of your vehicle and is a much faster process. During a PDR service, a technician will use specialized tools to help ease your car’s exterior back into its original shape. In most cases, this process can be completed without having to remove many exterior panels from your car, making it a minimally invasive process. Not only is this more efficient, but it’s safer for your car’s paint, too. This means that your vehicle is restored to its original condition without the risk of needing a new paint job (which drastically lowers vehicle value since the new paint is not guaranteed to match or last).

Benefits of PDR

There are many benefits to using PDR to fix hail damage: it’s cost-effective, it’s fast and it can boost your vehicle’s resale value. Because you will not have to buy new panels or conventional repairs and replacement paint, you’re not putting a huge dent in your bank account. PDR is also a faster fix because it is a specialized process that is designed to get your car back on the road quickly, and because the process is relatively quick. Additionally, PDR restores your vehicle’s resale value to pre-damaged condition because you are not damaging the valuable original factory finish.

Why Choose PDR for Hail Damage?

Hail damage can cause anything from dents and dings to road hazards that result in additional damage to your vehicle. Choose PDR for vehicle hail damage because it is the most proven process for restoring dents, dings and divots effectively and efficiently. Its innovative process is designed to restore your vehicle to its pre-damaged condition without costing you a great deal of time, money or stress.

If your car has been damaged during a hailstorm, consider paintless dent removal to get your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. The process is proven to be cost-effective, fast and will not damage your car’s original factory finish, making it the best repair option available after hailstorms. Contact us at Dent Shop today for premier paintless dent repairs services to fix vehicle hail damage!