How Much Does A Paintless Dent Repair Cost

Information technology'due south part of the experience of having a car. Mayhap you were at the local supermarket and someone was a fleck devil-may-care and they dinged your door. Or maybe you were a little under the weather condition and y'all accidentally backed into a pole. Any it is, the fact that yous're looking for a paintless dent repair cost means yous're probably having a bad week. Fortunately, paintless dent repairs don't cost that much, and in that location are means to salve coin. Permit's discuss paintless dent repair costs and body repairs.

Paintless dent repair
Costs
DIY
Other body repair costs
Questions & Answers
Determination

What is a Paintless Dent Repair?

As the proper name suggests, a paintless dent repair is a body repair procedure where it doesn't crave any sanding or painting in the process. It'southward relatively fast and inexpensive and tin can be done when your vehicle doesn't have paint harm. Even larger dents tin can exist fixed with this method as long as in that location is no paint damage. The process usually involves heating the damaged trunk panel to make them more flexible. Then the technician will utilise a metal rod to knock the dent out and sometimes push button it from the within. They will sometimes need to remove interior trims or other parts to gain access within the panel.

You may not be able to repair dents using the paintless dent repair method in the following scenario:

The paring has sharp edges or torn metal.
The paint inside a dent is broken or scratched.
The indented metallic is situated near the edge of a panel. Sometimes yous tin can withal use the paintless dent repair method, but it may exist more plush.
The dented area has had previous bodywork done.

Paintless Dent Repair Toll

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A paintless dent repair, or sometimes called PDR, is relatively inexpensive. A paintless dent repair toll is effectually $150 – $250 on average. Smaller dents such as door dings may even be cheaper, at around $50 – $125 depending on labor rates. Other factors will also affect paintless dent repair price, such as:

The number of dents. If in that location are multiple dents on multiple body panels, then the cost will go upwardly since more time and labor will be involved.
Size of the dent. Obviously, larger dents will require more than effort to repair. It will take more time every bit well and can exist a scrap more difficult to restore the body panel to its former glory, hence the higher cost.
The location of the dent volition also affect the paintless dent repair costs. For example, dents on the roof caused by hail damage are harder to reach making it more difficult to piece of work on. Also, dents well-nigh the edge of the panel are more than difficult to repair, bringing up the cost of the repair.
Your vehicle's make and model may also impact the toll. Some cars may be more than hard to work on whether information technology's because it requires other components to be taken off before working on the dents. Or it can besides because of the materials used on the torso panel. Aluminum panels for case will require specialized repairs.

Where to Do a Paintless Dent Repair?

You can practice a paintless dent repair job at the nearest car torso shop. Whatever decent auto body shop will be able to do a good paintless dent repair job. Or depending on where you lot live, you lot can request a service from online auto body services if you're in their service coverage. As e'er, be certain to compare prices from various shops and service providers to make certain you go the best possible price.

Don't forget to read customer reviews too to ensure they can do a good job. You lot don't desire to pay $250 for a paintless dent repair task only to observe the job isn't done well and your auto hasn't been restored to its former glory.

Reducing Paintless Dent Repair Toll: Do It Yourself

Since paintless paring repair is relatively elementary to do, you lot can exercise information technology yourself with the right tools. It volition take some of your time, but if coin is a bit tight at the moment then it's a good choice to save some money. There are two different methods of doing a paintless paring repair. Evaluate both methods and come across if y'all're confident in doing either of these yourself to save some cash:

Bodyline Paintless Paring Repair

If the dent is on the vehicle's bodyline (that's the curves and contours on your machine's body panel), then this first method will likely piece of work better. Repairing a dent on the vehicle'southward bodyline requires a flake more attempt and precision, and that's why the method is different. That'due south also why we won't arraign yous if you choose to bite the $250 bullet and just pay someone to do this for you. Merely if you nevertheless want to practise information technology yourself, hither'south what you will demand:

Pivot Tips.
MT18 from PDR Finesse.
Killer Whale Tail from Stanliner Tools.
VIP 2.0 tap downwards.
Hairdryer.

How to Practise a Bodyline Paintless Dent Repair

Tap the "crowns" of the dents using the VIP 2.0 tap down with pivot tips. The "crowns" are the edges of the dent. Y'all'll need to practise this showtime to reduce the size of the paring and before pushing the dent out from the inside.
Heat the dented area with a hairdryer. Heating information technology for almost 5 – 10 minutes with a hairdryer should exist enough.
Push out the dent from inside the console by using the Killer Whale tail. Alternatively, you can employ a crowbar or a metal rod to the task as well. Merely paintless dent repair technicians often use this tool to do the chore.
Use the tap-down tool once more to make fine adjustments.
Pick out micro push marks using the MT18. When you tap on the dent by using the tap down, there will be small-scale marks from the taps. Pull it out from the inside of the panel by using the MT18 tool from PDR finesse.

Precision and an eye for detail are required to do this job properly. We recommend watching this video to assistance you understand more than most how to do this procedure:

Paintless Dent Repair: Using a Suction Cup or a Plunger

This method works best when the dent is on a larger panel and doesn't bear on your vehicle'due south trunk line. For instance, if you have a dent on your bumper, this method volition piece of work well. Here'due south how to do a paintless dent repair using a suction loving cup. Here's what you volition demand:

A heat gun or hairdryer (a hairdryer is safer but yous may need a rut gun).
A suction loving cup or a plunger.
A crowbar or a metal rod may exist required to help with the procedure.

The suction cup for autobody repairs is usually no more than than $l to purchase. But of course, you lot can either infringe or rent from someone you lot know or from an motorcar shop. Whatever the case, in one case y'all've got the tools, hither's how to do a paintless dent repair yourself:

How to Do a Paintless Dent Repair Using a Suction Cup or a Plunger

Warm upwards the damaged surface area using a hairdryer or a heat gun until it becomes more flexible. Information technology will usually take nigh 5 – ten minutes to practice this. Go along in mind that if you're using a heat gun, keep it about 2 anxiety away from the bumper as it can accomplish temperatures that will melt the paint.
Pull the paring out using the suction loving cup or plunger. If yous're using a plunger, moisten the edges with clean water to help create suction. Pull and jerk on the plunger or suction cup repeatedly until the dent comes out.
Heat the body panel with the hairdryer once more if information technology still isn't flexible plenty.
Repeat the process until the bumper is dorsum to its normal state.

Continue in listen that you may need to push the console from the inside using a crowbar or a metal rod simply like the commencement method. Doing this will help speed upward the procedure besides as help y'all make fine adjustments in repairing the dent. You can picket the video beneath as an example where the Boost Brothers fix their bumper using this method:

What if the Impairment is too Astringent? Other Body Repair Costs

There are circumstances where the damage is too severe to prepare with a paintless dent repair. Your mechanic or technician will let y'all know whether the harm can be fixed with the paintless dent repair method or not. If information technology can't, you will demand to look at other repair options. Here are other types of trunk repairs that you may need to do if the harm is severe:

Traditional Dent Repair

Once paint harm is involved, you will need to do a more traditional dent repair. The process is largely the same: the technician will pull out the dent by heating the body panel with like PDR methods. Afterward, they will sand to smoothen out the expanse, and then repaint the damaged expanse. If there are cracks in the car'south paint, then you will demand to do this process.

It volition typically cost between $250 – $350 for this type of repair. Nonetheless, it may be more expensive depending on the cost of your machine's paint.

Repairing Cracks

This typically happens with your vehicle'southward bumper. A higher speed touch tin can cause the bumper to crack. If the crack or fracture is pocket-size, then you tin do a crack repair. The process involves the technician filling the crack with a plastic filler. Afterward, they will sand the area until it'due south polish and then repainting the expanse. This volition usually cost around $300 – $500, but it can be as high as $700 depending on your vehicle's make and model.

However, keep in mind that you may need to supervene upon the bumper or the body panel entirely if the damage is also severe to fix. This also depends on what type of material your vehicle's body panel use, as some materials such as aluminum, are easier to fix than steel. Speaking of torso console replacement:

Body Panel Replacement

Unfortunately, some damage is and then severe that you may have no other selection but to supervene upon the panel of the automobile. The cost to replace a body console will vary depending on the car'due south make and model, likewise equally the process required to practice the job. The size and number of panels that you're replacing volition also touch on the price.

To give you an idea, look to pay anywhere betwixt $500 – $i,500 for a unmarried panel replacement in most cars. Fenders, bumpers, and engine hoods will cost effectually this much to replace. While luxury cars may cost every bit high every bit $2,000.

Proceed in mind this does non include the price of replacing other parts that y'all may need to replace. If the accident has damaged your car's grill, lights, or other accessories, expect the cost to go college since you volition need to supercede these parts. And if your car experiences structural damage to the chassis, look the repair nib to go well over $four,000.

Questions & Answers

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When Should I File an Insurance Claim?

If you lot accept minor dents and but demand to practise a paintless paring repair, so we don't recommend filing an insurance claim. The paintless dent repair cost is quite cheap and you tin practise it yourself to save even more money. Filing an insurance merits volition not be worth it if you just need to do a paintless dent repair, not to mention it volition heighten your insurance rate. There's a take chances your premium will rise betwixt 10% – forty% for a first at-mistake accident. If you have a second accident, and then it could become upwards between 40% – 150%.

Nosotros by and large recommend filing an insurance merits when the claim corporeality is significantly higher than your deductible. For case, if the repair toll total is $one,500 and your deductible amount is $500, and then yous will take to pay the $500 deductible simply the insurance company will pay the remaining $1,000. Since the claim amount is twice your deductible, y'all should make the merits.

That being said, you lot sympathize your personal finance the best. And so if money's really tight at the moment and an insurance merits seems like the best option even though the merits corporeality isn't significantly more than, you should file a claim anyhow.

Can I Repair Hail Harm with Paintless Dent Repair?

hail damage repair cost

Female parent nature can exist cruel sometimes. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may be able to repair hail damage with the paintless dent repair method. However, if there are a lot of dents, it may be more toll-effective for you to supercede the entire body console rather than fixing the dents. This is considering the paintless paring repair cost tin be affected past the number of dents present. You will need to evaluate your options when you have hail damage and seek out the almost cost-effective selection.

Additionally, you should gear up hail harm immediately. Leaving them unrepaired can be dangerous. For instance, driving with a croaky windshield is dangerous as the windshield may break farther while you're driving. Dents and cracks on your body panel may also ruin the integrity of your car's structure, which compromises the rubber of your car if yous get into an accident.

On peak of that, pre-existing damage can complicate future insurance payouts. When the automobile-insurance visitor considers your car to take "pre-existing damage", you may not be liable to getting an insurance payout should you get into an accident. Nosotros've made a complete guide to hail impairment repair cost and you tin read it here.

Tin I Drive without Fixing Dents?

Small dents similar minor door dings won't crusade your automobile to suddenly interruption down when you lot're driving. And so, yes, if the damage is pocket-sized, and so you can drive just fine without fixing the dents. However, nosotros notwithstanding recommend fixing it anyway. Equally mentioned in the hail department, pre-existing damage may complicate future insurance payouts should you make a merits. Improve condom than sorry. Likewise, who likes driving with cruddy dents on their motorcar anyway?

As for larger dents, we recommend immediately fixing them since they may compromise the integrity of your motorcar's safety. This is especially truthful when the dent is on the bumper or has affected the auto's structural integrity.

What if I Have Structural Damage?

Structural or frame impairment is when the accident has affected the motorcar's frame or chassis. In this case, you have two options: repair the damage and keep the car or sell it at a lower value. Proceed in listen that if y'all do determine to repair the harm and keep the motorcar for a few more years, when the fourth dimension comes to sell your car, you lot will nevertheless likely take to sell it at a lower price. Well-nigh cars that take been in a major blow that amercement the frame or chassis volition feel a significant drib in resale value.

Anyhow, if this happens and then you should file an insurance claim to ease the repair cost on your pocket. Nevertheless, if your car is sometime and you don't feel it's worth the deductible corporeality, then you lot're probably ameliorate off selling the car as-is. You can either sell to a used automobile dealership that'southward willing to take a car every bit-is or scrapping it altogether. Keep in heed that your motorcar'south value may drop as much as lxx% in unrepaired status.

Note that driving with frame harm is incredibly unsafe fifty-fifty if y'all accept repaired the body harm. The chassis or frame is what supports the weight of your vehicle. The structural integrity of your car is compromised once the frame is damaged.

How Do I Choice a Skillful Machine Torso Store?

As mentioned, we recommend shopping around and inquire for estimates at different repair shops. On top of that, there are iv questions you should ask:

Practice they offering a warranty? This is important because you never know if the quality of a shop'southward repair job might be poor. You might detect the metallic rusting or the paint peeling just weeks after the repair task, in which case you want a warranty so you lot can have it fixed for little to no cost at all. Likewise, be sure to ask what the warranty covers.
What tools practise they apply? Y'all will need to do a bit of enquiry on what specialized tools is necessary for your type of repair. But by ensuring the repair shop use the correct tools and methods, you can ensure that your motorcar will get a good repair job.
How long will the repair take? A paintless dent repair job normally takes no more than a couple of hours, unless there'due south a lot of impairment such as when you have hail damage. A more severe torso repair task can take anywhere betwixt a couple of days to even weeks. If it's going to take a while, you're going to have to make new arrangements for your daily commute.
Do they offer a rental or replacement car? Light repair jobs shouldn't take more than iii days to finish, simply even three days is a long time to live without your motorcar. If you lot don't accept a second auto, it doesn't hurt to ask if they take a replacement automobile you can use while your machine is being fixed. If they don't and the car will take some fourth dimension to fix, knowing how long the repair chore will accept beforehand will allow you to make arrangements.

Conclusion

Getting into an accident and having a dent in your machine is never a pleasant experience. Fortunately, the paintless dent repair toll is relatively cheap. They should toll y'all no more than $250 in most scenarios, and then you tin can all the same pay out of pocket and won't need to file an insurance claim with the risk of having your insurance premium go upward.

Keep in heed some factors volition bring the repair cost higher. Be certain to weigh all of your options so you tin can choose the virtually cost-constructive method to fixing your car. Afterward, always shop around and enquire multiple shops and body repair service providers for cost estimates. This will help to ensure you get the all-time possible price and service for your auto torso repair.