Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
A door ding in a parking lot. A shopping cart that rolled into your fender. Hail damage after a summer storm. These are the kinds of dents that don’t crack your paint but still make you wince every time you walk up to your vehicle.
Paintless dent repair — PDR for short — is a technique that pushes dents back to their original shape from behind the panel, without any sanding, filling, or repainting. A skilled PDR technician uses specialized metal rods and body picks to carefully massage the metal back into place. The result is invisible — because your factory paint is never touched.
PDR works best on shallow dents where the paint surface is still intact. It’s faster, cheaper, and better for your vehicle’s value than traditional body work because you keep your original factory finish. Most single-dent repairs take 30 minutes to an hour. Hail damage across multiple panels can take a full day, but it’s still dramatically faster than conventional repair.
Our Process
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1
Dent Assessment
We examine each dent under controlled lighting to determine depth, location, and whether PDR is the right approach. Some dents near panel edges or on creased metal may need traditional repair — we’ll tell you upfront.
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2
Access & Repair
Our technician accesses the back side of the dent through existing openings in the panel. Using specialized tools, the metal is slowly worked back to its original contour — no filler, no paint, no compromise.
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3
Quality Check
We inspect the repair under multiple light angles to ensure the surface is perfectly smooth. The goal is zero visible evidence that the dent ever existed.
What to Expect
Single dents are usually repaired same-day, often while you wait. Hail damage with dozens of dents may take 1-3 days. PDR preserves your factory paint, which means your vehicle’s resale value stays intact — no Carfax report showing body work. We’ll tell you honestly if a dent isn’t a good candidate for PDR and recommend the best alternative.
Cost Guide
Most insurance policies cover PDR, especially for hail damage. Since PDR costs significantly less than conventional repair, your insurer is usually happy to approve it. We handle the claim paperwork for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of dents can PDR fix?
PDR works best on round, shallow dents where the paint is still intact. Door dings, hail dents, and minor parking lot damage are ideal candidates. It’s less effective on sharp creases, dents on panel edges, or areas where the paint has cracked or chipped.
Does PDR damage my paint?
No — that’s the whole point. PDR preserves your factory finish completely. There’s no sanding, no filler, and no repainting. Your original paint stays exactly as it was from the factory.
How long does paintless dent repair take?
A single door ding typically takes 30-60 minutes. Multiple dents or hail damage may take several hours to a full day. We can give you a time estimate after inspecting the damage.
Is PDR covered by insurance?
Yes, in most cases. Hail damage is covered under comprehensive insurance, and door dings from identifiable incidents are covered under collision. PDR is actually preferred by many insurers because it costs less than traditional repair.
When is PDR not the right choice?
If the paint is cracked, if the dent is on a sharp body line or panel edge, or if the metal has been stretched beyond its elastic limit, conventional repair is the better option. We’ll always be honest about which approach gives you the best result.
Related Services
Available Across the GTA
Get Your Free Estimate
Tell us about the damage and we’ll provide a detailed quote — usually within a few hours.
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