Dents are the unfortunate reality of countless vehicle owners. Whether from hail or from runaway shopping carts, your car might be riddled with dings and minor (or not so minor) body damage. With the cost of traditional dent repair, plenty of car owners leave the dents for later, to be repaired another time when the budget allows or when we get around to it.
But leaving those dents to be repaired another time has a hidden cost. Repairing dents in a timely manner is extremely important to prevent rust, especially if you live in an especially humid, salty, or dry environment. If you leave the body of your vehicle exposed, it could begin to corrode irreversibly. Every small ding and dent needs to be addressed. Worse yet, if you’re leasing a car, returning it with dents might mean you end up fined or penalized, raising the stakes of the game, considerably.
How do you address these damages affordably, though?
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Enter Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is the cheapest, quickest, and most green-friendly way to repair dents to your car. In short, the process involves a professional assessing damage, removing the affected panel of the vehicle and applying slow, continuous pressure to work out the dent.
What Kinds Of Dents Work For PDR?
Below is a short list of the sorts of damages most often able to be fixed by PDR methods.
- Gravel, road debris, and pebble damage
- Parking accidents
- Hail damage
- Bumped car doors
- Bodylines damage
- Various dents and dings
Paintless dent repair unfortunately isn’t an option for all vehicle dents. If the metal of the car has been “stretched” too much due to the dent, it may not be able to be worked out with the PDR method. For this reason, some people think PDR never works. This is absolutely not the case.
Of course, any dent where there is paint damage also isn’t a good candidate for PDR. Even if the paint is only bubbled up or peeling, if the paint is broken or separated from the panel, it’s highly unlikely that PDR is an option for that area. .
Another thing to consider is that some damage, like accidents involving deer, are very unlikely to be able to be repaired with paintless dent repair services. Usually, the damage is too severe to be repaired in this manner. While paintless dent repair can fix even some severe crease dents, large area dents that involve multiple stress points may not be a good candidate for PDR.
Can’t I Just DIY This Dent At Home?
Unfortunately, unless you’re a professional auto repair specialist, you cannot repair most dents and dings at home. You’ll likely cause yourself additional damages from overworking the metal, using the incorrect tool for the area, or rushing the process that you’ll have to have repaired and could potentially make your vehicle condition worse to the point PDR isn’t an option.
The main worry is that you may overcorrect the dent, where you apply too much force when you pull the dent out, stretching the metal in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to repair this mistake, so it’s ill advised to try these repairs yourself.
Cheap tools you see on infomercials are also not the correct tools for PDR. While it might seem great to buy one tool and assume you can get the same service at home, professional repair companies do not and have never used these rush-mass-manufactured tools for your auto repair. Like legal representation, knee surgery, and other skilled jobs, some things are best left to professionals.
Does PDR Work For My Wallet?
Paintless dent repair is your most affordable option when it comes to dent repair. Most insurance companies cover the cost of PDR (as it is substantially cheaper than repairs at the body shop). It is your choice whether you wish to report all damages to your insurance company, as your premium may increase if you choose to go that route.
On the positive side, paintless dent repair projects will usually cost the vehicle owner only a couple hundred dollars or less for typical issues, on average.
What Will My Car Look Like After Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair can usually get your car back to perfect or near perfect condition. In fact, the results are so good that you typically can’t tell there was ever damage at all..
So long as a professional is handling your car, your paint won’t be damaged either. Small scuff marks can usually be buffed away. Repainting and touch-ups are only necessary if the damage has cracked or chipped your paint. The advantage of PDR is that there is no paint removed and no chance of discoloration because it’s all your original paint.
With a professional touch and some effort, though, your car can be in top shape for you to turn in your lease or resell your car.
Safeguard Your Investment
Despite all your efforts to protect your investment, dents are sometimes simply out of your control. Don’t worry — at JM Dent Repair, we know how much it means to you to get your car looking new again, and that’s why we’re trusted in the Lafayette area for affordable paintless dent repair.
Paintless dent repair eliminates the worry of a color mismatch or uneven fading, and preserves your vehicle’s appearance and resale value. If you’re driving a leased vehicle, it also helps you avoid expensive “wear and tear charges” on your lease return. Contact us for a quote and see why we’re the best around.