How we repair a dent — step by step
The question we hear almost every day is: "Can it be fixed without painting?" We will answer plainly — we do not offer paintless dent repair (PDR). Here, the dent is worked out to industry standard and the affected panel is painted. Here is what that means in practice and why we work this way.
What we do with the metal
First we get to the panel. Depending on the location that means removing a door card, a wheel arch liner or a bumper — the work is done on clean metal, not through the trim. The dent is then worked out gradually, in small steps, until the panel returns to its factory shape.
The goal at this stage is singular: the more accurately the metal is brought back, the less filler is needed afterwards. A thick layer of filler is what cracks years later and gives the repair away — so time spent straightening pays for itself in durability.
Why paint follows the straightening
Paintless dent repair is a separate service, where the dent is worked out without touching the factory coating at all. We do not offer it and will not promise it to you. Here, every dent repair ends with preparation and painting of the affected panel.
The practical difference for you is that you get one even surface and one shade across the whole panel, instead of a smoothed area that still shows under certain light. The colour is measured on the car itself with a spectrophotometer, not just taken from the factory code, and the panel is cured in a booth.
You get a one-year written guarantee on this work — the same one that applies to every repaint we do.
When a dent needs more than straightening
Not every case is solved by straightening. A panel replacement is needed when:
- The metal is torn or creased on an edge, past the point where it can be brought back.
- The deformation is on a reinforced or structural area that should not be stretched.
- The damage is on a plastic bumper — there we judge separately whether it is a repair or a replacement.
- Corrosion has already started under the paint around the impact.
New panels arrive primed and must be painted to match the car, so paint is part of the repair in this case too.
Cost and turnaround
The price depends on the size and depth of the damage, whether the metal is deformed, the type of colour, and whether neighbouring panels need blending. An exact price over the phone is impossible, and anyone who gives you one is guessing.
What we can do quickly is an indicative assessment from photos — send 3–4 shots of the damage from different angles in daylight. The final price is confirmed in writing after the car has been inspected, together with the timeframe.
In short
- We work the metal back into shape, to keep filler to a minimum.
- The panel is then prepared and painted — we do not offer paintless dent repair.
- Where the metal is torn or a structural area is affected, the panel is replaced and painted.
- Not sure what your case is → send photos. The assessment is free and takes minutes.
