Paintless dent removal is a much more affordable option, and it can be done in a fraction of the time. The only downside is that there is a risk that the paint will be damaged or removed during the removal process. If this happens, you will need to have the affected area repainted to restore the car’s appearance.

A dent in a car can be made by any number of things, including a rock or a door frame. The problem with these dents is that they are often too deep to simply be removed by hand. This requires special tools and equipment that can be expensive for the average person to purchase and use.

The general out-of-pocket range for your vehicle’s dent repair is anywhere between $50-$2500. Small dents that are 1″ or less will usually cost about $125 to get rid of.

Sharp dents are one of the few dents that most often cannot be removed via paintless dent repair. These dents occur along the body lines of the car and are often deeper than round dents. They are also tighter than round dents, making them harder to repair, especially if they are in a difficult spot.

Paintless dent repair is a permanent solution. Since PDR involves reshaping the metal, many people mistakenly believe that over time the dent could pop back in. This is not the case. Once the damaged panel has been repaired, it will retain the same strength that it had before the dent occurred.

Not all dents can be repaired using PDR (for instance, when metal has been stretched out too or the paint has been scratched or chipped) but experts estimate that 80% to 90% of all dents can be repaired using paintless dent removal. In the end, car owners don’t usually have a difficult choice to make here.

The simplest gauge of reference is, if the dent is clearly visible from 10 or so feet away, it’s probably worth at least having it assessed by a repair shop. Consider also if any body paint has been affected. If either is an issue, it’s likely the dent devalues the vehicle by 5 to 10% of its worth.