Not Every Dent Is a PDR Job
Paintless dent repair (PDR) can make a dent disappear without filler or paint, but only when the dent and the shop are both right for it. These seven questions will tell you quickly whether your dent is a good candidate, and whether the shop you're talking to will do it properly.
1. Is the paint still intact?
PDR works by moving the metal back into shape, so the factory paint has to survive the trip. If the paint is cracked, chipped or peeling at the dent, it needs traditional repair. If the paint is whole, even a sizable dent is often fixable.
2. Has the metal been stretched?
Soft, rounded dents are ideal. Deep, sharp dents where the metal is severely stretched, dents right at the edge of a panel seam, and torn sheet metal usually aren't. What happens when a dent is too deep for PDR →
3. Can they reach the back of the panel?
Most PDR is done from behind the panel, which can mean removing trim, a tail light or the headliner. Where there's no access, technicians use glue-pull repair from the outside. Ask how they'll get to your dent; the answer tells you a lot about the shop.
4. Will they work under controlled lighting?
PDR is done by reading reflections from an LED board across the panel. Outdoors, changing light hides small highs and lows. That's why we do every repair in our shop. Why we stopped doing mobile repair →
5. How will they price it?
Honest PDR pricing comes down to four things: the size and depth of the dent, where it is on the car (roof rails and body lines take longer than the middle of a door), how easy the back of the panel is to reach, and how many dents there are. Multiple dings should get bundle pricing. You can get a free 10-minute visual estimate at our shop on Brittmoore Road, or text photos to 346-422-4375.
6. What happens if PDR can't fix it?
A good PDR shop will tell you when a dent needs traditional body work rather than force it. Ours has a simple answer: our sister shop, Collision Craftsman, works from the same location, so you don't start over somewhere else.
7. Will it show up on Carfax, and how long will it take?
PDR is cosmetic work with no refinishing, so there's generally nothing to report. More on PDR and Carfax → Most single-panel dents are done the same day.
Ready for an Answer on Your Dent?
Text a photo to 346-422-4375 or call (281) 660-3178. For the full picture of how we work, see our paintless dent repair page.
Connect with the Pros
Need an honest assessment of your vehicle after a storm? You don’t have to use your insurance company’s suggested shop. Stop by to see us or connect with our team through any of the channels below.
📍 Visit the shop: 1729 Brittmoore Road, Unit G, Houston, TX 77043
📞 Call us: (281) 660-3178
📅 Schedule: americandentspecialists.com
Need a Paintless Dent Repair Quote?
Just send us pictures of your damage and we’ll get you a personalized quick estimate!
