If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that accidents can and will happen. Whether it’s a fender bender, a grocery cart smashing into your car, or your car getting caught in an unavoidable hail storm, at some point, your car will be damaged. Maybe it will just be a little, or maybe it will be a lot. What’s important is for you to know what to do next. When it comes to repairing a dent, there are a couple of different options available to you. By far, the most affordable dent removal option is paintless dent repair or PDR, but not all cars or dents are good candidates for this type of repair. Here’s what you need to know about PDR and what types of damage can be repaired with paintless dent repair.
First things first, talk with your insurance company.
The first thing you need to do if your car has sustained damage and wants to get it repaired is to talk with your insurance company. They will send someone out to assess the damage and give you directions on the repairing your car needs. As long as your car qualifies for paintless dent repair, then PDR is most likely going to be the kind of dent repair Dallas insurance companies will prefer because it’s significantly cheaper than traditional dent repair.
What is paintless dent repair?
You’ve heard us mention paintless dent repair a couple of times, but maybe you’re wondering just exactly what PDR is and why it’s better and cheaper than traditional dent repair. Let us break down the difference between the two really quick:
- Traditional dent repair is a lengthy and involved process that requires sanding off the original factory paint, hammering the damaged material back to its original form, filling in any gashes with putty, a second round of sanding, and then finally repainting, which requires a primer, a base coat, and a final coat of paint. All those materials cost money, and because it’s a longer process, the cost of labor is higher as well. You also have to figure out how to handle having a car out of commission for days or sometimes weeks, which could cost extra money.
- Paintless dent repair is a much simpler, faster, and therefore less expensive process. With paintless dent repair, a technician examines the damage, determines the best way to access it and the right tool for the job. Then the technician starts at the outside edge of the damaged area and carefully massages the material back into the correct position. As the technician works, the damaged area will get smaller and smaller and then eventually disappear altogether.
Types of damage to cars:
Once you understand the difference, it’s easy to see why PDR is the superior choice for everything from repairing door dings to fixing hail damage and all other small or large dent removal types. But not every car and not all damage is eligible for this type of repair. First, let’s look at the categories of damage, which are broken down into four parts:
- Cosmetic damage with intact paint – this means there are small dents in the exterior material of your vehicle. The paint hasn’t been scratched, so the focus during the repair process will be solely on restoring the metal to its original shape and condition.
- Cosmetic damage with scratched paint – this means there are small dents to the exterior of the vehicle and the paint has been damaged, so the vehicle will need to be repainted during the repair process.
- Severe damage with intact paint – this means the vehicle’s mechanical system was damaged by the hail. However, the good news is the paint wasn’t scratched, so repainting won’t be necessary.
- Severe damage and scratched paint – the vehicle’s mechanical system was damaged and the factory paint was damaged, so your vehicle will need the full workup. Mechanical repairs are needed, and chances are exterior panels will need to be replaced on your vehicle.
What type of car damage can be repaired by PDR?
You’ll notice in the above breakdown that there’s a lot of focus on the condition of the factory paint. That’s because the paint condition plays a big part in determining what type of repair is needed to return your car to its original condition. If the factory paint on a vehicle has been damaged, especially if the damage includes cracks or gashes, the technician will need to use putty, hammering, and paint to repair it. In that case, your car will require traditional dent repair. However, if a vehicle is dinged and dented, even if the damage is extensive, if the factory paint isn’t scratched or cracked, then your car is eligible for paintless dent repair. PDR is the best option for returning the dented material to its original shape while still maintaining the condition of the factory paint. It’s also impossible to use PDR for dents near the edge of a panel or on material that has had previous work done.
BodyGuard is the best choice in DFW for paintless dent repair.
Repairing a dent on a car without further damaging the material is a task that requires professional training, expert skill, and exacting precision. Not everybody shop is equipped to handle the job efficiently and effectively. Bodyguard specializes in paintless dent repair, and our certified technicians spend years apprenticing and honing their skills. So if you’ve been Googling “PDR expert DFW” or “expert PDR,” trying to find the best dent repair specialists in Dallas-Fort Worth, you’ve landed in the right place! Bodyguard has been serving Dallas-Fort Worth for more than 18 years, and our team has more than 125 years of combined experience. In that time, we’ve repaired more than 20,000 vehicles. Look no further for the shop that offers paintless dent removal Dallas motorists trust. Reach out to our team of professionals at Bodyguard today. We handle everything from minor door dings to extensive hail damage on cars, and on top of that, our team of experts will give you the flawless customer service experience you deserve. We’re proud of our work and appreciate our long-term customers who return to us again and again. If your car sustained auto hail damage this spring and you’ve been putting off getting it repaired, Bodyguard is a hail damage repair company with extremely knowledgeable and skilled technicians who can help. Call us today to let a seasoned auto hail specialist handle your vehicle’s hail dent repair carefully and efficiently. Go to our website at bodyguardpdr.com for more information, or call us today at 469-628-4910 to set up an appointment.