PDR overview
The dent comes out and the paint never comes off
Paintless dent repair is exactly what the name says. A technician reaches in behind the panel with a set of rods and works the metal back to the shape it left the factory in, reading the low spots through the reflection on a line board as the panel comes up. There is no filler, no sanding, no primer, no color matching and no time in a paint booth, because the paint is never disturbed in the first place.
That last part is the whole argument for PDR. Once a panel has been resprayed it is aftermarket paint for the rest of the car’s life. It reads differently on a paint depth gauge, it is the first thing a dealer’s appraiser looks for on a trade-in, and if the work went through an insurance claim it can show up in the vehicle’s history. Taking the dent out without touching the finish keeps that history clean, which is a real number when you go to sell.
PDR handles parking lot door dings, hail dents across a hood or roof, shallow creases and the kind of minor contact where nothing broke the paint. It cannot fix everything. If the paint is cracked, chipped or scraped through to primer, if the metal has been stretched or torn, or if the dent sits sharply on a body line where there is no access behind it, we will tell you that up front and point you at a body shop rather than take the job and hand it back half-finished.
Most repairs are done the same day, and because there is no paint, no materials and no booth time, the work costs a fraction of body shop pricing. Sacramento does not get hail often, but when it does a whole panel of shallow dents is precisely what PDR exists for. We repair for drivers across Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove. Getting the car ready to sell? Straight panels pair well with a ceramic coating to bring the gloss back before the appraisal. Send a photo or call (916) 844-6905.
How much does paintless dent repair cost?
Priced per dent by size, depth and access behind the panel. A photo with a reflection across the dent gets you an accurate number before you drive over.
| Damage | Price per dent |
|---|---|
| Door dingUp to the size of a quarter | Price per dent$95–$150 |
| Medium dentUp to the size of a golf ball | Price per dent$150–$250 |
| Large dent or shallow creaseUp to the size of a fist, paint unbroken | Price per dent$250–$450 |
| Each extra dent, same panelWorked in the same visit | Price per dentFrom $50 |
| Hail damageAssessed panel by panel, documented for your insurer | Price per dentFree estimate |
Dents on a body line, near a panel edge or behind a brace take longer and sit higher in the band. If a dent is not a paintless repair, we say so before quoting.
Paintless dent repair vs a body shop
Both have their place. The deciding question is whether the paint over the dent is still intact.
| Compare | Paintless repairDone here | Body shopFiller, primer and paint |
|---|---|---|
| Factory paint | Kept | Sanded and resprayed |
| Typical time | Same day | Several days |
| Shows on a paint gauge | No | Yes |
| Door ding cost | $95–$150 | Several hundred dollars |
| Fixes cracked paint | No | Yes |
| Best for | Dings, hail and shallow creases | Torn metal and damaged paint |
What you get with dent repair at Pro Auto Design
- Door dings, hail dents and shallow creases worked out from behind the panel
- No filler, no sanding, no primer and no repaint
- Your factory finish stays intact, which is what protects resale value
- Most repairs are finished the same day
- A fraction of body shop pricing, with no paint, materials or booth time
- A straight answer when a dent is not a paintless repair job
How it works
- 01
Send a photo or bring it by
A photo taken so a reflection runs across the dent tells us far more than a description does. Text one over or call (916) 844-6905.
- 02
We read the dent
A line board goes across the panel so the true shape of the damage shows in the reflection, and we check what access there is behind it.
- 03
Work the metal back
Rods go in behind the panel and the metal is pushed back in small increments, checked against the reflection between each pass.
- 04
Check it in the light
The finished panel is checked under the same reflection that showed the dent. If it is not right, it is not finished.
Dent Repair questions
A door ding up to the size of a quarter is $95–$150, a medium dent up to the size of a golf ball is $150–$250, and a large dent or shallow crease is $250–$450. Dents on a body line or near a panel edge sit higher in the band. Hail damage is assessed panel by panel. Text a photo with a reflection across the dent and we will give you a number before you drive over.
Most shallow dents on accessible panels come out to the point where you cannot find them again without being told where to look. Sharp dents, damage sitting on a body line and metal that has been stretched will improve substantially rather than vanish. We tell you which category yours is in before we start, not after.
Paintless dent repair reshapes metal; it does not repair paint. If the finish is cracked, chipped or scraped through, that damage will still be there once the dent is out. Sometimes that is still worth doing, and sometimes it means a body shop, and we will say which.
Most jobs are same-day. A single door ding is quick work; a hail-damaged hood or roof with dozens of dents takes considerably longer because every one of them is worked individually. Call (916) 844-6905 with photos and we will give you a realistic time before you book.
Yes, and PDR is the standard repair method for it, because hail leaves exactly the kind of shallow, unbroken dents the technique is designed for. Whether your policy covers the repair is between you and your insurer, but we can document the damage for you.
Substantially, and for a structural reason rather than a discount. A body shop job includes filler, primer, paint, blending into adjacent panels and days of booth and drying time. PDR has none of those costs, which is why the same dent comes out for a fraction of the price.
