What is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?
PDR is a unique process by which dents are removed from a vehicle using highly specialized tools and craftsmanship.
Paintless dent repair, or “PDR” for short, is the process of removing dents from the outside body of cars and other vehicles. Damage to a car or truck body can happen in many ways – car collisions, stray shopping carts in parking lot, large hail storms, Dukes of Hazard run-jump-hood slides, you name it. Most vehicles accumulate dents, and some paint colors hide dents better than others. PDR as a means of dent repair is possible when the paint surface is still intact. In other words the dent has altered the shape of the metal, but hasn’t drastically compromised the paint quality (no cracking, chipping, or peeling paint parts). Typically the metals on vehicle panels, aluminum and steel, can be repaired with precise and advanced tools designed specifically for paintless dent repair.
Most PDR technicians have specialized training and years of experience perfecting their dent repair craft. This niche industry has experienced growth over recent decades, with evolving tools, technologies, and exponential demand. The benefits of paintless dent repair are clear, relative to traditional auto body work:
- PDR is faster.
- PDR requires essentially no extra materials (like fillers).
- PDR is cleaner. No toxic fumes or chemicals associated with the painting process.
- PDR is more affordable. The material and time cost savings are passed on to you, the end customer.
Traditional body work involves time-consuming steps, like completely replacing outside panels from the vehicle. Then the process moves on to various metal shaping and fixing techniques, often relying on fillers and materials to recreate a smooth surface. This traditional method means that the repaired car panel will ultimately need to be repainted in order to return to the original look and feel. Sometimes traditional body repair is the only option, especially for extreme dents and violent accidents. At a certain point it’s not even economically worth it to make any repairs to vehicles, and thus a car is considered “totaled.”
PDR technicians are now found all throughout the United States and the rest of the world. It is important to hire technicians that have been trained by credible training facilities or veterans. Not all PDR techs are equal! Find a professional certified dent technician in your area, using PDRContractors.com and our interactive map that will show local results based on your zip code.