Two ways to fix a dent — and they cost very differently
Almost every quote difference on dent work comes down to which of these two methods the damage actually needs. Knowing which one you are looking at is most of what you need to compare prices anywhere.
Paintless dent repair (PDR)
- ·The dent is massaged out from behind the panel with specialised rods and tools
- ·No filler, no sanding, no paint — the factory finish is never touched
- ·Faster and substantially cheaper than conventional repair
- ·Keeps original paint, which matters for resale and for a vehicle history check
- ·Requires the paint to be unbroken and the metal not stretched
Conventional dent repair
- ·Panel is worked back to shape, filled where needed, primed, painted and blended
- ·Needed whenever the paint is cracked, chipped or scraped
- ·Also needed for sharp creases and stretched metal that will not return cleanly
- ·Colour matched with a spectrophotometer and blended into adjacent panels
- ·Takes longer and costs more, because it is refinish work
We assess in person and tell you which method applies. If PDR will do it, we will say so — it is the cheaper job.
When PDR works, and when it does not
PDR is not a cheaper version of bodywork. It is a different repair with real limits, and a shop that promises it on any dent is not being straight with you.
- •Works: shallow, rounded dents where the paint is intact — classic door dings and shopping-cart dents
- •Works: hail damage, which is usually a field of small shallow dents on horizontal panels
- •Works: dents on panels the tool can reach from behind
- •Does not work: any dent where the paint is cracked, scraped or chipped
- •Does not work: sharp creases and folds, where the metal is stretched
- •Does not work: dents on a panel edge or a brace, with no access from behind
- •Does not work: panels that have already had filler from a previous repair
Aluminium panels, which are increasingly common on newer vehicles, have far less memory than steel and are much harder to bring back with PDR. We check what the panel is made of before quoting.
The damage we see most
Three quarters of the dent work that comes through the door is one of these:
Door dings and parking-lot dents
- ·The most common single job, and usually the best PDR candidate
- ·Often fixable the same day
- ·Worth doing before the paint gets chipped at the crown of the dent
Creases along a fender or door
- ·Usually a scrape along a post, a pillar or another vehicle
- ·Sharp creases stretch the metal and generally need conventional repair
- ·Almost always involves paint damage along the length
Hail damage
- ·Dozens of small dents across the hood, roof and trunk
- ·Frequently an ideal PDR job because the paint survives intact
- ·Usually an insurance claim — comprehensive coverage, and in Ontario it typically does not affect your driving record
Insurance, or pay out of pocket?
For a single dent this is usually simple arithmetic and it is worth doing before you open a claim.
If the repair costs less than your deductible, a claim gains you nothing — you pay the whole repair anyway and the claim sits on your record. Most single-panel PDR jobs land under a typical Ontario deductible.
Where a claim makes sense is multi-panel damage, hail across a whole car, or anything where the number is well past what you would pay out of pocket. We give you a written estimate first so you can decide with the actual figure in front of you, not a guess.
If you do claim, we bill your insurer directly and handle the paperwork. In Ontario you choose the shop — an insurer can recommend one, but cannot require it.
How long it takes, and what moves the price
- •Single door ding by PDR: 1–2 hours, often same day
- •Several PDR dents on one panel: half a day
- •Hail across multiple panels: 2–5 days depending on dent count
- •Conventional repair on one panel: 3–5 business days including paint and cure time
- •Price drivers: repair method, dent depth and sharpness, panel access, whether the paint is broken, panel material, and how many panels are involved
Send a few photos with a quote request for a rough idea before you drive over. Angle the shot so light rakes across the panel — a dent is nearly invisible in a straight-on photo.
Pricing & timing
The method decides the price far more than the size of the dent does. A large shallow dent with intact paint is often cheaper to fix than a small sharp crease that broke the paint. 12-month warranty on paint, refinish and body labour.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fix my dent without repainting?
If the paint is unbroken and the metal is not sharply creased, usually yes — that is paintless dent repair, and it is the cheaper and faster option. If the paint is cracked or scraped, no method avoids refinishing that panel. We can tell from a photo most of the time, and for certain in person.
Will the dent be completely invisible afterwards?
With PDR on a suitable dent, almost always — you keep the factory paint, so there is no colour or texture difference to give it away. On a badly stretched panel a small amount of evidence can remain, and we will tell you that up front rather than after. Conventional repair with proper colour matching should be invisible under any lighting.
Does dent repair hurt my resale value?
PDR generally does not, because the original factory paint is untouched — that is one of its main advantages. A repainted panel is detectable by a paint depth gauge, which a careful buyer or a dealer appraisal may use. It is another reason to use PDR where the dent allows it.
Should I claim hail damage on insurance?
Usually worth it. Hail is covered under comprehensive rather than collision, and in Ontario a comprehensive claim typically does not carry the same consequences as an at-fault claim. Get the estimate first, compare it to your deductible, then decide.
How small does a dent have to be for PDR?
Size matters less than shape and paint condition. A dinner-plate-sized shallow dent with intact paint is a good candidate; a coin-sized sharp crease that cracked the paint is not. Depth and sharpness are what decide it.
Can you look at it without an appointment?
Yes — drop in weekdays and we will assess it and give you a written estimate, no charge and no obligation. Call ahead if you want to be sure someone is free to look at it right away.