Repair Guides5 min read
Not every dent needs new paint, and a shop that tells you otherwise is either not equipped for paintless dent repair or is not being straight with you. Knowing the difference helps you understand your estimate.
Paintless dent repair works the metal back into shape from behind the panel using specialized tools, gradually relieving the stress in the metal until it returns to its original contour. Because the panel is never sanded or repainted, the factory finish stays intact — which matters both for durability and for resale value.
PDR is the right call when the paint surface is unbroken, the dent has a smooth rather than sharp crease, and the panel is accessible from behind. Door dings, hail damage, and shopping-cart dents are classic candidates, and the repair is usually faster and less expensive than the conventional alternative.
Conventional repair is required once the paint is cracked, the metal is stretched or torn, the dent sits on a body line or panel edge, or the damage is on a section that cannot be reached from behind. In those cases the panel is worked, filled, primed, and refinished to match, which takes longer but is the only way to get a correct result.
The honest answer is that most estimates involve a bit of both. A quarter panel might need conventional work while an adjacent door only needs PDR. At Heritage we will tell you which approach your specific vehicle needs rather than defaulting to the more expensive one.
