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PDR — Paintless Dent Repair — is a technology for removing dents from a car body without repainting. The repair restores the panel's original shape precisely, without filler, repainting or any interference with the factory paint coating. PDR is especially suited to parking dents, hail damage and minor deformations of doors, the bonnet, roof, wings and other vehicle panels.

PDR can be used when the paint is not cracked and the panel structure has not been permanently stretched or kinked. The best results are achieved on dents where the paint coating has remained original and undamaged. Feasibility depends mainly on the depth of the dent, its diameter, location, access from the inner side of the panel and the type of material the body is made from.

Not every one. PDR has a very wide range of applications, but its effectiveness depends on the type of damage. Dents with a sharp crease in the metal, damaged paint, stretched metal or located on very difficult edges may require a hybrid repair or traditional body-and-paint work. Proper damage assessment should be carried out using a reflector (shadow) board, which reveals the true shape of the deformation.

A correctly performed PDR repair does not damage the paint. The technology was developed precisely to preserve the vehicle's original paint coating — the technician works on the deformation of the metal, not on the paint. A risk of the paint cracking is inherent in the repair process and is confirmed by vehicle importers in their technical documentation — it is described, among others, by Volkswagen in its Smart Repair (Clever Repair) documentation. The risk increases when the paint has been repaired before, is cracked, weakened, too thick after earlier repainting, or when the damage is in an area under high stress.

Original paint matters a lot for a vehicle's value. An unpainted panel is usually assessed more favourably when selling the car, during an appraiser's inspection or when returning a leased vehicle. PDR removes the dent without adding a layer of filler, without differences in paint shade and without interfering with the factory anti-corrosion protection.

First, the damage is inspected under suitable lighting. The technician then assesses access to the dent, the type of metal, the depth of the damage and the feasibility of a paintless repair. The repair itself consists of gradually pushing the dent out from the inner side of the panel using specialised PDR rods, or pulling it from the outside using a glue system. In many cases both techniques are combined.

Pushing means working from the underside of the panel — the technician uses special rods, hooks and working tips to lift the lowest points of the dent precisely. Glue pulling is used when there is no access from the inside: a special adapter is glued to the paint surface and the deformation is then pulled out in a controlled way. This method requires great care, especially on previously repainted panels.

No. Professional PDR repair does not involve pulling dents out with a magnet. In practice we use specialised rods, tap-down tools, reflector boards, glue systems, adapters and tools for controlled correction of metal stress. There is no such thing as a “dent removal magnet” — that is misleading to customers.

A reflector board is one of the basic tools in PDR technology. Thanks to its light lines, the technician sees the true course of the deformation, its depth, creases and micro-irregularities. Without proper lighting many dents can look smaller or simpler than they really are — which is why professional quoting and quality control should be done under a reflector board.

Yes, aluminium panels can be repaired with PDR, but they require more experience and a different working technique. Aluminium has different elasticity than steel, returns to its original shape less readily and often needs more precise stress control. For this reason, repairing aluminium panels tends to be more expensive and time-consuming than steel.

Yes. The bonnet, roof, wings and doors are among the panels most often repaired with PDR. The bonnet and roof are very frequently repaired after hail damage, while doors and wings typically have parking dents removed. Each panel still requires individual assessment, because access from below, structural reinforcements and the dent's location all matter.

Often yes, but it is a more difficult repair. Edges, body lines and creases are areas of greater stiffness, so a dent there may carry higher stress and require more advanced technique. Not every dent on an edge can be restored perfectly without repainting, which is why a technical assessment is needed.

Yes, many dents on body (swage) lines can be removed with PDR, but these repairs require great precision. A body line is a styling feature of the vehicle, so even a small deviation can be visible. In such cases the technician's experience and working under proper light are important.

Yes. A previously repainted panel may behave differently during PDR — non-factory paint can be thicker, less flexible or less well bonded to the substrate. Glue pulling in particular must be done very carefully, as there is a risk of tearing the paint. That is why it is worth measuring paint thickness before the repair.

It can, but it requires caution. If there is filler under the paint, the earlier filling may crack or detach during work, and the repair result may be limited. A professional technician should inform the client of such a risk before starting work.

The price depends on the number of dents, their size, depth and location, access to the damage, the type of material and the need to dismantle parts. A single parking dent is priced differently from a car after a hailstorm with several hundred dents. We give indicative rates in our pricing list, and a reliable quote requires an inspection or good photo documentation.

Photos and a description help with an initial assessment, but they do not always show the depth of the dent, paint creases, access from below or previous repairs to the panel. An accurate technical quote should be made at the vehicle, ideally under a reflector board.

Single parking dents are usually removed in anything from several dozen minutes to a few hours. Larger damage, dents on body lines or repairs requiring dismantling may take from several to a dozen or so hours, but we usually complete them within one day. A car after a hailstorm normally takes considerably longer, as the number of dents can range from several dozen to several hundred on a single vehicle.

A correctly performed repair should not come back. The technician restores the metal to its proper shape and stabilises the stresses. A problem can only arise if the panel was poorly repaired before, had hidden damage, or the metal was over-stretched — which is not always apparent during inspection.

In many cases yes, because it preserves the original paint, shortens repair time and limits interference with the vehicle. This does not mean PDR always replaces repainting — if the paint is cracked, the panel is heavily deformed or the metal has been permanently stretched, a hybrid or traditional repair may be necessary.

After a hailstorm it is worth photographing the vehicle as soon as possible and reporting the claim to your insurer, if the car has a comprehensive (AC) policy. It is then best to arrange an inspection at a workshop specialising in PDR repairs. Importantly, do not make a hasty decision to settle the claim based solely on a simplified estimate if it does not reflect the actual number and size of the dents.

Yes, hail damage is most often settled under a comprehensive (Autocasco) policy. The scope of cover, however, depends on the terms of the specific insurance contract, the policy variant, the deductible, parts depreciation and the method of settlement. Before starting a repair it is worth checking the policy terms and confirming whether the insurer allows repair at your chosen workshop.

In many cases the client can choose the workshop where the vehicle is repaired, although this depends on the policy terms and the claim settlement model. If the insurer proposes a particular repair network, it does not always mean the client has no other options. It is worth asking for the insurer's position in writing and comparing the proposed scope with an actual inspection of the vehicle.

A hail claim is often understated when the inspection is done without a reflector board, in poor lighting or based only on photos. Some dents may then be invisible, especially on light paint and large roof or bonnet surfaces. A reliable estimate should account for the number of dents, their sizes, the panel material, access, dismantling work and any panels qualifying for repainting or replacement.

The documentation should include photos of the whole vehicle from four sides, the VIN, odometer reading, the data plate and detailed photos of the damaged panels. The dents should be visible under a reflector board or suitable light.

In a standard calculation the number of dents matters greatly, but for very large claims estimation methods are also used. On panels with a large number of dents, a selected area can be counted and the result then scaled proportionally to the whole panel. This approach requires experience, however, so as not to understate or overstate the actual scope of the damage.

Not always. Most typical hail damage can be repaired with PDR, but very large dents, cracked paint, edge damage, sharp creases or panels with a previous repair may require repainting or replacement. The repair classification can also change during the work if additional damage is revealed after dismantling or closer inspection.

Yes, the roof is very often repaired with PDR. It is, however, one of the more difficult panels, as it usually requires removing the headliner. A roof estimate should account not only for the number of dents but also for the time to remove and refit the trim.

The mere fact that damage occurred can matter for the vehicle's history, but the repair method matters enormously. PDR preserves the original paint and limits interference with the car, which is more favourable for its value than traditional filling and repainting of many panels. Good before-and-after documentation increases transparency for a later sale.

Yes, in many cases it pays off. Visible hail dents reduce a car's appeal and can be an argument for heavy price negotiation. PDR improves the car's appearance without repainting, so the vehicle presents better while its original paint coating is preserved.

There is no single universal price list for hail damage repairs, because every vehicle and every claim is different. The cost depends, among other things, on the number of dents on each panel, the diameter and depth of the damage, the type of material (steel or aluminium), access to the repair area, the need to remove the headliner or trim, previous paint repairs and the classification of the panel for PDR, hybrid repair, repainting or replacement. The quote is prepared individually based on a vehicle inspection and detailed damage documentation, and for mass claims specialised calculation systems are used. We give indicative rates in our pricing list, and we will prepare an exact quote after an inspection — free of charge if the car is to be repaired at our workshop.