Paintless Dent Repair and Dent Removal

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), also known as "Paintless Dent Removal", describes a method of removing minor dents from the body of a motor vehicle. A wide range of damage can be repaired using PDR, as longs as the paint surface is intact. PDR may be used on both aluminum and steel panels.

The most common practical use for PDR is the repair of hail damage, door dings, minor creases, and minor plastic bumper indentations. The method can also be utilized to prepare a damaged panel for repainting, when it is referred to as "push to paint" or "push for paint".

Limiting factors for a successful repair using PDR include the flexibility of the paint (most of today's refined automotive paint finishes allow for successful PDR) and the extent to which the metal has been stretched by the damage, which depends on the thickness of the metal and the intensity of the impact. Generally speaking, the shallower the dent, the greater the likelihood of PDR being a suitable option. Even dents several inches in diameter can be repaired by this method, as long as the metal and paint are not stretched. Most experienced technicians can repair a large dent or crease to an acceptable level, but very sharp dents and creases may not be suitable for PDR.

History of Painless Dent Repairs

PDR was introduced to North American from Europe in 1983 by Dent Wizard International founder Natalio Balderrama, and consumer awareness of the method has grown in recent years.