How Do Auto Body Shops Repair Dents?

Whether it’s extensive damage from a full-on collision, a dent caused by a fender bender, or a few dings due to a hailstorm, seeing your vehicle in such a state can be distressing. Fortunately, these cosmetic issues are fixable. But you’re probably wondering, how do auto body shops repair dents?

Auto body repair facilities offer several solutions to restore your car’s original condition, including hail damage repair and paintless dent removal. And while it’s tempting to do it yourself to save money, we don’t recommend it. There’s a high risk of additional damage, resulting in more expensive repairs. Understanding the procedure’s complexity should be enough to contact a professional instead.

Paintless Dent Repair

When you want to know how auto body shops repair dents on your car, you may have come across paintless dent repair (PDR) as an option. As its name suggests, this solution removes dents and dings without removing or applying a fresh coat of paint to cover the blemish. Some of its benefits include:

• Cost-Efficiency: Since it doesn’t require sanding, body fillers, and paint, it costs significantly less than traditional methods.
• Quick Turnaround: Using special tools and techniques, our trained technicians can fix the damage within a day or two, allowing you to get back on the road immediately.
• Less Invasive: Though PDR requires disassembly for the technician to reach the damage, it won’t take long to put everything back together again.  

Here’s what a paintless dent repair process at CARSTAR looks like:

• Assessment: Technicians will assess the dents’ size, depth, and location to determine if PDR is right for your vehicle.
• Preparation: They will prep the area by thoroughly clearing any dust and debris.
• Repair: Once clean, repair professionals will use a heat gun to manipulate the surface and let it return to its original shape. The heat makes the metal or plastic panel pliable, while the rapid application of cold causes it to contract and correct the dent. They may also push or pull out the dents with a suction device.

It’s important to understand that paintless dent repair is not always a viable option. But there is no reason to worry! Our professionals are specialized in the different types of dent repair and will help you figure out which type is best for your vehicle. Read on to learn more about your other available options.

Hail Damage Repair

Vehicle owners have another solution for addressing cosmetic damage: hail damage repair. Under this, they can either opt for PDR or conventional repair. The latter is recommended for dents with scratched or chipped paint, stretched metal, or too widespread. Below are reasons to address such blemishes.

• Prevent Extensive Damage: With damaged paint, water may seep through and cause the unprotected metal underneath to rust. If left unaddressed, corrosion is costly to repair.
• Ensure Safety: Rust compromises an affected part’s structural integrity, leaving you with little protection from collisions.
• Maintain Value: A dinged-up vehicle is harder to sell because of its appearance and potential underlying issues.

Restoring your vehicle to its pre-storm condition requires tools and expertise. Here’s how auto body shops fix dents if PDR is not an option.

• Preparation: The technician will clean the dented or dinged areas to see the extent of the damage.
• Dent Removal: Often, they will use different techniques to work out the dent. Some of their tools may be a heat gun, suction machine, and frame correction device.
• Fill: For dents that don’t fully revert to their original shape, the technicians will fill the depression with a filler to even out the surface.
• Sand and Prime: Once dried and hardened, they will sand down the filled-up spot to a smooth finish. They’ll apply primer on the restored area to ensure the paint adheres well.
• Repaint: They use touch-up paint for small areas or repaint the entire panel.  

Fix Dents Fast and Fuss-Free

Now that you understand how auto body shops repair dents, it’s best to visit a tried and tested professional shop like CARSTAR. With over 450 locations nationwide, you’ll find one at your convenience. Schedule an appointment at a CARSTAR location nearest you today for top-notch restorations.