Paintless Dent Repair vs. a Body Shop

When you have a dent, you have two main choices: paintless dent repair (PDR) or a traditional body shop. Here is the plain-English difference.

Your factory paint

A body shop sands the area, adds filler, and sprays new paint. PDR works the dent out from behind the panel and keeps the paint your car came with. Factory paint is better for resale and never quite matches once it is resprayed.

Time

Body shops often keep your car for one to three weeks. Most PDR jobs are done the same day, and even big hail jobs usually take just a few days.

Cost

With no filler, paint, or days of labor, PDR almost always costs less. For door dings and hail, it is usually the smart money.

When a body shop is the right call

If the paint is cracked, the metal is torn, or there is structural damage, a body shop is the better fit. Lou will tell you honestly which one you need. Text a photo and find out.