Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
The best way I’ve heard it put is that we are plastic surgeons, but for vehicles. A traditional body shop will take your vehicle, sand the panel with the dent down to bare metal, either weld tabs to the dent and pull it out or use some type of filler, then they repaint the panel/panels.
With Paintless Dent Repair, or PDR, we don’t do anything of the sort. We start by removing any plastic liners if they are in the way, then use special tools to get behind the metal and effectively massage the dent out. That is where the precision and craftsmanship come in. We use reflections to specifically target high and low spots in the metal with the tools, sometimes as small as 1/2 mm, and manipulate them back to their factory position. This is all done by eye. Once the dent is repaired to our standard, we replace anything that we removed and you’re on your way.
How much does Paintless Dent Repair cost?
Paintless Dent Repair can be extremely affordable when compared to what a traditional body shop will charge you. We start at only $100 for small dings and go up from there. A body shop will charge upwards of $1,000 for the same repair. Every vehicle is going to vary based on factors like size, location, methods of repair used and if it is a specialty vehicle like a collectible classic car.
One thing to keep in mind when considering PDR for your vehicle is that our repair method is significantly faster and more convenient for you, but it also protects the resale value of your vehicle. Who doesn’t love making more money when they sell their vehicle?
How long does Paintless Dent Repair take?
Anywhere from an hour to a few hours in most cases. Either way you will have your vehicle back in the same day the repair is finished. Severe damage and Hail damage are the exceptions to this. The best part about working with Summit Dent Repair is that we are exclusively mobile. That means that when it’s time for your repair, we will come out to wherever is most convenient for you. Can’t get time off work? No problem. All we need is enough space to move around the vehicle and open the doors if needed.
Does Paintless Dent Repair work?
It absolutely does! Assuming it is performed by a properly trained and skilled technician. The difference between a perfect, ok, and horrendous repair is extremely small. If done improperly, you will crack/chip paint, stretch the metal, break a window, or damage interior panels. It is possible to do so much damage to a panel that the only option is to buy a new one and have it repainted. If you’ve ever seen a panel on a car that looks like a woodpecker got stuck behind it and began hammering away, then you know what we are talking about.
If you needed surgery, would you want a doctor or an accountant to do it? The same thing applies here. It takes years of practice to become proficient in PDR and even longer to master it. It takes true dedication to the craft to be more than good enough. At Summit Dent Repair, we refuse to settle for good enough. We take pride in the art of our craft.
Is Paintless Dent Repair worth it?
If anything on the list below applies to you, then yes it is! Especially when you use Summit Dent Repair LLC to do the work.
1) Preserving the factory condition of your vehicle for personal or resale purposes.
2) Not having to figure out a rental car or alternative driving arrangement while your vehicle sits unavailable for days on end at a body shop.
3) Having to take time off work or set aside the time on your day off work to drive to a body shop, drink mildly acceptable coffee or tea while sitting in a noisy, cramped waiting room rubbing elbows with complete strangers.
4) Not paying over $1,000 to repair that pesky little ding that you’ve been forced to stare at for far too long.
5) Not having to worry about being upsold on products or services that aren’t actually necessary.