Dents are frustrating because they're so easy to pick up. A car door swung open in a car park, a shopping trolley, a stray football or a low bollard can all leave a mark. How a dent is repaired depends mainly on one thing: whether the paint is still intact.
Common causes of dents
- Car doors opened into yours in tight parking spaces
- Trolleys, bikes and bins
- Low walls, posts and bollards
- Hail and falling branches
- Minor bumps at low speed
Paintless dent removal
If the paint hasn't cracked or chipped, a dent can often be removed without painting at all. This is known as paintless dent removal, or PDR. Specialist tools are used to gently massage the metal back into shape from behind the panel, or to pull it out from the front using glue tabs. Because the original paint isn't disturbed, there's no colour matching to worry about.
Paintless removal works best on smooth, shallow dents where the paint is undamaged and the panel can be reached.
When a dent needs paint as well
If the paint has cracked, chipped or been scraped, the dent needs a SMART repair. The dent is pulled or pushed back as close to its original shape as possible, any remaining low spots are filled and shaped, then the area is primed, colour matched, painted and blended. The same applies to sharp creases and dents with scratches through them.
Dents in awkward places
Dents on body lines (the creases pressed into a panel), close to panel edges or near door handles are harder to repair, and some repairers will turn them down. These are exactly the jobs our customers often mention in their reviews, where other companies had said the dent was too difficult. We're always happy to look at photos and give an honest answer.
Motorbike tanks and other panels
It isn't just cars. Dented motorbike fuel tanks, dropped bikes and scraped panels can often be repaired and refinished too, from everyday repairs to full custom paint in our Balby workshop.
What affects the result
- Size and depth: small, shallow dents give the best results
- Location: body lines and edges are harder than flat areas
- Panel material: aluminium panels are less forgiving than steel
- Previous repairs: filler from an old repair can change the approach
The quickest way to find out what your dent needs is to send a couple of photos taken at an angle, so we can see the shape. Our guide on photographing damage for a quote explains how.
Frequently asked questions
Can every dent be fixed without painting?
No. Paintless dent removal only works when the paint is undamaged and the dent is smooth enough to be worked back out. Dents with cracked or scraped paint, and sharp creases, need a SMART repair with paint.
How big a dent can you repair?
It depends on the depth, shape and location as much as the size. Send us photos, including one taken at an angle, and we'll tell you what's possible.
Can you repair a dent on a motorbike tank?
Often, yes. We've repaired dented tanks from dropped motorbikes, and larger bike projects can be completed in our workshop in Balby.
