Hail or no hail, minor nicks and dents are a normal part of owning a car. But using traditional methods to repair even small dings can be expensive. Luckily, there’s paintless dent repair! Where the paint remains intact, PDR can be an inexpensive way to smooth out your car’s unsightly blemishes.

Key Takeaways

Should I fix my car’s hail damage with PDR or traditional methods?

It depends! For hail-related dents without paint damage, PDR is often the best choice, because you can get great results for a great price. Unfortunately, for dents with paint damage, only traditional methods can truly restore them to their smooth, polished selves.

What are the pros and cons of paintless dent repair?

Compared to traditional means, paintless dent repair is quicker and less expensive. Where a small dent may cost $600 to $800 to be filled, sanded, and painted, paintless dent repair can remedy the issue for an estimated $60 to $100. Plus, you don’t have to worry about finding a shop that can match your car’s exact paint color.

On the other hand, PDR can’t fix every dent. For a dent to qualify for this kind of repair, the paint needs to be intact! And while PDR can repair 80 to 90 percent of dents, the results aren’t always perfect. Depending on the damage, you may still be able to see a slight indentation after repairs.

What are the pros and cons of traditional dent repair?

For dents with paint damage, only traditional dent repair can completely restore them. However, this process typically involves a lot more steps — like putty, sanding, and painting — and therefore takes more time and costs more money. For seamless color-matching, you may need to visit a certified repair shop.

Should I get PDR or traditional repair for hail damage?

So long as the paint isn’t damaged, hail damage is typically a very good candidate for paintless dent repair. Hail typically leaves small dents that can be massaged out of your car’s hood or roof. And since PDR costs a lot less than traditional repairs, it’s most drivers’ first-choice dent fix.

Final Verdict: The Best Fix for Hail Damage

Any time you can opt for paintless dent repair, you should! For qualifying pits and troughs, this type of ding removal can save you a lot of time and money. But PDR is harder than it looks, so make sure you take your car to an experienced body shop.

Banish hail-related dents. Visit our seasoned techs at Bob Weaver Collision to smooth out a bumpy exterior!