You've probably heard by now that paintless dent repair/removal is a low-cost alternative to the pricier auto body workshops out there. But the big question on your mind is whether or not your vehicle is compatible with these dent removal methods. Below you will find a checklist that will ensure whether or not your vehicle is a candidate for PDR.
Size And Status Of Dent
To begin with, grab a tape measure and, if possible, a digital camera. Examine the dent(s) on your vehicle and first inspect them for pain damage and/or cracking. If the paint has been broken, paintless dent repair/removal is not going to work for your vehicle.
However, if the paint is intact, take your tape measure to see how large the dented area(s) are. If larger than a foot long, it may not be a good candidate for PDR as well. *NOTE* If you have the digital camera, take pictures of the damaged area(s) and e-mail them to the technician through the companies website. With the size information they can make the call for you whether or not they may be able to help you out.
Age And Condition Of The Vehicle
If the vehicle is more than 15 to 20 years old, the car may not be a good fit for paintless dent repair/removal. The reason for this is that over time the paint can get brittle from baking in the sun, and may flake off during the PDR procedure.
However, if the vehicle is newer and in good shape, as long as the dent is not in an area that had a previous repair by an auto body shop, your vehicle may be compatible with paintless dent repair/removal.
Location Of Dent(s)
Although paintless dent repair/removal is a powerful technique for making dents disappear, this doesn't mean the dent technician can remove every dent imaginable. As mentioned before, if the dent is located on a previous auto body repair, attempting PDR could have disastrous results. If the dent is too close to the edge of the panel, most of the time this too would disqualify your vehicle for repairs.
On rare instances where a dent is located over a strut or in a hard-to-access location, the dent technician performing the paintless dent repair/removal may be able to remove the dent most of the way, improving the look of the vehicle immensely - but the dent may not be perfectly smooth and fully-removed. But again this only occurs in rare instances.
Paintless Dent Repair/Removal: Is It Right For You?
As you can see, as long as your car, truck or sports vehicle is not older than 15 years, the paint has not become cracked or damaged, and the dents are not too large nor located in a bad area, a paintless dent repair/removal technician should be able to assist you in repairing the look and luster of your vehicle.
Remember, if at all possible, take pictures of the dents, take measurements, and e-mail this information to the dent repair company so they may help assess the damages. If this is not possible, call the company to set up a time you can take you vehicle to them for inspection, or ask if they are a mobile dent technician who could come out to you.