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Technician using a rod and reflection board to remove a door dent

Dent repair in San Bernardino

Paintless dent repair in San Bernardino, CA

Small dents and dings, fixed from behind the panel when the paint is still sound. We tell you honestly if a dent is a good fit.

  • Keeps your original paint where possible
  • Door dings, creases and light hail dents
  • Honest advice when paint work is needed

Step 1 of 3

What happened?

What is paintless dent repair?

Paintless dent repair, often shortened to PDR, removes a dent without sanding, filler or repainting. A technician gets behind or beside the damaged panel and works the metal back into shape using specialist tools, slow and in many small steps. Light is used to read the surface so the finished panel is smooth to the eye.

The big benefit is that your original factory paint stays on the car. There is no color matching to worry about and no blended panel next to a repaired one. For many drivers searching for paintless dent repair San Bernardino has plenty of parking lots and tight driveways to cause the kind of small damage it suits best.

It is a skilled trade, and results depend on the dent. We look first, then tell you whether PDR is realistic.

Which dents can PDR fix, and which cannot?

PDR works best when the paint is intact and the metal has not been stretched sharply. Typical good candidates include:

  • Door dings from the next car in a parking lot.
  • Shallow round dents from a stray ball, a branch or a shopping cart.
  • Long, soft creases on a door or fender.
  • Light hail dents, when the metal has not creased or cracked the paint.

It is usually a poor fit when the paint is cracked or chipped, when a dent is right on a panel edge or body line, when the metal is folded sharply, or when the panel is aluminum that has stretched. Some areas are hard to reach behind, such as double-layer roof rails and braced panels. In those cases, a conventional repair is the better route. See paint and scratch repair for what that involves.

Do hail dents happen in San Bernardino?

Hail is not common here. Most of the year the weather is dry and sunny, and a damaging hailstorm in the valley is the exception. When it does happen, it tends to leave many small dents across the roof, hood and trunk, which is the kind of damage PDR can often handle.

Most dents we expect to see come from everyday life. Parking lot door dings, shopping cart hits, tree branches and debris thrown by wind and passing trucks are far more common. Santa Ana winds can also move loose items into parked vehicles.

Heavy hail damage across a whole vehicle may be repaired in part with PDR and in part with traditional methods, depending on the metal and paint condition. If you are filing a claim for hail, the insurance claims and estimates page explains the process.

Price comes down to how much labor the dent needs. We do not give a figure over the phone, because we need to see the dent in good light. These are the factors that matter most:

  • The size and depth of each dent, and how many there are.
  • The location on the panel. Edges, body lines and braced areas take longer.
  • The panel material. Aluminum behaves differently from steel.
  • Access behind the panel, and whether trim, a headliner or a light needs to come off first.
  • Whether the paint is cracked, which may rule PDR out altogether.

A single shallow ding is usually a smaller job than a creased door, and many dings together are a bigger job than one. We explain the estimate in writing before starting.

How long does PDR take, and what should you expect?

Many small repairs are quicker than conventional bodywork because there is no paint to cure. Heavier damage takes longer, and we do not quote times before seeing the car. If a vehicle needs several panels worked, plan for it to stay with us rather than waiting around.

When you arrive, we look at the dents together under reflective light. We mark the ones we expect to improve and flag any we think will not respond well. After the repair, check the panel in daylight from a few angles, because dents are easier to see in sun than in the shade.

Call when you notice a new dent, before it collects dirt or the paint around it starts to crack. If the damage is bigger than a dent, see collision repair, or return to the home page.

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What happened?

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Questions about auto body in San Bernardino

Is paintless dent repair cheaper than a conventional repair?

Often it is, because there is no sanding, filler or paint. But it is not always cheaper. A large or complex dent can take a lot of skilled time, and in some cases a traditional repair is the more sensible option. We give you the honest picture after seeing the dent, including which method we would choose and why.

Will paintless dent repair leave a visible mark?

A good repair leaves the panel smooth and the factory paint intact. Very sharp or stretched dents may not come out perfectly, and we say so before starting. Check the panel in daylight at pickup and from different angles. If a slight low spot remains, we can talk about whether more work would help.

Can PDR fix a dent where the paint is chipped or cracked?

Usually not. PDR depends on the paint flexing with the metal. Where paint has cracked or chipped, a conventional repair with refinishing is normally needed so the area can be sealed against rust. We can tell you which method suits your dent after a quick look.

Does PDR work on aluminum panels?

Sometimes. Aluminum is more difficult than steel because it does not spring back the same way and can stretch, crack or form kinks. It depends on the dent and the panel. Some aluminum dents can be improved, others need conventional repair or replacement. We check the panel before promising anything.

Should I use my insurance for a few small dents?

That depends on your deductible and policy. Small dents are sometimes cheaper than the deductible, which makes a claim pointless. If several panels are damaged, a claim might make sense. Get a written estimate first, then compare it to your deductible before deciding. Our insurance page explains how claims typically work.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Send photos or visit

    Show us the damage.

  2. Step 2

    Written estimate

    A clear price and timeline.

  3. Step 3

    Repair and paint

    Panels repaired, painted and checked.

Ready when you are. Call now or request a quote online.

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