Paintless dent repair vs. panel replacement: what Stamford drivers should know

Not every dent needs a new panel or fresh paint. Paintless dent repair, or PDR, can save you hundreds when the paint is still intact. Knowing the difference keeps your estimate honest.

When PDR works

If the paint is unbroken and the dent is a clean crease or shallow bowl, PDR usually works. A technician works the metal from behind with specialized tools and massages the panel flat. No filler, no paint, no color match worries. It is faster and cheaper.

When the panel has to go

Sharp creases, stretched metal, cracked paint, or dents on body lines often need filler and paint, or a replacement panel. A shopping cart dent in a Stamford parking lot is a PDR candidate. A pole strike that creased the door is not.

Get an honest read

We look at the dent before quoting. If PDR will do the job, we say so and save you the money. If the panel needs real work, we explain why. Either way you see the estimate before we touch the car.