So you’re dealing with dents in the body of your vehicle? Are you apprehensive about getting them fixed because you’re worried about expensive, time-consuming repairs?

At Minnetonka Collision, we’ve got some good news: Paintless dent repair may be an option for you, depending on the extent of the body damage. This highly effective dent removal technique won’t cost you an arm and a leg, nor will it force you to give up your vehicle for days.

Let’s take a look at what paintless dent repair is, when it’s a viable option, and the many advantages of this approach to dent removal.

What Is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a dent removal technique that restores the body of your vehicle to like-new condition in a fraction of the time required for more traditional dent repair methods. As its name indicates, the process does not involve any touchup paint. PDR also eliminates the need for body fillers and sanding.

When auto body repair specialists perform paintless dent repair, they gently coax dents out of the body panels of your vehicle. First, they gain access to the area directly behind the dent and position a specialized tool and lighting to pull the dent out carefully.

When the body panel is smooth, the technicians give it a thorough buffing, and the area comes out looking as good as new.

When Is Paintless Dent Repair Appropriate?
Auto body repair specialists typically use paintless dent repair to address the following types of body damage:

● Hail damage
● Minor panel creasing
● Door dings
● Large dents
● Bodylines damage

PDR can also be used to prepare damaged paneling for repainting. Since this dent removal technique reduces the amount of body filler necessary for more extensive repairs, it can help control repair time and cost.

But here’s the caveat: No matter what type of body damage you’re dealing with, the paint surface must be intact if you’re looking to get paintless dent repair.

While PDR can pull just about any dent out of a damaged panel, it can’t do anything to address the flawed paint. If you don’t fix the paint, the damage will inevitably grow more severe. Ultimately, rust can develop and eat away at the body paneling, causing more damage that’s far more complex and expensive to repair.

For more info on the dangers of letting paint damage sit, check out 3 Consequences of Neglecting Dent and Scratch Repairs.

Advantages of Paintless Dent Repair
Why opt for PDR over more traditional dent removal methods? If your vehicle doesn’t have any paint damage, it doesn’t make sense to opt for anything else! With paintless dent repair, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages.

Rapid Turnaround
PDR typically requires just a few hours to complete, depending on the extent of the damage. A reputable auto body repair shop specializing in paintless dent repair should recommend this type of repair if your vehicle qualifies for it. If you can’t be without a vehicle for more than a day or so, PDR is the only way to go.

What if your vehicle has paint damage and needs to stay in the shop a bit longer? We offer rental car service at Minnetonka Collision. We know you have places to be. When you trust us to repair your damaged vehicle, we’ll help ensure you can get where you need to go.

Affordability
Since PDR doesn’t require sanding, filler, or touch-up paint, it’s significantly more affordable than other dent removal methods. Whether your vehicle just suffered a dent or you’ve been putting off repairs thinking they were going to be too pricey, PDR could be the affordable fix you need.

Vehicle Value Retention
Whether you plan to sell your vehicle to a private buyer at some point or trade it in at a dealership, a dent-free automobile will get you more money than one that’s clearly damaged. What’s more, keeping your vehicle’s original paint job fully intact may allow you to command a higher asking price when or if you decide to sell it.

No Color-Matching Errors
Since there’s no touch-up paint involved, PDR eliminates the potential for color-matching errors. You’ll get your vehicle back in dent-free condition with absolutely no changes to the paint color or appearance.

Environmentally Friendly
PDR doesn’t involve any paint, so there’s no overspray that can disburse chemicals into the air or contribute to groundwater pollution. If you try to be eco-friendly in all your endeavors, PDR can give you peace of mind knowing you’re getting a quality repair without harming the environment.

Ideal for Hail Damage Repairs
Whether you regularly park outdoors or got caught driving in a big storm, your vehicle may need a few hail damage repairs after severe weather hits. And those small dents will likely be ideal candidates for PDR.

Handling hail damage repairs as promptly as possible can help prevent clear coat delamination, which can lead to peeling over time. If you don’t have small dents repaired quickly, you may increase your chances of needing a pricey new paint job when you do decide to have the dents fixed.

Check out our blog on the Essential Steps for Handling Hail Damage to learn more about what you’ll need to do to get your vehicle repaired.

Why Choose Minnetonka Collision Center for PDR?
With so many auto body repair shops located in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul, why choose us? Because we have decades of experience in the industry and want you to feel confident you’re leaving your vehicle in capable hands.

When you trust our expert team with your vehicle’s paintless dent repair needs, you’ll enjoy:

● A limited lifetime guarantee on the repair(s)
● Start-to-finish insurance claims assistance
● Direct communication with the owner of the shop (who often performs auto body repairs alongside the technicians)
● Unrivaled quality of workmanship

We know you have plenty of options when it comes to getting auto body repairs in the Twin Cities. But we also know you won’t get the personalized and highly attentive service we provide anywhere else. If you’re looking for a team that does top-notch, honest work the first time, every time, make us your first call!

Looking for Paintless Dent Repair in the Twin Cities?
If you’re dealing with hail damage, door dings, or more complex body damage, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Minnetonka Collision! Aside from paintless dent repair, we specialize in precision color matching, collision insurance repair, fleet management services, and much more.

To learn more about our services or get a PDR quote, feel free to call our Plymouth office today at 763-230-7805 or request a free estimate.