Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a technique that removes dents from your vehicle’s body panels without sanding, filling, or repainting. A trained technician uses specialized tools to carefully work the metal back to its original shape from behind the panel. Your factory paint stays completely intact, which preserves your vehicle’s value and original finish.

PDR is the preferred repair method for door dings, minor dents, creases, and hail damage. It’s faster, preserves your factory finish, doesn’t show up on Carfax, and produces a superior result compared to traditional body shop repair.

Paintless dent repair pricing in San Diego depends on the size, depth, location, and accessibility of the dent. Here’s what to expect:

• Standard door dings: $197 – $250
• Medium dents (golf ball to baseball size): $275 – $500
• Creases: $225 – $400 depending on length and depth
• Large dents (6+ inches): Starting at $400+
• Hail damage: Varies widely — minor hail may be a few hundred dollars, severe hail damage on insurance claims can run $3,000 or more

All pricing depends on overall factors including depth, location, access, and panel material (high-strength steel or aluminum).

The real advantage of PDR isn’t just price — it’s value. Your factory finish stays intact, nothing shows on Carfax, and most customers get their vehicle back the same day. Dent Time has been in the PDR industry since 1991, and we handle everything from small door dings to large complex damage — always better, faster, and cleaner than a body shop. We also offer two-tier PDR repair options so clients who care about both their vehicle and their budget have a solution that works. The best way to get an accurate price is to send photos for a free estimate.

A word of caution: One of the most common mistakes consumers make is choosing a PDR provider based on the cheapest price. Many people assume paintless dent repair is simple, and that anyone advertising PDR can deliver quality results — but that’s far from the truth. Reviews alone don’t always reflect the type of work a company actually does. Take the time to do your homework: look at the company’s social media, watch their videos, and research their background. A provider with years of documented work and real results will give you far more confidence than a low quote. At Dent Time, we’re focused on making every client beyond happy — delivering the best repair and the best experience possible, every time.

Yes — all major insurance companies approve paintless dent repair. Many actually prefer it because PDR costs less and preserves the vehicle’s original finish.

What’s covered:

• Comprehensive coverage covers hail damage, fallen objects, vandalism, and other non-collision dents
• Collision coverage covers dents from accidents
• Hail damage claims are classified as “acts of nature” — your rates typically won’t increase

For smaller dents, compare the repair cost to your deductible. If a single door ding costs $197 and your deductible is $500, paying out of pocket makes more sense. For hail damage or multiple dents, filing a claim is almost always worthwhile.

Dent Time works directly with all major insurance companies and handles the claims paperwork for you.

PDR is significantly faster than body shop repair:

• Single door ding: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Multiple dents: 1 to 3 hours
• Large or complex dents: Can take several hours, and bigger damage may require 1–2 days at our Escondido shop for premium repairs
• Hail damage: 1 to 3 days depending on severity

For comparison, a traditional body shop typically needs 5 to 10 business days for the same repair because of the sanding, filling, painting, and curing process. With PDR, most customers have their vehicle back the same day.

Most dents can be repaired with PDR, but there are some limitations:

PDR works great for: door dings, parking lot dents, minor hail damage, shallow to moderate dents where the paint is intact, dents on hoods, doors, trunk lids, quarter panels, and roof panels.

PDR may not be suitable for: dents where the paint is cracked or chipped, extremely sharp creases where the metal is stretched beyond recovery, dents on the very edge of a panel where the metal is reinforced, and damage to plastic components like bumper covers (which require a different repair method).

The fastest way to find out is to send photos of the damage to Dent Time for a free assessment. A technician can tell you in minutes whether PDR is the right approach or if conventional repair would produce a better result.

No. Paintless dent repair does not involve sanding, body filler, or repainting of any kind. Modern factory paint finishes are engineered to be flexible and durable — they handle the gentle manipulation of the PDR process without cracking, chipping, or showing any distress.

This is actually one of the biggest advantages of choosing PDR. Your vehicle keeps its original factory finish, which means the color match is perfect (because it was never changed), and the repair is undetectable. It also preserves your vehicle’s resale value since original paint is always worth more than a repaint.

No. When a dent is properly repaired using PDR, the metal is permanently restored to its original shape. It doesn’t spring back, reappear over time, or develop new imperfections from the repair. The fix is permanent.

Dent Time guarantees all work — if the result isn’t right, there’s no charge.

The two methods take fundamentally different approaches to fixing dents:

For most door dings, parking lot dents, and hail damage where the paint is intact, PDR delivers a better result — preserving your factory finish, keeping your Carfax clean, and getting you back on the road the same day. Traditional body shop repair is still the right choice for severe damage where paint is broken or panels need structural work.

No. Paintless dent repair does not involve structural work, replacement parts, or insurance-reportable bodywork in the traditional sense. PDR repairs generally don’t appear on Carfax or similar vehicle history reports.

This matters if you’re planning to sell or trade in your vehicle. A Carfax report showing body shop work can reduce a vehicle’s perceived value, even if the repair was done well. PDR avoids this entirely — the repair is invisible both on the vehicle and on paper.

Most professionals advise against it. The suction cup and glue-pull kits sold at auto parts stores can work on very shallow, simple dents, but they often make damage worse rather than better. Here’s why:

• Improper pulling can stretch the metal and create high spots that are harder to fix
• Excessive force can crack the paint, turning a PDR-repairable dent into a body shop job
• Hot glue residue can damage paint if not properly removed
• The tools lack the precision needed for a clean result

Professional PDR technicians train for years to develop the skill and feel required. If your vehicle’s appearance and value matter to you, professional repair is the smarter investment. A botched DIY attempt usually ends up costing more in the long run.

Yes. Dent Time offers mobile paintless dent repair and mobile bumper scratch repair throughout San Diego County and North County. A technician comes directly to your home, office, or wherever your vehicle is located — no need to rearrange your day around a shop visit.

Mobile service works great for standard door dings and minor dents. For more complex repairs, hail damage, or situations where specialized lighting and full tool access make a difference, Dent Time’s Escondido shop facility provides the ideal environment for a flawless repair.

Our Escondido Shop — Premium PDR Repairs: For damage that needs more than a day to complete, our Escondido shop location is where we provide top-tier PDR repairs. With dedicated bays, professional lighting, and full tool access, this is where we handle the big jobs — large dents, complex damage, and multi-day hail repairs — all done better, faster, and cleaner than any body shop. View our shop on the map →

Dent Time serves all of San Diego County with both mobile service and their Escondido shop location. Service areas include:

San Diego: La Jolla, UTC, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe, 4S Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain, Poway, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Santee, Tierra Santa, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, Linda Vista, Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, North Park, Hillcrest, Downtown, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Old Town, University City, Kensington, College Area, La Mesa, El Cajon, Lakeside, Spring Valley, National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, and Coronado.

North County: Solana Beach, San Marcos, Encinitas, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Leucadia, Cardiff, and La Costa.

The fastest way is to text photos of the damage:

1. Take 2–3 clear photos of the dent — one close-up showing detail, one from a step back showing where it is on the vehicle, and one at an angle to show the depth
2. Text them to 858-408-6200
3. A technician will reply with an estimate, typically within minutes

You can also call to schedule an in-person assessment at the Escondido shop, or request a mobile estimate at your location.