Dent repair
Paintless dent repair for hail and door dings, and traditional dent repair when the paint is broken.
How we approach it
If the paint isn't cracked, many dents can be massaged out from behind with special tools. That is paintless dent repair, or PDR. Your factory paint stays on the car, and small repairs are often done the same day.
Southern Alberta gets serious hail. After a big storm we set up dedicated hail bays and post the wait time on this page. If a dent is too sharp or the paint is damaged, we use traditional repair and refinish the panel.
You might need this if
- Door dings from parking lots
- Hail dents on the hood, roof and trunk
- A soft crease from a shopping cart or a light bump
- Small dents with no cracked paint
- Dents on aluminum panels (we check whether PDR is safe)
How we do it
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Step 1: Light check
Under a striped reflector board, we map every dent and check the paint for cracks.
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Step 2: Access
We remove trim or liners to reach the back of the panel, or use glue-pull tabs from the front.
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Step 3: Massage out
Slow, small pushes bring the metal back to its shape without breaking the paint.
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Step 4: Finish check
We check the panel from several angles under the light before it goes back together.
Typical prices
Planning ranges in Canadian dollars, before GST. Your written estimate is the real number.
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Single door ding Paintless, about loonie size or smaller | $150 to $300 |
| Crease or several dents Paintless, one panel | $300 to $650 |
| Hail damage Paintless, whole car, usually an insurance claim | $1,800 to $6,500+ |
| Traditional dent repair Filler, primer and paint on one panel | $500 to $1,400 |
About these numbers
Price depends on the size, depth and spot of each dent, and on the panel material. Dents on body lines or aluminum panels take longer.
With insurance
Hail damage is usually covered by comprehensive coverage, not collision. A single parking lot ding may cost less than your deductible, so we help you do the math before you claim.
How insurance claims workQuestions we hear
Can every dent be fixed without paint?
No. If the paint is cracked, the metal is stretched too far, or the dent sits on a sharp edge, we recommend traditional repair instead.
How long does hail repair take?
Most hail repairs take 2 to 5 days in the shop, depending on the number of dents and whether any panels need paint.
Ready to book dent repair?
Tell us what happened and send a few photos. We reply with next steps within one business hour, and the estimate is free.