What Is Paintless Dent Repair and How Does It Work?

Paintless dent repair is a metal-finishing method. Instead of filling a dent and painting over it, a trained technician moves the steel or aluminum back to shape.

How the process works

1. The panel is mapped under a line board so every dent is visible.
2. Access is opened from behind the panel when possible — lights, braces, or a tool bar on a roof.
3. Pressure is applied in small steps until the low spot rises.
4. High spots are tapped down with a knockdown or Gator-style tool so the reflection goes flat.
5. Glue pulling is used on edges and braces the bar cannot reach.

Because the factory paint stays, the car keeps its original finish and the repair is usually faster than a body-shop refinish.