Paintless Dent Repair Can Save You Money And Time When You Get a Dent

Better Than New

00:00 - Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Saves Money & Time on Dent Repairs vs. Traditional Body and Paint Repair Shops

When it comes to fixing dents and dings on your car, if you haven't tried PDR or Paintless Dent Repair, you should because it can save you money and time compared to traditional body and paint shops.

01:10 - Introduction - Guest Ryan Snider, Paintless Dent Repair Specialist

Ryan is a PDR specialist in the Seattle area with a 5-star rating on Yelp with 177 reviews, so he definitely does an excellent job when it comes to paintless dent repair. I hired him to fix dents on my cars through a word-of-mouth recommendation, which is probably the best way to find a competent PDR specialist near you.

06:50 - How To Determine If A Dent On Your Car Or Truck Is A Good Candidate For Paintless Dent Repair

It's a good idea to consider PDR first over traditional body and paint work. A competent PDR specialist can take out some very large and unusual dents, so it's always worth it to get a bid. Start by sending a photo or video of the dent to find out if PDR is a good option for you, even if you don't think it will work. If your dent qualifies, you'll save money, it's more convenient (they typically come to you) and your car will still have its original paint.

11:30 - With PDR And A Good Detail, You Can Fall In Love With Your Current Used Car All Over Again.

Rather than spending close to $50,000 on a new car or nearly $30,000 for a used car, consider making your existing car look like new again. Hire a PDR specialist to smooth out the dents, followed by a full detail and your used car or truck will suddenly be something you're proud to own and drive once again.

15:35 - What Is The Typical Size and Shape Of A Dent You Might Repair?

That's tough because they're all different and it depends on where the dent is located on the car. Some areas are easier to access than others, but it is always best to send a photo or video to your PDR specialist to get an assessment.

17:00 - How Do You Approach Paintless Dent Repair?

There are typically two ways. The most common way is to work from the back of the dent with tools to push out the metal, but when there is no access, glue and a small slide hammer is used to pull out the dent, but no matter the approach, it's all done very slowly and carefully and it takes a great deal of experience and skill to do it right.

23:00 - How Do You Get The Glue Off The Car?

When it cools, it typically peels off, but if it doesn't want to remove easily after it dries, then you can use a little rubbing alcohol to release the glue.

28:00 - Do You Ever Let Your Customers Watch You Work?

Everyone is curious about the process. They're excited and want to see how it works, but when I really need to focus, I will stop talking and put on my head phones so I can focus on the process and do the best job possible.

32:10 - Photos And Video Of The Dent Sent By Text Or Email Is The Best Way To Start The Bid Process for PDR

The bid process typically starts with a photo or a video sent to your PDR specialist, and once you have a bid, many PDR specialists will come to you to work on your car at home or to repair your car in the parking lot or garage where you work.

33:50 - Do DIY Dent Pulling Kits Sold Online Or At The Local Auto Parts Store Actually Work?

There are certain car projects people should try to do themselves and there are plenty of YouTube videos and other resources that one can use to complete those DIY projects, but the idea that someone with little or no skill repairing dents on painted metal will try paintless dent repair on their own and make it look good at the end is a little crazy. I don't recommend it.

36:30 - How Did You Get Into The PDR Business?

I got started as a detailer at a local dealership and over time I got exposed to people who came around to repair dents in cars at the dealership and it grew from there.

39:55 - What Are The One Or Two Things People Need To Know About PDR?

First of all, paintless dent removal is a trade. It's a real skill that takes years to pick up to the point that a PDR specialist is truly good at it.

Second, if you get a dent in your car, always send a picture or a video of that dent to your PDR specialist for an estimate and to confirm whether or not they can fix it. More often than you might think, PDR is a good option for a dent repair, and if it's not, you will know for certain and can then move on and get it repaired through a traditional paint and body work business.

44:45 - Wrap-up & Preview For Next Week's Show

So if your favorite used car or truck has acquired a few too many dents and dings over the years, then you owe it to yourself to get a bid from a competent PDR specialist. You’d be surprised at the size and shape of dents the best PDR specialists can remove, and you’ll be even more surprised by how affordable it is. And if you’re on the east side of Seattle, definitely contact Ryan Snider for a bid. He does excellent work at a fair price. I know from experience!

Also, be sure to join me starting next week as I kick off my month-long “Little Weirdo’s - 4x4 Edition” Series here on Better Than New. Each week in July, I will be featuring a funky and somewhat forgotten small 4x4 runabout, starting with the Geo Tracker, followed by the Suzuki Samurai, the Daihatsu Rocky, the Dodge Raider. So if you’re looking for a fun, boxy, inexpensive 4x4 for your summer adventures, you’ll love these funky 4x4s and I think you’ll love this series.