How to Fix Car Dents: Options and Costs to Consider

Lots of different terminology is used to describe damage to a vehicle's paint, bumper or body panels. You might call a small area of damage a dent or a ding—some people even use the terms interchangeably. However, there is a difference between dings and:

• In general, a ding is a smaller, less significant piece of damage done to a vehicle than a dent.

• A dent tends to cover more of the vehicle's surface and may involve damage to the car's paint job and body panels. If it impacts these areas, repairs are generally more costly and may require professional assistance.

In addition to the size and shape of the dent, consider where it's located. The body panels of vehicles are made from metal—usually steel or aluminum. Dents on the body will require different repair techniques than dents on the bumper, which is usually made from plastic.

Once you notice a dent in your car, it's best to get it repaired as soon as possible. This isn't just about keeping your car looking great: There are also practical and safety reasons to get your dent repaired quickly. While DIY dent repair costs less than $100, a professional repair can costs hundreds or even thousands.

If there's any damage to the vehicle's paint or body panels, the dent can lead to moisture damage including rust and flaking paint. Larger dents or crease dents from objects like a tree branch may hide structural damage to the body of the car, which is a major safety concern. Having lots of dents may even lower fuel economy, causing your vehicle to use more gas. Those are convincing reasons to get your dents repaired quickly. Luckily, there are quite a few options for getting the job done well.

Clearing up minor dents, door dings or bumper damage can be a simple and affordable job that can be done at home.

Here's how:

Dents in plastic are usually on the front or rear bumper. With a little heat and elbow grease, these car dents are usually easy to repair at home, even if they're larger. Here are the steps to repair a plastic dent:

1. Heat the dent with a hairdryer until it's warm to the touch.

2. Spray cool compressed air ( $20 or less) over the warm plastic if the dent is small. The dent should pop out on its own.

3. Attach a dent puller ( $20 or less) if the dent is larger, or if a small dent doesn't pop out with cool air. Pull firmly to suction the metal outward.

4. Smooth any new dents. Sometimes, when you pull out a dent a new small dent will appear. Smooth those with your hands or the puller..

To repair metal dents, you'll want to purchase a dent repair kit ( $40-99). These kits come with lots of pieces, which allow you to pull the dented metal outward to repair the dent.

Follow this process to fix metal dents:

1. Heat the dent with a hairdryer until it's warm to the touch. For small dents, skip this step and start at step 3.

2. Suction the dent outward using a dent puller. The goal is to make the dent smaller, not eliminate it completely.

3. Wipe the metal with a microfiber towel. If you're repairing a small metal dent, start at this step.

4. Prepare to use the bridge puller. To use this tool, you glue a bolt (known as a head) to the deepest point of the dent, use it to pull the dent out and later remove it. The first step is to apply the glue that came in your repair kit to the deepest point of the dent.

5. Attach the bridge puller head. Push it into the glue and allow it to cool for the time indicated in the directions. Usually, that's about 4-8 minutes.

6. Use the bridge puller. When the glue is completely dry, attach the bridge puller and turn the dial to slowly move the metal. Stop when the dent is gone and the metal is in its original position.

7. Detach the head and puller. Next, remove the bridge puller. Use the hairdryer to heat the glue to remove the puller head. Wipe away any glue.

8. Touch up the paint. If there's damage to the paint, order a paint repair kit ( $45-$65). Wipe the area clean, apply primer and then apply a tiny amount of paint, using more if you need it.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't entirely remove a dent. That's where body filler comes in. Also known by the brand name Bondo® ( $13+), body filler is a putty that's used to fill a dent and smooth it over. Once it's painted, you'll never notice the filler—in fact, even technicians in body shops use body filler sometimes. Here's  how to use it:

1. Clean the dented area. Use soap and water, then wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth.

2. Sand the paint off. Use a sander with 80 grit sandpaper to remove paint from the dent, and for 2-5 inches around it.

3. Minimize the dent, using the dent removal techniques above.

4. Apply body filler. Press firmly into the dent and apply enough putty to make the dented area flush with the rest of the body of the vehicle. Allow it to dry for 15-20 minutes.

5. Sand the filler. Use 80-grit sandpaper to smooth the shape of the area. If there are any low areas, repeat steps 4 and 5 until the finish is in line with the rest of the body panel.

6. Smooth the finish. Once you're satisfied with the shape, smooth the putty with 180-grit sandpaper.

7. Apply glaze. Cover all the putty and surrounding area with glaze and spot putty ( $11+).

8. Sand again. After the glaze has dried, sand with 180 grit sandpaper. Then, use 320-grit sandpaper to remove any visible scratches or lines.

9. Prime and paint. Using a paint repair kit, prime and paint the vehicle.

If you want your vehicle to look as good as new after dent repair, it's best to contact an (auto body repair shop) or technician. Professionals have expertise and access to special tools to get the best possible results when repairing dents.

Sometimes, a technician can come to you to repair your dent in a convenient location. In other cases, you'll have to drop your vehicle off at a body repair shop. No matter which option you choose, call 2-3 professionals in your area to compare information on their prices and turnaround time. That way, you can choose a professional that fits your budget and timeline.

Paintless dent repair, often called PDR or paintless dent removal, is an affordable and convenient way to repair dents professionally. PDR technicians come to you with specialty tools to repair dents, usually in under two hours. This technique is used for dents that don't involve paint damage.

The cost of paintless dent repair will depend on where you live, where the dent is located, and how large it is. Here's a general overview of PDR pricing:

• Small, light dents: $50-$100

• Medium dents: $75-$300

• Large dents: $300-500

If your dent is very large or involves paint damage, you'll need to reach out to an auto body shop that can repair the dent and  repaint the area. You should also contact an auto body shop if a dent is very deep and you're concerned that the body of your vehicle might be damaged.

Repairing a dent at an auto shop can easily cost $2,000 or more. If the cost is $1,000 or more, ask the technician if it might be more affordable to replace the entire body panel, rather than just fixing the dent. In some cases, this option may actually save you money.

Dent repair can be expensive, but you shouldn't put it off. It's almost always more cost-effective to fix a dent soon after it happens.

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