What is PDR? Timeline, Prices, and Process of Paintless dent repair.
When you inevitably accumulate exterior damage on your ride, experts now recommend that you seek a body shop that performs PDR as well as traditional auto repair. But why? And while we’re at it, what exactly is PDR?
The question really is: who doesn’t want to save time and money – particularly at a time when you’ve essentially been rendered immobile? In today’s economic climate, that’s the first thing to go when the shop needs to order new parts and paints to match yours. Though this was common practice before the pandemic, perpetual shortages and high transportation expenses have made it inconsistent and just plain impractical for shops and clients alike.
PDR is the antidote to the stagnancy and scarcity that have infected the market.
What is PDR?
PDR stands for “Paintless Dent Removal.” As the name suggests, it is a method of removing dents without the use of paint or even new parts. In doing so, auto repair facilities are able to save themselves and their clients a substantial amount of time and money.
PDR vs Auto Body Painting.
How does PDR produce astonishing results for such a reasonable price, specifically in contrast to traditional Auto Body Painting?
Overall, Auto Body Painting is about throwing damaged parts away and replacing them with new, near-identical parts coated with similar paint. There are 2 problems with the traditional method, especially nowadays. Of course, there’s the shipping; the cost of which made a staggering 25% increase in 2021, which is to say nothing of the 20.5% hike in warehouse storage services. This has only worsened since, making the traditional method fundamentally unsustainable.
The second issue is that putting foreign parts and paint onto one’s vehicle lowers its resale value. Sure, used cars can be sold for twice as much now as they could be pre-pandemic, so long as it operates; but why not maximize value when you have the ability to do so?
Instead of discarding damaged parts, PDR revolves around saving them and preserving the original factory paint. In this process, the need for shipping new parts and invasive repair procedures is all but eliminated, which drastically lowers cost and time spent waiting for unreliable delivery.
Terminology & History of Paintless Dent Repair
The term “Paintless Dent Removal” was first coined in Frank T. Sargent’s 1931 groundbreaking book, “The Key to Metal Bumping.” The text entailed the tools utilized in PDR, how to use them, and techniques on predicting the movement of the metal.
Almost a century has passed since then, over which time these tools and the process as a whole have been innovated and perfected further and further, honing their capacity for repairing greater damage with improved precision.
PDR Process
PDR utilizes a number of different processes designed to remove damage with ease and precision.
In one, a system of body picks and metal rods can be used to push dents out from behind the panel without removal, which is ideal for smaller dents such as those seen in hail damage. For greater damage, glue tabs can be used to pull dents from the outside.
For the final option, key-like tabs can be tacked or “bumped” into the damaged panel. A bar is put through aforementioned tabs, and the bar is connected to a puller system. Once calibrated, the dented metal can then be pulled out in a motion similar to using a wing-type corkscrew to open a bottle of wine.
At this point, the motion requires little more than an enthusiastic jerk to bend it the wrong way. It’s entirely dependent on preparation and prior measurements, as well as the skill and steady hands of the technician in control. As such, it’s important to verify that the shop’s technicians have received viable certification to perform their operations.
PDR Timeline
The best part about PDR is the short turnaround it can provide. As more and more auto body shops adopt PDR equipment and techniques, the need for delivery time is being eradicated. So too is the extensive labor needed for removing, replacing, and coating new parts for that matter. PDR keeps costs low and wait time lower. All that’s required is a day for estimation and pricing, and one to provide the service itself, getting you back on the road in no more than a few days.
PDR Pricing & Guarantees
The money saved with PDR is undeniable on both sides of the transaction. Expenses for shipping and inflation in the price of parts are done away with of course. Between this and the labor, the cost for traditional auto body painting can run well into the 4-digit range depending on the extent of the damage.
PDR is practical and cost-effective. Since the pre-incident parts are preserved, the only real expense in the whole process is those for labor, which is noninvasive and relatively simple for a well-trained technician. The average price for a dent can be as low as $125, and even the most severe damage will rarely exceed $400 for dents under 5” deep.
Additionally, good auto body repair shops that offer PDR will often come with a company warranty. This guarantees that the work of the facility will hold up against the every-day conditions of the road for years to come. It is a promise of customer satisfaction that is backed by the company’s reputation.
PDR at AutoStream360
PDR is a specialty of AutoStream360, carried out exclusively with the most highly trained personnel, educated through AutoStream’s NexGen Pro training certification. As the Miracle Pro auto body repair system’s #1 distributor in the US, AutoStream360 uses only the most cutting-edge PDR technology in their operations. Thanks to Miracle Pro, they’ve taken PDR to the next level of capability, assuring that more than 45% of all damage that comes through their shop can be mended.
On top of this, AutoStream360 prioritizes providing unparalleled customer service throughout the process. From working with insurance companies to secure the best price to having your newly renovated vehicle towed straight to your location, AutoStream360 is with you every step of the way.
