Frequently asked questions in Paintless Dent Removal

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a method of removing minor dents and dings without repainting the vehicle. This is done by very patiently massaging the dent out from the back of the panel, or sometimes from the front using specialised glue pulling tools.

There is a huge common assumption that dents just 'pop out'. You may have seen a YouTube video where someone uses hot water and a plunger to pull a dent out. Looks easy right? Well on a large shallow dent with little to no tension holding it in, you may be able to improve the damage to a standard that looks good on camera. However, this would look a lot less perfect in person. Without a doubt, a repair like this would still require hours of meticulous work & attention from a Paintless Dent Repair specialist for it to look anywhere near perfect.

We have repaired dents for people that have bought repair kits from popular auction sites, only to realise that they are damaging their panels even more. This can make our job harder in the long run, & cost you more money. Our advice is to avoid using shop-bought repair kits and get your dent/s repaired by a professional.

Always do your research when picking a local Paintless Dent Repair specialist, look at before and after photos and reviews, as skill levels can vary massively and not all your local PDR technicians work to a high standard & complete the job efficiently.

It's important to understand that there's a huge difference between high quality Paintless Dent Removal delivered by a skilled, experienced technician, than a cheap repair carried out by a inexperienced technician.

There are many factors that we take into consideration before repairing any dent, below are just a few of them:

-Diameter of the dent
-Depth of the damage
-Sharpness of the dent
-Location of the dent
-Accessibility behind the dent
-Make and model of the car
-Material of the panel Aluminium/Steel/HS Steel/UHS Steel
-Age and originality of the paint
-How the damage was caused
-Customer location

This is why we ask you to fill in our quotation form to gather as much information as possible before quoting your repair.

No. Today's original factory finishes are very flexible and will not be damaged in any way by this process. Although if your vehicle has had a previous paintwork repair we may not be able to carry out PDR due to the finish not being as durable.

On most dents, yes. Although the deeper the dent, the more difficult it is to repair. At Lancashire Dent Repair we strive for a perfection, we take as long as it needs to provide you with the best quality Paintless Dent Removal service possible.

Absolutely not. Once a dent has been removed properly with Paintless Dent Repair, it never comes back.

No. The most important factors in determining if a dent can be repaired by Paintless Dent Repair are depth and location. Dents the size of a dinner plate or larger can be fixed successfully, as long as they are not too deep. On the other hand, some dents that are as small as a penny, but very deep, cannot be fixed using Paintless Dent Repair because the metal is stretched.

Sometimes we are unable to carry out a repair due to manufacturers design including bracing inside doors and panels to increase rigidity and safety, although we do carry a variety of tools to overcome and work around these obstructions. Sometimes it may be simply impossible to repair a dent that is inaccessible.

If there is no access due to bracing behind the dented panel then glue pulling is a option - but this can only be carried out on the original factory paintwork. If glue pulling is used on a poor, previously refinished panel, the glue pull could easily tear the paint and possibly filler from the panel! This is obviously undesirable for the customer and the PDR technician. We typically avoid any repair where the paint is scratched or damaged, these are jobs for the body shop only.

Cracked paint can also be an indication that a dent is too deep. The most common dents fixed are the size of a golf ball and under. About 95% of minor dents can be repaired, leaving about 5% of minor dents that can't be fixed due to depth or location.

It has become common practice by many Paintless Dent Repair technicians to drill or punch holes in places like door shuts, quarter panels, inner wheel arches etc to gain access to a dent with their tools. We will always take the extra time to try and repair a dent without drilling. In the event that there is no other way to repair a dent except to drill a small hole, it will be plugged with a factory looking grommet.
***See bottom of page for images of this process

Very light scratches may be wet sanded and machine polished out, any scratches that have penetrated the clear coat will need to be refinished by a bodyshop.

When you have a lease car, taking care of it is one of the most important aspects of leasing. After all, the car isn’t actually yours, so you have to keep it in good condition for when it goes back.

However, we know that keeping your car in top condition is actually harder than it sounds. Accidents happen, as do small bumps and taps. All of which can damage your car, and there may be an occasion where you dent your lease car. This might be your fault or it might not be, regardless, you have a dent in your car.

Upon your lease cars return, it will undergo an thorough inspection by the lease car company. This will usually be done the day the vehicle goes back. The vehicle will be checked for any damage that is outside the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines.

If there is damage that sits outside of these guidelines, then you will be charged. The finance house will repair the car and you will receive an invoice shortly after.

The finance house do not regard price when it comes to getting the car repaired. Therefore, we recommend that you get the car repaired before it goes back. That way, you can avoid a potentially costly repair bill (usually at bodyshop prices!) at the end of your lease.

As you may still get charged by having a poor quality repair discovered during the inspection process, it pays to use a good technician. With Lancashire Dent Repair we carry out the highest quality Paintless Dent Repairs available so the chance of our repairs being discovered are minimal.

Yes, we offer discounts for multiple dents. If you have more than one minor dent on a panel, we can generally include those dents for very little extra, depending on the size and number.

Ever hear the saying "Image is everything?" Most people judge a car by its appearance. If it looks good, they assume it has been well taken care of. Used car dealers and wholesalers know this. They also know what they spend on Paintless Dent Repair, will increase the price of the car, this will help them sell the car quickly. If you are selling your car, Paintless Dent Repair is one of the best ways to get the maximum resale value, more interested buyers and a quicker sale!