What Dents Can and Can't Be Fixed with Paintless Dent Repair?

By Dent Press · Updated 2026 · 5 min read

You're staring at a dent on your car and wondering: can this be fixed without a trip to the body shop? In most cases, the answer is yes. Paintless dent repair can handle a much wider range of damage than most people expect. But it does have limitations — and a good PDR technician will always be upfront about what they can and can't fix.

Here's a practical guide to help you figure out where your dent falls.

Dents PDR Can Fix

Door Dings and Parking Lot Dents

These are the most common dents we see — and the easiest to repair. Whether it's from a car door, a shopping cart, or a stray baseball, small to medium round dents with intact paint are ideal candidates for PDR. Most are fixed in 15–30 minutes.

Hail Damage

PDR is the industry-preferred method for hail damage repair. Even vehicles with dozens or hundreds of hail dents can be fully restored with PDR — often in a single day. Insurance companies actually prefer PDR because it costs less than body shop repair and preserves the factory finish. See our hail damage insurance guide for more on the claims process.

Large Dents (Yes, Really)

Many people assume PDR is only for small dings. That's a myth. PDR can repair large dents — even panel-sized damage — as long as the paint is intact and the metal hasn't been severely stretched. The key factor isn't the diameter of the dent, it's the depth and whether the metal can still flex back to its original position.

Creases and Body Line Damage

Sharp creases along body lines are among the most challenging PDR repairs — but they're also our specialty at Dent Press. While some PDR shops won't attempt crease repair, an experienced technician with 20+ years of skill can often restore even complex creases to factory condition.

Motorcycle and Specialty Vehicles

Motorcycle fuel tanks, classic car panels, and other specialty vehicles can often be repaired with PDR. This is especially valuable when the vehicle has a custom paint job or rare original finish that you want to preserve.

Dents PDR Can't Fix

Cracked, Chipped, or Peeling Paint

This is the primary limitation of PDR. If the paint is damaged — cracked, chipped, scratched through the clear coat, or peeling — the dent needs conventional body shop repair with repainting. PDR works by reshaping the metal underneath, so the paint surface needs to be intact for the result to be invisible.

Extremely Deep or Sharp Dents

When a dent is so deep that the metal has been permanently stretched beyond its elastic limit, PDR can significantly improve the appearance but may not achieve a perfect result. In these cases, the technician can often get the panel 80–90% back to normal, but the remaining imperfection may require conventional repair for a perfect finish.

Edge and Lip Damage

Dents on the very edge of a panel — like the lip of a fender, the edge of a door, or the perimeter of the hood — can be difficult because the metal is folded and reinforced in these areas. Some edge dents can be repaired, but others can't.

Structural or Frame Damage

PDR is for cosmetic body panel dents only. If the vehicle's frame, unibody structure, or safety components are damaged, that requires specialized collision repair at a body shop.

The Gray Area: When You're Not Sure

Many dents fall into a gray area where it's hard to tell from a photo whether PDR will work. This is why we offer free in-person assessments. If you text us photos and we're not 100% sure, we'll come look at it in person — at no cost — and give you an honest answer.

At Dent Press, we'll never attempt a repair we're not confident in. If your dent needs body shop work, we'll tell you upfront and refer you to someone we trust. Read more about how PDR compares to body shop repair to understand when each method is the right call.

How to Check Your Dent at Home

Before you contact anyone, here's a quick self-assessment:

1. Run your finger over the paint. Do you feel any roughness, cracking, or flaking? If yes, the paint is damaged — you'll likely need body shop repair.
2. Look at the dent in direct sunlight. Can you see the paint clearly through the dent, or is there whitening/discoloration? Clear paint = good candidate for PDR.
3. Check the depth. Press gently on the dent. Does the metal flex at all, or is it completely rigid? Some flex usually means the metal can be worked back into shape.
4. Check the location. Is the dent on a flat panel area, or right on the edge/lip of a panel? Flat panel = easier repair.

When in doubt, text us a photo. It costs nothing and takes 30 seconds.