When you invest in a vehicle, the last thing you want to worry about is getting in a collision that leaves a sizable dent in the exterior. However, it’s something that can happen any time and without much warning – especially with icy roads during the North Dakota winters. Knowing your options can help you determine how to move forward with the dent repair.
One cost-effective option is paintless dent repair, which can eliminate the damage to the vehicle. We perform paintless dent repair at our auto body repair shop in Grand Forks. Learn more about paintless dent repair, and then schedule your dentless repair appointment at our North Dakota body shop.
The Process of Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless dent repair is an effective method for dealing with minor dents, scratches, and dings in your vehicle’s exterior. It begins with an analysis of the damaged area, during which a certified auto body technician can make sure the dent qualifies for this type of repair. From there, the process involves dealing with the damage from the inside of the car. The technician working on your vehicle will remove the panel that sits behind the damaged area, providing access to the posterior side of the dent.
After getting access to the impacted area, the technician will apply slow, continuous pressure to the posterior side of the damage. This process must be done slowly to avoid overcorrecting, or pushing the dented area out too far, leaving a protrusion. Technicians who offer paintless dent repair also understand the importance of applying continuous pressure to both sides, which helps work the dent out and leaves the affected area of your vehicle looking as good as new.
Because this type of dent repair is less intrusive than other methods, it can be done quickly and efficiently, helping you get back on the road sooner. Traditional repairs often require technicians to order factory-approved automotive parts and paint that matches the exterior color of your vehicle, but paintless dent repair doesn’t require special components or paint. In many cases, the job can be completed in one day or less.
Paintless Dent Repair vs. Traditional Dent Repair
The process of repairing a dent involves filling in damaged sections with body filler or paint and then repainting the entire area to match the rest of the vehicle’s exterior. If the damage is extensive enough, you might have to replace entire panels and parts, which becomes expensive and time-consuming. Filling in the dents might resolve the issue from an aesthetic perspective but isn’t a long-term or sustainable solution. The impacted area might be more susceptible to further damage if you get involved in a collision.
What Qualifies for Paintless Dent Repair
When determining whether your vehicle’s damage qualifies for dentless paint repair, the first thing to look at is whether the exterior paint job has been damaged. Cracks or chips in the paint require more extensive repairs. Plus, this type of damage can worsen if you don’t have it repaired right away, as it can leave the metal frame or components exposed, putting them at risk of rusting or corrosion. However, many dents don’t impact the paint and can be repaired via the paintless repair process.
A number of situations can leave your vehicle looking worse for the wear. You might come back to your vehicle in a parking lot, only to find that a rogue shopping cart has crashed into the side of the car or that a careless driver has bumped their door into yours. Even a hailstorm can lead to damage to the exterior of a vehicle that might qualify for paintless dent repair.
Paintless Dent Repair Limitations
As mentioned, paintless dent repair only works on damage that hasn’t caused significant cracks or chips in the paint job. It is also best suited for smaller dents. Many technicians will only provide this service on automotive damage that is no larger than the size of a balled fist and no deeper than half an inch.
The reason for the size limit is that the process of working the panel out from the inside and outside of the car can cause damage to the metal if the dent is too large. You could end up with stretched metal components that cause more extensive and costly damage.
Advantages of Paintless Dent Repair
One of the key benefits of paintless dent repair is the cost advantage. Traditional dent repair could cost several thousand dollars, depending on the extent of the damage and the type of vehicle you drive. An upscale or imported vehicle could garner an even higher repair bill at the auto body shop. Paintless dent repair, on the other hand, often costs an average of several hundred dollars. The cost savings could be substantial if your vehicle qualifies for this repair option.
The time it takes to perform the repair is another advantage. Leaving your vehicle in the shop for days can be frustrating, especially as you try to juggle other responsibilities that require getting from one place to another. For a small dent, the paintless dent repair process might take only a few hours, similar to having new tires put on your car. You’ll be in and out quickly, allowing you to continue with your obligations from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Does Insurance Cover Paintless Dent Repair?
Your automotive insurance policy might cover paintless dent repair, although you may want to compare the out-of-pocket cost of the repair to the potentially increased premiums you might face by having your policy cover this cost. Because paintless dent repair is cheaper than traditional body repair work, it might benefit you financially to pay for it yourself, avoiding the jump in insurance premiums that can come when you file a repair claim.
Schedule Paintless Dent Repair in Grand Forks
If you’re interested in finding out whether your vehicle’s damage qualifies for paintless dent repair, bring it to Rydell Auto Group. We have multiple locations to serve you, each of which is staffed with experienced, professional automotive technicians. During your vehicle’s stay at our auto body repair shop, we’ll treat it with care and help get you back on the road as quickly as possible. Contact us online or call us at 701-792-2846 to learn more or to request an estimate for paintless dent repair.
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