Dents can vary in size, shape, and location. Understanding the types of dents and what methods should be used to repair them can help you choose the repair process. Some dents are shallow and caused by minor impacts, such as low-speed bumps or cyclists brushing past on narrow roads, causing a weird dent on your body panels.
Depending on the severity and position of the dent, repair methods can range from paintless dent removal to detailed bodywork.
Read our article on vehicle restoration processes and Types of Car Body Repairs.
Let’s discuss different types of dents and the process of fixing them.
Highlights
- Understanding Dent Repair Services
- Complete Process Behind Car Dent Filler
- Smart Repair or Dent Filling: For Car Dent Removal Services
Types of dents:
Dents can be of many types, including round dents, creases, sharp dings, and multi-point dents. Each type requires a different repair approach. Identifying the correct type of dent helps you choose the best method.
Here are the types of car dents you’ll most often come across:
Round Dents:
These are minor, circular-shaped dents that are usually shallow. The most common places for these types of dents are the roof of the car, bonnet, or car boot.
Creased Dents:
These are line or crease-like dents on the metal, usually long and sharp. These dents usually occur when a sharp object, such as a bike handlebar, scrapes the car’s metal surface. The most common places for these types of dents are the car wings, door panels or side panels.
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Sharp Dents:
These are minor to moderate dents when a sharp or pointed object hits the car’s metal with force, like the door of a car hitting another car. It appears to be a deep and pointed mark on the body. It often seems that the metal was punched in with a narrow, pointed object.
The most common places for this type of dent are the quarter panels, lower door panels or any area where another object might hit with a sharp edge.
Multi-point Dents:
As the name suggests, these are multi-point dents, which can be a combination of the above dents. Instead of one clean dent, the impact spreads out, creating several dents on the car body. They are usually caused by large and heavy impacts, such as a fallen tree, a minor car accident, or heavy debris like bricks or roofing tiles.
Paintless Dent Removal Services
The paintless dent removal process removes minor to medium-sized dents from a car’s bodywork without repainting. This technique is particularly effective when the paint surface remains intact, offering a fast and affordable car body repair method to restore your vehicle’s original glossy shine and look.
Paintless dent removal involves gently pushing out dents from behind the panel using tools such as metal rods and bars. Glue pullers with adhesive tabs are used where behind-the-panel access is not possible. LED reflection boards are used for precise dent detection, and window wedges are used to access panel edges safely.
You can learn more in detail about what paintless dent removal is and how it works.
Since no filler, sanding, or respraying is involved, the vehicle’s original paintwork is preserved, which makes PDR (Paintless Dent Removal) an ideal solution for smart, fast, and cost-effective dent repairs.
When to Choose Paintless Dent Removal Service
Paintless dent removal is suitable for minor dents caused by small bumps, such as door dings or car park knocks. It works most effectively on smooth, shallow dents with undamaged paint surfaces. The common areas are flat or gently curved areas, such as bonnets, roofs, wings, and doors.
This method preserves your car’s original paintwork, making it a quick and affordable repair option. However, it is not recommended for dents with sharp creases, scratched to bare metal, chipped or cracked paint.
In these cases, a more detailed inspection is required to assess the damage and which process would be the best process to restore the car.
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Traditional Dent Repair
Traditional dent repair is for deeper dents or those with paint damage, where paintless dent removal is not recommended. This method involves several steps to restore the damaged area.
Which includes:
- The dent is pulled out or hammered from behind to reshape the panel.
- The damaged area is sanded to remove imperfections and prepare for filler.
- Body filler is applied to smooth out the dent and create an even surface.
- Finally, the area is repainted to match the vehicle’s original colour.
Read our guide on paint chip and deep scratch repair services for more information.
Dent Pulling Tools
For minor dents, technicians use suction and glue pullers that offer a simple solution to restore the original surface. The suction tools are attached to the dented area and pull it outwards. Another one is the glue pullers, which use hot glue and a special pulling tool to lift dents from the surface.
Choosing the best dent repair method depends on the damage to your car. In most cases, the small round dents are fixed with paintless dent removal services if there is no paint chipping or exposed metal.
While creased or sharp dents typically require traditional repair methods involving filler and respray.
Need Car Body Repair?
Get a free assessment and quote from our certified technicians today!
Which Dent Repair Method is Right for You?
When it comes to dent removal, minor dents with intact paintwork are best treated with paintless dent removal services for a quick, cost-effective fix that preserves your vehicle’s original finish. Traditional filler and respray methods offer a more thorough restoration for deeper dents, stretched metal, or damaged paint. For the best results, look for a professional body shop that can restore your vehicle’s original look.
If you’re unsure where to start, our blog on How to Select a Car Body Repair Service can help you choose the right workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dent repairs aren’t noticeable if performed expertly. This includes both PDR and traditional dent repairs.
Leaving a dent unrepaired can lead to rust, corrosion, and the damage spreading further, reducing the car’s resale value.
If the paint on the dented area is intact, then it can be removed using the affordable paintless dent removal method. However, dents with damaged paint require fresh paint, which can be expensive.
Choose AVX for Expert Car Dent Removal & Repair Services
Finding any professional dent removal and repair shop depends on your car’s level of damage, model, and your budget. At AVX, our experts assess the damage and provide the best services for all types of insurance approved models by keeping your car’s original look and value in mind.
