Paintless dent repair (PDR)
Paintless dent repair in Biel/Bienne: push-out technique (PDR)
In paintless dent repair (PDR), dents are pushed out from the back with special tools. The original paint remains intact, the repair often takes only a few hours and is generally cheaper than filling and painting.
- All makes
- Direct billing with insurers
- Courtesy car on request
- Repair rather than replace
- Reply usually within 24 h
- German & French
Process
- 1
Upload a photo of the dent
- 2
Check: paint intact, dent accessible?
- 3
Pushing out under special lighting
How paintless dent repair works
In paintless dent repair the dent technician, popularly known as the dent doctor, works with feel instead of force. First he gains access to the back of the metal, for example through existing openings in the door or bonnet or after removing a trim panel. Using PDR rods of various lengths and shapes, he pushes the metal back in many small steps from the edge of the dent towards the centre until the surface is level again.
Light is indispensable here. A special lamp with stripes or a reflection board is mirrored in the paint. Every irregularity distorts the lines, so the technician sees exactly where the tip of his tool is sitting. If the back cannot be reached, glue pulling is used: a pulling tab is glued on, the dent is pulled out and small high spots are tapped back down with a plastic punch. This technique takes patience and experience, but neither filler nor paint.
Which dents are suitable and which are not
Round, fairly shallow dents with undamaged paint are well suited: hail dents, parking dents from other people’s doors, marks left by conkers, balls or a bicycle leaned against the car. Larger, soft depressions in a door or wing can also often be worked out completely, as long as the metal is not overstretched. Location plays a part: on open areas of the roof, bonnet and doors, access is usually good, which makes the repair easier.
Less suitable are dents with chipped or cracked paint, sharp creases, damage right on an edge or seam and areas that have already been filled or resprayed, because the repair paint can crack when pushed. Double-skinned areas and bonded reinforcements also restrict access. In such cases we combine the methods: push out as much as possible, then paint the rest as a spot repair. A photo is usually enough for us to give an initial assessment.
The advantages: original paint, value retention and time
The greatest advantage of paintless dent repair is that the factory paintwork remains untouched. Paint applied at the factory is evenly thick and the same shade across the whole vehicle. If nothing is resprayed, there are no colour differences, no transitions and no increased coat thicknesses. This matters when selling or trading in, because buyers and dealers frequently measure the paint thickness and regard resprayed areas as a sign of earlier damage.
Then there is the time. Because filling, sanding, painting and drying are not needed, a single dent is often quickly fixed, and the car is only in the workshop briefly. Less material is used, no solvents are involved, and usually fewer parts have to be removed. All in all, the method is generally cheaper than a classic repair with painting. We recommend it whenever the result will be technically flawless.
PDR for hail, for single parking dents and on aluminium
Hail damage means many dents on several panels. The work can be planned, but it is laborious: remove the headliner, work through each panel systematically under the light, check everything at the end. The claim generally runs through partial comprehensive cover. A single parking dent, by contrast, is a small job that many customers pay for themselves. What counts here above all is whether the spot can be reached from behind or has to be glued and pulled.
Aluminium deserves separate consideration. Bonnets, doors and wings on many newer vehicles, especially electric and hybrid models, are made of this lightweight material. Aluminium springs back less, hardens as it deforms and cracks more quickly than steel. Dent removal still works, but it requires more time, smaller working steps and often a little heat. Our panel beater judges from the photo or at the inspection in Biel whether an aluminium dent can be pushed out cleanly.
For customers from the region, with our workshop in Biel: Body shop Ipsach, Body shop Orpund, Body shop Erlach, Body shop Pieterlen, Body shop Kerzers, Body shop Ins.
Frequently asked questions
Does PDR also work on aluminium?
＋
Yes, with an adapted technique. Aluminium is less malleable; we can tell from the photo or on site whether PDR is possible.
How much does it cost to have a dent removed?
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There is no flat rate: the price depends on the size and depth of the dent, its position (an edge or crease takes more work), access behind the panel, the material (aluminium) and whether the paint is damaged. Upload a photo: on working days you receive an indicative quote incl. VAT within 24 hours. We set the final price after the inspection.
Can I push a dent out myself?
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Suction cups, a hair dryer or freeze spray only work, if at all, on very shallow, soft dents. The metal is often overstretched or the paint develops fine cracks, making the subsequent repair more involved. If the dent is on an edge or sharply pressed in, it is better to have it professionally removed from the start.
Does dent removal also work on edges or when the paint is damaged?
＋
On edges and creases, dent removal is often possible but more involved. If the paint is cracked or chipped, the dent is pushed out first and the area is then refinished with a spot repair. We can tell from a photo or on site whether this works for your dent.
Related services
Hail damage
Hail dents pushed out without repainting: the original paint is preserved, handled via partial comprehensive cover.
Parking damage, dents & scratches
Smart repair instead of replacing parts: bumpers, doors and wings repaired quickly and affordably.
Car paintwork & spot repair
Colour-matched paintwork, and thanks to spot repair only as much as necessary.
Save up to CHF 1'000
The same excess as at your insurer’s partner garage
Many policies charge a higher excess if you do not go to the insurer’s partner garage. With us you still pay only the excess you would have there: we cover the difference. That way you save up to CHF 1'000 and still choose your body shop freely.
CHF 50 less
CHF 50 less than your partner garage’s quote
Bring the written quote of a partner garage or an independent body shop for the same repair: we do it CHF 50 cheaper, for example CHF 450 instead of CHF 500, incl. VAT. The on-site damage assessment is free in Biel/Bienne, Orpund, Nidau, Brügg, Safnern and Port.
No appointment, no waiting.