Dent Repair Cost When the Paint Is Intact (PDR)
A dent where the paint is unbroken is the best-case scenario: paintless dent repair (PDR) can often restore the panel for $100–$350 without sanding, fillers, or repainting. Once the paint cracks, costs jump sharply.
Small dent, paint intact (PDR)
$100–$250
A golf-ball-sized dent on a flat panel. A PDR tech works the metal back from behind using specialized rods. Usually done in under an hour.
Large dent, paint intact (PDR)
$150–$350
Bigger dents take longer and may need glue-pulling, but PDR still avoids the paint shop as long as the finish is unbroken.
Dent on a body line / crease
$200–$400
Dents across sharp body creases are harder to massage out cleanly and take more skill (and time) to resolve via PDR.
Multiple dents (hail-style)
$75–$150 per dent
Volume pricing for many small dents (common with hail). See our hail-damage guide for storm-scale pricing.
Dent where PDR isn't possible
$400–$900
If the dent is on an edge, double-panel, or a plastic bumper, PDR may not be an option and it becomes a conventional body-shop repair.
Is a dent worth an insurance claim?
Usually not for a single dent under your deductible. A $200 PDR repair on a $500 deductible is an out-of-pocket job. The exception is a dent caused in a valet's or shop's custody — then their liability should cover it, and your proof (a pre-handover scan showing the clean panel) is what wins the claim.
How do I prove a valet caused the dent?
A pre-handover scan of every exterior panel, timestamped and geotagged, then a post-pickup scan showing the new dent. Without the before-record, the valet will claim pre-existing damage — which is often impossible to disprove after the fact. Sixty seconds of scanning before you hand over the keys is the entire game.
Don't pay for damage you didn't cause
CarShake documents your car's condition in 60 seconds before any handover — free, no download. Timestamped, QR-confirmed, court-ready.
Try CarShake Free →Related: Cost of Valet Damage Repair · Door Ding Repair Cost · How to Document Car Damage
Related damage-type costs: How Much Does a Door Ding to Fix · Bumper Scrape · Car Paint Scratch.