How Much Does Car Dent Repair Cost? PDR and Traditional Prices
By WRC Collision Team
Car dent repair at WRC Collision in North Hollywood: paintless dent repair (PDR) runs $75-$150 for small door dings, $150-$300 for larger dents, and $300-$600 for complex multi-dent panels. Dents with paint damage need traditional repair at $350-$800 per panel. Door dent repair with refinishing typically runs $400-$800. Free estimates — call (818) 765-8500.
Dent pricing has a secret that saves our customers hundreds of dollars: whether the paint survived matters far more than how big the dent is. A fist-sized dent with intact paint can cost less to fix than a coin-sized ding with a cracked surface, because intact paint unlocks paintless dent repair — the faster, cheaper, factory-finish-preserving method. Here's how 2026 dent pricing actually works, what door dings, creases, and larger dents cost, and how to tell which category your dent falls into before you even call a shop.
Dent Repair Prices at a Glance
- Small door ding, PDR: $75-$150
- Medium dent (2-4 inches), PDR: $150-$300
- Large or multiple dents on one panel, PDR: $300-$600
- Dent with paint damage, traditional repair + refinish: $350-$800 per panel
- Door dent requiring refinishing: $400-$800
- Sharp crease or body-line dent: $250-$700 (hardest PDR work; sometimes needs paint)
- Hail damage, whole vehicle: $500-$3,500+ depending on dent count
Why Paintless Dent Repair Costs Less
PDR removes the dent by massaging the metal back into shape from behind the panel with precision tools — no filler, no sanding, no paint, no materials beyond the technician's time. That's why it's both cheaper and better: your factory finish stays untouched, the repair takes hours instead of days, and there's no color-match risk. The requirements are intact paint, reasonable access behind the panel, and metal that hasn't been stretched. Roughly 80% of the everyday dents we see — parking lot dings, cart strikes, closed-door mishaps — qualify.
When a Dent Needs Traditional Repair
Cracked or chipped paint over the dent, a sharp crease that stretched the metal, damage on a panel edge, or aluminum panels with poor rear access — these push a dent into traditional repair territory: the dent is pulled or filled, sanded smooth, and the panel is refinished with computer-matched paint. It costs more ($350-$800 per panel) and takes 2-3 days, but done properly it's invisible and permanent. What you should never accept is filler slapped over a repairable dent to save an hour — it's the difference between a repair and a cover-up.
How Much to Fix a Dent in a Car Door?
Door dents are our most-asked price. If the paint is intact: $75-$300 via PDR depending on size and position (dents near the door edge or through a body line cost more). If the paint cracked or the dent creased: $400-$800 including refinishing. Doors with interior trim that must be removed for tool access may add modest labor. Bring the car in — a two-minute look under our lights gives you an exact number.
Is Dent Repair Worth Claiming on Insurance?
For a single $200 PDR ding against a $500 deductible, no. For a hail-damaged hood, roof, and trunk at $2,800, yes — hail falls under comprehensive coverage, which typically doesn't affect rates like an at-fault collision claim. And if another driver dented your parked car and left a note (or a camera caught them), their liability insurance pays with no deductible at all. We'll run the numbers with you at the estimate.
Free Dent Assessments in North Hollywood
Every dent estimate at WRC Collision is free and takes about ten minutes: we check paint integrity, panel access, and metal condition, then quote you PDR and traditional options wherever both apply. Visit 6926 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, or call (818) 765-8500 — most small dents are repaired the same day.