Depending on the specialist’s skill, location of the dent, and the geographical area you live in, you should expect to pay between $50 and $120 for a 1-inch dent for your car dent repair cost. This price will increase the bigger the dent is in your car, adding about $10 to $30 for every half-inch increase in size.
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Therefore, you can expect to pay between $160 and $450 for a 12-inch car dent repair cost. Depending on other factors like the location of the car dent, the car make and model, and any other damage sustained in the accident, the car dent repair cost can increase.
Smaller dent repair typically costs between $107 and $175, with money added on if a paint touch-up is involved in the total price. In addition, a car dent repair cost for a small dent typically begins at around $75 for most cars on the road today.
What is traditional car dent repair?
Traditional dent removal is the old school way of repairing dents. Unfortunately, the traditional removal is more tedious and may not last as long as the paintless dent repair. The process of repainting and performing the traditional car dent repair could decrease the overall sale value of your vehicle in the future.
In addition, another reason you should consider performing paintless dent removal is that paintless is more environmentally friendly. There are no chemicals released into the air during the repainting. This can influence an eco-friendly car owner’s decision to contemplate between a traditional and paintless car dent repair cost.
What is paintless car dent removal?
An alternative method to repairing a dent involves combining repainting with some additional bodywork to the car’s exterior. This method is less invasive and reduces the recurrence of bumps and dents on your vehicle. Despite taking less time than most bodywork, the paintless dent removal repair process requires some thought and process before performing.
To fix the dent properly, you’ll need to push the exterior body back into the correct position. This requires gaining different angles and identifying the shapes and contours of the damage done on your car. After mapping out the specific area, the technician that you have chosen will be able to perform the paintless dent removal repair and quote you on the car dent repair cost.
Best Methods For Getting a Dent Out of The Car
Keep in mind that not all of these methods will work for your particular car. You need to determine what the make, model, and year of your car are, so you can figure out the best way to get dents out of your car. Let’s find out the main methods used for getting a dent out of the car.
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Use a Plunger
The first way you can get dents out of your car is by using a plunger. Not only is this a versatile tool for homes and cars, but you can get small to medium-sized dents out of your car in almost any location. All you have to do is first splash some water on the plunger and the dent on the surface of your vehicle, and then start pushing and pulling the plunger until the dent pops out of place, successfully getting a dent out of the car.
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Use Boiling Water
Another common “tool” that can easily be found in houses is just water – you heard us right, that’s how simple this is. We know that reversing into an object is potentially the most lucrative and easiest way to get rid of a dent and quickly get rid of it. Solve the problem by boiling some water and throwing it on the dent to get a dent out of your car and reduce the overall car dent repair cost.
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Dry Ice
Furthermore, an additional method that you can use in getting dents out of your car is dry ice, which can be primarily used to get out small dents from your vehicle. Make sure when you do this method that you are protecting your skin and using gloves, so the dry ice does not come in contact with any exposed areas. Hold down a piece of dry ice on the dent and rub it around until the dent pops back into place.
Although it might take a few times when you apply the dry ice for the dent, it pops back into place, and it should eventually pop out. You can try heating the dent first, with a hairdryer, and then apply the dry ice to the area. This trick will help speed up getting a dent out of the car and reduce the overall car dent repair cost.
What factors influence the car dent repair cost?
When calculating the car dent repair cost, you should be aware of the factors which influence the price. Every situation is different, so these following characteristics are important in determining if the cost is right for you.
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Number of Dents
First, the number of dents influences the car dent repair cost. If there are several dents, it will take the technician more time and effort to repair them. Since the labor cost will be higher, the overall dent repair cost will go up as well.
2. Size of the Dents
Second, the size of the dents can influence the car dent repair cost. Smaller dents are easier to repair since they take less effort and force. In addition, the smaller ones require less of an angle and typically require the technician to remove fewer appliances and accessories in the car.
3. Location of Dents
Third, the location of the dents influences the car dent repair cost. The areas that have hail damage, for example, are harder to reach. This makes the process more time-costly and can drive up the price due to the higher labor cost. The hard-to-reach spots will typically require the technician to work harder and smarter, making the dent repair cost higher than the easy-to-reach places.
4. Type of Car
Lastly, the type of car is influential in how much the dent repair cost will be. Some technicians will need to be especially careful when dealing with certain cars to make sure they do not damage any other parts during the dent repair. In addition, there are specific aluminum or steel cars that need more specialized repairs.
Average Car Dent Repair Cost
If the paint of the auto body exterior is not affected or damaged, the paintless dent repair is relatively quick. In addition, you can expect to save money when compared to other options since the paintless dent repair cost is typically around $50-$150. However, the dent repair cost can depend on the location of the dents, as we have learned.
- The typical pricing structure is around $75-$125 for dents and dings on the door.
- Bigger dents, which usually arise from foreign objects and collisions, can usually run between $150-$300.
- The price of the collision dent repair depends on the size, location, and how deep the dent is in the car’s exterior.
- Lastly, hail damage is, unfortunately, a common cause of extreme dents in cars. The average hail damage repair costs about $2,500. You can save on this dent repair cost by purchasing comprehensive coverage.
Minor Car Dent Repair Cost
Hail that is typically less than the size of a quarter produces dents that are very small and require little time and effort to fix. The limited amount of manual labor needed to fix these dents sometimes don’t even require a technician and can be done at home with the proper equipment.
- If you decide to go to an auto body shop, this dent repair cost will be anywhere from around $50-$200.
Moderate Car Dent Repair Cost
Moderate damage is typically done by hail that is 1-2 inches big. This can also be done by other factors such as foreign objects that are somewhat small, like golf balls or small dings to the car. The bigger-sized hail and these objects are big enough that you will need to have the technician perform some extra work to be able to locate and access the dents efficiently.
- The dent repair cost associated with moderate damage is usually between $2,000-$5,000, which is pricey in terms of dent repair.
Severe Car Dent Repair Cost
Severe dents that could be impacting your car are usually done by large-sized hail and bigger objects, such as collisions or bigger items like a baseball, and cause deep dents in the exterior of your car. The price can vary depending on the number of dents, the location, and the type of car you own.
- The paintless dent repair cost can go upwards of $10,000.
The Bottom Line
Paying the price for your car dent repair cost will typically range between $150 and $450 depending on the severity, location, and the number of dents on your vehicle. Since the pricing varies greatly based on these factors, you need to bring your car to a local mechanic to obtain a personalized quote for this process.