What is panel dent repair (door, fender, bonnet, roof)?
This page is an overview of panel-by-panel PDR. Doors are reached through the window opening; fenders through the wheel-arch liner; bonnets and boot lids through their inner-frame openings; roofs through the lowered headliner; quarter panels through the boot, the tail-lamp opening or the rear door aperture. Quarter panels are the most difficult because they are welded on and often double-skinned, so glue pulling plays a bigger role there.
Whatever the panel, the goal and the standard are the same: the dent is removed from the metal itself, the factory paint stays untouched, and the reflection reads straight from every angle.
Dents suitable for this service
- Door dents and dings
- Fender and wheel-arch dents
- Bonnet and boot lid dents
- Roof dents and hail
- Quarter panel dents with boot or lamp access
- Dents on pressed bodylines across any panel
When PDR may not be suitable
- Any dent with cracked, chipped or flaking paint
- Panel edges, hems and seams with no access
- Plastic bumper covers and plastic trims
- Panels with existing filler repairs
Benefits
- One workshop for every panel — no need to go to a body shop
- Factory paint preserved on every panel repaired
- No colour mismatch between adjacent panels
- Repairs typically completed in one visit
How Dry Denter assesses the damage
Tell us which panel the dent is on and send photos with a reflection across it. Because access differs by panel, we may ask a follow-up question — for example whether a quarter panel dent is above or below the boot floor level — before quoting.
Repair process
- Panel identified and access route planned
- Photo assessment and estimate
- Access prepared: trim, liner, lamp or headliner as required
- Dent pushed from behind, glue pulling where blocked
- Bodylines re-formed, high spots tapped down
- Trims refitted, panel cleaned and inspected
How long does it take?
Doors, fenders and bonnets are typically the fastest panels. Roofs and quarter panels take longer because of access. Multiple panels are scheduled together to keep the vehicle for as short a time as possible.
Common questions about panel dent repair (door, fender, bonnet, roof)
Which panel is hardest to repair with PDR?
The rear quarter panel, because it is welded to the body and often double-skinned near the wheel arch. Glue pulling and lamp-opening access are used to reach it.
Can you repair dents on more than one panel in one visit?
Yes. Multiple panels are assessed together and scheduled as one job.