Overview: Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless dent repair moves metal back without touching the paint. The technician works a rod behind the panel, or glues a tab to the outside and pulls, reading the reflection in a striped light board as the dent shrinks. Nothing gets sanded or sprayed, so the factory finish stays.
In Canada, a lot of this work falls out of the sky. Summer hail across the Prairies can dimple every panel on a car in minutes, and a Calgary hailstorm was one of the costliest insured disasters in the country's history. Who pays depends on where you live. Saskatchewan and Manitoba plate insurance covers hail, less your deductible. Elsewhere you usually need optional cover that includes hail, such as comprehensive or all perils.
The method has limits. If the paint has cracked, or the dent sits on a brace or a panel edge, it's a body shop job. Cold metal moves grudgingly, so winter repairs usually happen indoors with the panel warmed first.
Our listings show what each business states on its own website about hail work, mobile service and warranties. The province and city lists below lead to technicians who work near you.
Frequently asked questions
When can a dent be pushed out instead of filled?
When the paint is whole and the technician can reach behind the panel. Door dings from a crowded parking lot, hail dimples and soft creases are the usual jobs. Sharp dents with cracked paint, torn metal or damage on a panel edge go to a body shop. Cracked paint matters more here than in a dry climate, because salt gets into the break and rust follows.
Should I fix hail dents before winter?
If the paint is intact, there's no rush on rust, since unbroken paint still protects the metal. Book before the cold anyway if you can. Technicians prefer warm panels, and hail season fills their calendars through summer and fall. If any dent has a crack in the paint, get it seen soon. Road salt will find that crack over the winter, and the fix turns into a body shop job.
Is hail damage worth putting through insurance?
It depends on your province. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the plate insurance you buy with your registration covers hail, less your deductible. In most other provinces, you're covered only if your own policy includes optional coverage for hail, such as comprehensive or all perils. In BC, ICBC says a Comprehensive claim won't affect your premium. Get the car checked indoors under a light board, since hail dimples hide in bright sun.
Are aluminum panels different?
Yes, so ask before you book. Aluminum doesn't spring back like steel. It needs heat, more time and a lighter hand, and it can tear where steel would stretch. That matters here, because full-size pickups are everywhere and some popular ones wear aluminum body panels. Hoods, doors and tailgates on premium SUVs are often aluminum too. Plenty of technicians do it well, and some won't touch it.
How do I spot a storm chaser after a hailstorm?
They show up the week after a big storm, work from a rented lot or a tent, and push you to sign over the insurance cheque on the spot. Some do good work, but they're gone when a repair needs a second look. In Alberta, paintless dent repair is licensed work under AMVIC, even from a temporary location, so ask for the licence and look it up. Get the warranty in writing.
