What is Auto Body PDR – Paintless Dent Repair?
When you need fast, effective, and inexpensive dent repairs for your vehicle, you’ll love the paintless dent-repair services at Heritage Collision.
Our body shop’s experienced technicians have all the tools they need to remove door dings and other minor dent damage. In most cases, we can have your vehicle looking like new again within the same day of delivery.
Paintless Dent Repair is a technique that removes dents by carefully accessing the back of a damaged panel and using specialized tools to gradually reshape the metal back to its original factory contour, with no filler compounds, no repainting, and no damage to the surrounding surface.
Unlike traditional dent repair, which fills and covers damage, PDR actually removes it. The result is a panel that matches its original shape and finish, not one that’s patched over and repainted.
Paintless Dent Repair Process
When you bring your vehicle to either of our collision centers to take advantage of our paintless dent removal, we’ll go through a careful process to fix the problem while maintaining the original condition of your paint.
Our technicians will:
At Heritage Collision, our family owned and operated business has seen thousands of vehicles over the years with a wide range of dents and dings.
We’ll meticulously evaluate the nature of your dent and come up with an effective solution.
More than 80 percent of dents can be solved with paintless removal.
In most cases, Heritage Collision PDR technicians will need to get to the other side of a dent to analyze and fix the problem.
That could involve removing interior panels, lights, and other components to gain access.
We’ll do this very carefully to avoid any further damage.
Heritage PDR technicians use special tools that gradually apply pressure to a dent so the material returns to its original shape.
The process is quick, non-invasive, and environmentally friendly.
Depending on the severity of the dent, we often can complete a full repair in just a few hours. Most of our customers are amazed at the results, especially for how inexpensive the service is. If you have any questions about the process, we’ll be happy to answer them with as much detail as possible.
Is Paintless Dent Repair Right for Your Vehicle?
The Repair Decision That Affects Your Vehicle’s Value, Paint, and History
When your vehicle gets dented, the repair method you choose has lasting consequences for your factory paint, your resale value, and what shows up on a vehicle history report.
Understanding the difference between Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) and traditional dent repair helps you make the right call for your specific damage.
At Heritage Collision, we’ll always give you an honest recommendation and a free estimate before any work begins.
Not Every Dent Needs a Body Shop. Not Every Dent Can Skip One.
Here’s How to Know. PDR is the Best Solution When:
Heritage Collision has a dedicated Paintless Dent Repair space, where repairs are performed inside the shop using manufacturer-specific methods.
Why Does Paintless Dent Repair Matter?
What PDR Protects That Traditional Repair Doesn’t
Filling and repainting covers the dent but introduces foreign material into your vehicle’s body.
Over time, that can mean:
- Paint that doesn’t match, especially in sunlight or at certain angles
- Filler that cracks or separates over time and with temperature changes
- A repaint history that shows up on vehicle history reports and reduces resale value
- Loss of factory finish integrity, something many buyers and dealers check for
PDR eliminates all of that. Your factory paint stays intact. No Carfax flags. No mismatched panels. Just the original surface, restored.
This is what most shops don’t explain upfront:
Body filler is a polyester compound applied over damaged metal to smooth the surface before repainting.
It works, but it has limitations:
- Filler can crack as the vehicle flexes and as temperatures change seasonally
- Filler absorbs moisture over time, which can cause rust beneath the surface
- Filler is detectable in paint thickness gauges used by dealers and buyers during inspection
- Repainted panels are flagged in vehicle history and lower trade-in and resale offers
PDR leaves none of this behind. Your original metal. Your original paint. Your original value.
MANUFACTURER CERTIFICATIONS
Paintless Dent Repair
Get Your Free PDR Repair Estimate
đź“Ť Ann Arbor: 6550 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
    (734)-327-7500
đź“Ť Canton: 4985 Belleville Road, Canton, MI 48188
    (734)-975-4600 | (734)-397-8000
Serving Ann Arbor, Canton, Plymouth, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Saline, Dexter, Westland, Van Buren Township & all of Southeast Michigan.
OEM-Standard Repairs. Lifetime Warranty.
What you need to know about PDR.
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a method of removing dents from a vehicle’s body panels without using filler or repainting.
Heritage Collision technicians access the back of the damaged panel and use precision tools to massage the metal back to its original shape. PDR preserves the factory paint finish, costs less than traditional repair, and can often be completed the same day.
Most repairs are completed within 2–4 hours. Larger jobs involving hail damage across multiple panels may require additional time. Same-day completion is available for most standard repairs.
Yes. Our technicians at Heritage Collision are trained and certified in aluminum repair, which requires different tooling and techniques than steel. Not all shops are equipped to perform aluminum PDR correctly.
PDR performed correctly by certified technicians at Heritage Collision does not void manufacturer warranties. It’s one of the reasons it’s the preferred method for lease vehicles.
Cost depends on the size, depth, and location of the damage, as well as the size of the area.
PDR is consistently less expensive than traditional repair, and we offer free estimates at both locations so you know the cost before any work begins.
Yes. PDR is commonly covered under comprehensive insurance policies, particularly for hail damage. Heritage Collision coordinates directly with your insurance carrier.
Hail damage is typically covered under comprehensive auto insurance. Most hail damage, multiple small dents across the roof, hood, and trunk, qualifies for paintless dent repair if the paint surface is intact.
A certified shop like Heritage Collision can assess the damage and coordinate the insurance claim on your behalf.
Paintless dent repair preserves your vehicle’s factory paint and leaves no record of body work on vehicle history reports. Because it doesn’t involve repainting or filler, resale value is better protected than with traditional dent repair, which can show up during paint inspections and reduce a vehicle’s market value. At Heritage Collision, we have a long history of PDR and know it can keep your vehicle looking great.
PDR is not suitable when the paint has chipped or cracked, when the metal has been severely stretched or creased, or when the damage is located on a panel that can’t be accessed from behind.
At Heritage Collision locations, our certified technician will assess the dent and determine if PDR is viable or if traditional repair is required.
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Our estimate will be more detailed and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. These extra items ensure that your vehicle is repaired correctly, maintaining its safety features and structural integrity, and maximizing its resale value.
With two locations, you’ll find a convenient repair center near you. Each facility offers fast turnaround times, professional communication, and the highest level of care.