by Jack | Feb 2, 2021 | Dent Repair, Educational
Recently, we had a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan come in for a paintless dent repair. The car had 2 sharp body line dents on the front doors, and the initial impressions made it look ugly. But thanks to our certified technicians and state-of-the-art PDR technology, we were done repairing those two dents by the afternoon!
But how did we do it?
Paintless Dent Repair
An ugly dent or a ding can make your car look less appealing. Traditional dent repair procedures can cost you a lot of money and can also take up a lot of your time. So in some situations, traditional dent repair isn’t useful.
Paintless dent repair, on the other hand, works by pushing the dent into its original place by massaging the dent, and it won’t damage the protective layering on your car either. In the start, a certified technician at Sioux Falls dent repair will determine the best way to enter the dent. They could do this by accessing the damaged area through a window opening or by removing the pieces of the panels.
Then, by using their specialized tools, a certified technician will start massaging the outer edge of the dent and the metal will slowly go back into its original position. With time, you’ll see the damaged area become smaller, and eventually, it will completely disappear.
When Is PDR Not Feasible?
Even though PDR is the most convenient way to fix a dent, there are some situations in which PDR is not recommended. Those situations can be:
- When the dent has sharp edges or metal is tearing out
- The car’s paint inside of the dent is broken or scratched
- The dented metal is at the edge of the car’s body panel
- There has been some work done on the car’s body panel previously
The Benefits of Opting for PDR
The benefits that PDR offers are one of the main reasons people opt for it. Compared to traditional dent repair, PDR is a lot more convenient. Here’s how:
Retaining Value
Compared to a traditional dent that can use a body filler and repaint your car’s damaged panels, a paintless dent repair will help you maintain your car’s value. When a skilled, certified technician uses PDR tools and procedures, your car won’t be impacted. The tools and procedures they use don’t affect the original paint of your car, and your car’s protective coating won’t be damaged either.
You also don’t have to worry about color differences because there is no color spray used when PDR is done to repair a dent.
Lesser Time
One of the most prominent advantages of PDR is the time it takes. In most cases, PDR can be done on the same day the car comes into the shop. Compared to traditional dent repair, PDR is a lot quicker. Depending on the size of the vehicle and the damage done, the process can take only a few hours.
by Jack | Jan 26, 2021 | Dent Repair, Educational
Using Paintless Dent Repair to Repair Vehicles
Paintless dent repair, also known as PDR, is an environmentally friendly way of repairing a dent. With the help of PDR, you can easily restore your car into its original shape without destroying the factory paint or the protective layer on top of it.
The paintless dent repair process usually consists of four vital steps. If you’re getting hail repair done from a certified technician, they’re probably going to perform these four steps for dent removal.
- Damage assessment
- Entering the dent
- Looking/Evaluating the dent
- Applying slow pressure to remove the dent
The PDR Process
Every day our certified technicians work on all kinds of vehicles to make car owners happy. The best part about the PDR process is that it doesn’t hurt your wallet that much, and it’s very quick. To understand how the PDR process works, read on!
Initially, the certified technician working on your car will first evaluate the dent so they know how serious the damage is. The severity of the dent can also decide how much time the technician will need to remove the dent.
In most cases of PDR, the dent removal process can take just a day. But if the dent is too big, the certified technician might take more than a day.
When a technician is done looking at your vehicle after the initial stage, they’ll plan how to enter the dent so they can fix it. In most cases, expert technicians enter a dent from the back so they can slowly massage the car’s body back into its original form. However, if that is not possible, the technician might try to “pull” out the dent from the front. This, however, depends on the car accident that occurred, and the damage the car has sustained.
Certified technicians at Sioux Falls Dent Repair can also use a special light to look at the dent so they could understand it from their point of view. The light can show them shadows of the dent. This can, in turn, tell them which part they’ll have to focus on particularly.
Once the technician has understood what they need to do to repair the dent, they carefully utilize their tools to massage the exterior of your car’s body so it can be restored back to its original state. In most cases, the PDR process can be completed on the same day the car comes to our shop.
What Can’t Be Fixed With PDR?
Even though dent repairs can be made very convenient with the PDR process, there are some car accidents for which PDR is not recommended. For example, if your car got a scratch or an abrasion, PDR can’t help in this case.
In a case like this, touching up will be necessary, and your car might need a repaint.
Conclusion
If your car got in an accident and you’re looking for dent removal – Sioux Falls dent repair can help. Our certified technicians can ensure that your car is back in the shape it originally was without compromising the original paint.
Contact us to know more.
by Jack | Jan 18, 2021 | Educational, Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Dent Repair on Electric Vehicles
Since there has been a greater strive for fuel efficiency and lower carbon footprints, electric vehicles have started to gain popularity. Since there are more electric cars on the road, like a Tesla (Model 3, Model Y, Model S or Model X), Hyundai Kona, or a Jaguar I-Pace, more and more of these vehicles have started to show up for dent repair services in Sioux Falls. The types of systems that are used to repair these dents can vary.
If you’re going to Sioux Falls Dent Repair for dent removal from your electric vehicle, you’d be glad to know that they are the only dent repair shop in Sioux Falls that are IMI certified. Because of this reason, you know you can trust their dent repair services.
Incurring hail damage or dings to your electric vehicle can be very stressful – especially if you have an electric vehicle. Fortunately for Sioux Fall residents, technicians at our shop can quickly diagnose the problem your car has, repair the dents and dings, and restore your electric vehicle to its initial condition.
After the repair is done, your car will be available for you to pick up.
Why Should You Choose Sioux Falls Dent Repair?
Sioux Falls Dent Repair is the premier paintless dent repair specialist in Sioux Falls. Not only do we specialize in paintless dent repair, but we are also the only IMI certified car repair shop in Sioux Falls. If you’re booking an appointment for a paintless dent repair at our shop – in most cases, you’ll get your vehicle back the same day.
The certifications that we have are:
- ARC PDR Repair Master Technician Certified
- ARC Hail Damage Repair Master Certified
- PDR Nation Certified:
- Ethics and Standards
- Hail Damage Estimating
- Corrosion Protection and Paint
- NAPDRT Certified
- Dent Trainer Hail Damage Estimating Certified
The PDR Process
Every day, our expert technicians work on the cars that come into our shop. The PDR process can remove a dent or ding from your electric vehicle without compromising the paint or hurting too much of your wallet. But how does the PDR process work?
Evaluating the Damage
The first step to any repair process is evaluating the damage that has been done. Where did the dent happen? How big is it? How can I reach the dent? After evaluating the dent and determining if it can be removed through PDR, the area around the dent is prepared for PDR.
Accessing the Dent
In most conditions, a technician will access the dent from the back side. This means that they will first carefully remove the trim panels, the taillights, and in some conditions, they might have to remove panels like the hood or trunk lid as well.
Once the dent can be accessed, the technician can perform PDR to fix the body of your car. It is crucial that for this step of the process, you have an expert technician working on your car.
Applying Slow Pressure
With the help of specialized tools, the body of the car is massaged so the exterior can be restored to its original position. Because of the expertise of our technicians, we can complete the PDR process on the same day you send us our vehicle.
The Bottom Line
If your electric vehicle has sustained a dent or a ding, contact Sioux Falls Dent Repair for our exemplary services! You can also book us for a free damage assessment.
by Jack | Nov 26, 2020 | Educational, Hail Damage
Benefits of Using PDR for Hail Repair
Ugh, it happened again!
The weather in Sioux falls seemed to be amazing! It was sunny for the better part of the day and then BOOM!
You’re hit with a hail storm.
You look outside with sights of desperation to check if your car is parked safely, but – no, it’s not. In fact, you can even see the hail damage starting to happen. You’re hearing all kinds of dents piling up on your car, and all you can do is sit and watch.
You continue to see hail the size of a golf ball attack your car mercilessly, as you sit there, confused, thinking of your next step.
Now what?
Well – we handle situations like these every day. This is when you give a call to Sioux Falls Dent Repair. We’ll immediately get you an appointment so we can help you in your time of need.
But why would anyone need a paintless dent repair (PDR) anyway? You’ll be surprised! As it turns out – there are various advantages to getting a PDR on a hail damaged car.
Benefits you weren’t even aware of!
Keep on reading to know these advantages and let us take care of the rest!
The Benefits of PDR
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Repairing Hail Damage in a Cost-Effective Way
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a lot more cost-effective than a normal dent repair that you can get with paint. Apart from the service cost being lower than painting your car, PDR also helps you save the paint of your car. Always remember, the original paint done by the manufacturer always has the best coat, and it is also the strongest!
Try not to remove that paint!
Compared to painting cars carefully, PDR can be a lot faster! Depending on the damage your vehicle has sustained, it may take only a few hours! If the hail-storm was a big storm and many cars were damaged – you might have to wait weeks for regular hail repair. That is why we recommend going for PDR!
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PDR Is Environmentally Friendly
The paints that are used on cars can be highly toxic fumes. These fumes can cause lung damage. They also release dangerous toxins that become a part of our environment that can harm animals, too. Since there is no paint involved in the PDR process, your footprint on the environment will be minimal!
You also won’t have to worry about polluting breath-taking Sioux Falls!
A traditional dent repair will make use of different kinds of materials. These materials can be body fillers and paint that will be used on damaged areas. The use of these extra materials on your car’s body can reduce the value of the car.
On the other hand, PDR will help you maintain your car’s value. If you leave your car to a skilled technician, they will rectify the hail-damages your car sustained by using exclusive PDR procedures and tools. Because of their skill and the PDR method, the original factory look of the car won’t be altered. You’ll also be free of any concerns related to color differences or over spraying.
Is Your Car Eligible for PDR?
To learn more about PDR, drop by at our convenient locations or contact us now! You can also get a free damage assessment to understand the situation better.
by Jack | Apr 20, 2020 | Educational, Hail Damage
Should I Buy A Vehicle With Hail Damage?
Often times we have people contact us asking “Should I buy a vehicle with hail damage?” They then send us photos of the damage or a web link to the vehicle on a website. Also they may have already purchased the vehicle. There are many considerations to take when purchasing a vehicle with hail damage and today we will cover those.
First off, Why Do You Want To Buy A Vehicle With Hail Damage?
People get attracted to hail damage vehicles because of the purchase price. After all the car is just cosmetically damaged. No frame damage or inner structures are damaged on the vehicle. Typically they have low miles and a very nice clean interior. The only downfall is the outside of the vehicle is full of dents and dings. To some buyers they are ok with the damage being there. They will drive the vehicle for years without a care in the world and not fix it. Others are looking to purchase the damaged vehicle cheaper than an equivalent vehicle without damage, then have it repaired later.
Does The Vehicle Have A Damage Disclosure or A Salvage Title?
These are very important questions that you will need to know. Even if the vehicle is fixed 100% correct a salvage title or damage disclosure may still haunt the vehicle for the rest of its life. Each state is different so check with your local state to see the requirements.
If it does have either of those on the title, was it added to the title because of hail damage specifically? The reason we ask is cause some vehicles have been repaired because of frame or other structural damage then these vehicles get hit with sometimes even light hail. The seller may then say something like, it has a damage disclosure or salvage title because of the hail. The will say this so you think oh its super simple damage, only a few dents per panel, no big deal. Later you may then find out it has previous frame or structural damage that was actually the cause of the bad title.
Extreme hail Damage – Sioux Falls South Dakota
How Does A Vehicle Get A Damage Disclosure or Salvage Title?
When a vehicle is damaged the total cost to repair the damage is assessed. The cost to repair the damage will be in excess of 60% to 80% of the total vehicles value. Each state is different but most states range from this percentage.
Did you know that for some insurance companies will “total out” a vehicle even into the fifty percentile just because the insurance company knows that the specific vehicle manufacture and model will bring a premium when later auctioned off for sale. That’s right, a vehicle that is deemed a total loss will then be purchased by the insurance company from the vehicle owner. The insurance company then takes the vehicle to an auction to then be auctioned off to the highest bidder. This is why car lots tend to have vehicles with hail damage, they buy them at auction.
So for easy math lets say you have a vehicle that is valued at $20,000.00 In order for a vehicle to be deemed a total loss, the total amount of damage the vehicle would have to have is somewhere between $12,000-$16,000.00 range. As stated in the previous paragraph it may even be as low as $10,000.00 in damage on extreme cases.
Extreme Hail Damage – Sioux Falls Dent Repair
How Much Are You Really Saving?
How much are you saving verses purchasing a vehicle with no damage and equal miles on it? Some save as little as a few hundred dollars and some save several thousand.
The Seller Said It Would Cost Less To Repair.
In some cases the new vehicle owner says the seller told them they had quotes for only some low amount to fix the damage. This happens with hail damage as well as collision style damage. When the vehicle is looked at by a facility like ourselves for an actual estimate we give them a through estimate on the actual repair costs. Remember this is what we specialize in specifically.
Often times moldings and trim pieces on the vehicle become damaged, if these are missed they can add several hundreds of dollars to the repair estimate. For instance lets say some of the trim around the rear quarter panel glass is missed and has damage, those windows can range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars to replace and that is just one side! The reason being is the molding is bonded to the glass, the glass must be replaced with the molding since they are all one piece.
Also remember the person selling the vehicle is trying to get rid of it. They are a salesman! We see it time and time again of people being taken advantage of when buying a damaged vehicle. Unfortunately we end up becoming the ones to deliver the bad news that the vehicle will not actually cost as low of a price to repair, it will actually cost much more. We typically tell a person expect the ACTUAL repair costs to be double at least but probably closer to four times the amount mentioned by the vehicle seller. Remember, they are TRYING to sell the vehicle, not actually repair it!
Our Actual Experiences
All of the pictures featured in this article were either taken by us or sent to us by customers. All of these photos show damage that we will not be repairing.
The silver car, the Toyota was purchased by a customer then brought to us for an estimate. The entire top side of the vehicle needs to be replaced and taken to a body shop.
In 2018 we had a customer come to us with a newer BMW 7 series with hail damage. He purchased the vehicle out of Colorado and was shocked when he found out the cost of the repairs. Here he thought he had basically stole the vehicle. He was given over $7,000.00 off of the price! When we looked at the vehicle the cost to replace just the hood, roof and trunk lid and NOT counting any other damages was over his $7,000.00 savings. Its unfortunate but we hope to combat these dilemmas for future customers by informing them before hand!
Our Final Thoughts and Input
Think of it this way, with hail damage, there is a reason we ourselves do not typically buy hail damage cars and fix them ourselves. We can do these repairs for just the cost of our time and still choose not to. It is just not cost effective.
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