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For high-value repairs, such as repairs done to your home and vehicle, many people find it important to know who is performing those fixes and what qualifications they have. High-dollar assets can quickly lose value if not repaired professionally and with industry knowledge, so it is extremely important for the customer to do their due diligence in selecting a contractor, technician, or any other expert before choosing them for any repair work. 

How Do Body Shops Handle PDR Work?

Few (if any) body shops offer paintless dent removal services, but many local body shops have a PDR technician that they utilize to outsource work in order to be able to accept those jobs. This means that even if you like the work that particular body shop does on your vehicle for other vehicle maintenance, you can’t assume the PDR work will be of the same quality as they will have to contract it out. 

Most body shops will subcontract out any paintless dent repair needs, but will not necessarily tell you about this. This means you won’t know whether they are local, licensed, or well-rated. Having a strong reputation is extremely important for a PDR company, as they are relied upon to deliver superior results that can rival a complete panel replacement. Without knowing who the subcontractor is, there is zero way of verifying their credibility and work. 

How Do Body Shops and Dealerships Choose PDR Subcontractors?

In most instances, there is an agreement between a body shop or dealership and a PDR company to refer business to them, and in return, they receive lower pricing. Unfortunately, the only “loser” in this situation is the customer, who does not reap the benefits of lower pricing, and is sometimes left with subpar PDR work. 

Some body shops choose to do business with paintless dent removal companies who are not local; meaning they travel to a location in the aftermath of a hail event, stay long enough to get some PDR customers, and then leave. While this practice doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with their quality of work, it leaves them out of reach if you do have issues pop up in the future. Having a local paintless dent removal company take care of your hail dent repair, or any dent/ding repairs on your vehicle is not only supporting your local economy and local small businesses but also ensuring that you always have assistance close by if needed.

If you do find a body shop that is up-front with you about the PDR company they work with, they are more likely to provide quality results, but you will have to pay the difference by having the body shop/dealership as the middleman. You will undoubtedly get a better price by choosing a local paintless dent repair company and working with them directly. Plus, PDR companies like 618 Dent Guy can provide pick-up/drop-off, or can even perform repairs at your home or work! 

What Problems Can Arise When PDR Is Done Poorly?

As mentioned earlier, professionally-done PDR completely removes dents from the panel of the vehicle without devaluing it by replacing panels or applying new paint. Paintless dent repair performed by a low-quality company can either leave visible marks where the dent is or could even make the issue worse by increasing the damage left by the dent. 

One of the reasons why paintless dent repair is so popular is because it does not interfere with the original paint on the vehicle. Unfortunately, if more damage occurs to that area, that may no longer be the case – not only will you have to pay more for a repaint of that area, but you’ve also lost hundreds or even thousands off the resale value of your car. This is also the case if you need to replace the original panel with a new one – while it may seem nice to get a new part, it ultimately devalues the vehicle significantly.

Find a Local PDR Professional You Trust

Skip the middleman and work directly with a local paintless dent removal company that you trust. You will experience more affordable rates, less waiting time, and much more reliable PDR results. Contact 618 Dent Guy today for more information as to how we can help you get your vehicle back to factory-new condition!