Paintless dent repair reshapes metal from behind the panel. No filler, no primer, no color. When it applies, it is faster, cheaper, and better for the car.
PDR works when the paint is intact. Door dings, hail, shopping-cart hits, shallow creases in an accessible panel. The metal hasn’t been stretched badly and there’s a way to reach behind it.
PDR doesn’t work when the paint is cracked or chipped, the metal is stretched or torn, the dent is on a sharp body line or panel edge, or the back of the panel is inaccessible. Forcing PDR in those cases makes the eventual proper repair harder.
The savings are real — typically 50–70% versus conventional repair — and the factory finish stays on the car, which matters at trade-in and on lease returns.
The honest answer requires eyes on the panel under good light. Send a photo taken at an angle with a reflection running through the dent and we can usually tell you before you drive over.