24/7 accident line & towing
Dent Repair & Paintless Dent Repair in Los Angeles
Door dings, hail or a creased panel? Small dents come out without repainting; bigger ones get straightened and color-matched. Free estimate.
- written estimate
- Free
- warranty on repairs
- Lifetime
- Google rating
- 4.9★
Dent Repair
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)
Paintless dent repair restores a dented panel without filler and without repainting. The technician reaches behind the panel with specialized rods, or uses glue tabs on the outside, and slowly massages the metal back to its original shape while checking the reflection of a light board on the surface. Because the factory paint is never sanded or resprayed, the car keeps its original finish, which matters for resale value and for lease returns.
PDR works best on dents where the paint is not cracked or chipped and the metal is not stretched: parking-lot door dings, soft dents from a shopping cart or a ball, hail dents, and shallow dents on the hood, roof, doors and fenders. Small dents can often be done the same day.
- Paint is intact, with no cracks or chips
- The back of the panel can be reached, or the dent can be glue-pulled
- The dent is soft and rounded rather than a sharp crease
- The dent is not on the very edge of a panel
Traditional Dent Repair and Panel Straightening
When the paint is broken, the metal is stretched or creased, or the damage comes from a collision, the dent is repaired the traditional way. The panel is pulled and hammered back toward its original shape, high and low spots are worked out, and a thin layer of filler is applied only where it is needed to make the surface perfectly flat. The area is then primed, sanded, color-matched and painted, and the new paint is blended into the surrounding panels so the repair is invisible.
If a panel is too damaged to straighten well, it is replaced. Bolt-on parts like doors, fenders and hoods are replaced with OEM parts; welded panels like quarter panels are cut out and welded in, which takes more labor. We tell you on the estimate which panels we recommend repairing and which ones we recommend replacing, and why.
Plastic bumper covers can't be straightened like steel. Their dents are heat-reshaped, plastic-welded when cracked, or the cover is replaced; see bumper repair. Any dent that breaks the paint ends with a refinish in our paint shop.
Dents From an Accident
Collision dents are rarely just cosmetic. A hit hard enough to fold a door or a fender can also bend brackets, push in the bumper reinforcement or move the frame. That is why after an accident we take the damaged panels off, measure the structure and look for hidden damage before the final repair plan is set. If the hit affected the frame or unibody, it is measured and pulled back to factory specifications during frame repair.
If another driver caused the accident, their insurer pays for the repair. If you claim on your own collision coverage, you pay your deductible and the insurer pays the rest. Either way we write the estimate, meet the adjuster at our shop and send photos of anything we find once the car is apart, so the supplement is approved and the repair is not cut short. Your insurer cannot require its own network shop, so the car can come straight to us; read how we handle your insurance claim.
Step by step
How We Repair a Dent
- 01
Free inspection under shop lighting and a written estimate that says PDR or traditional repair for each dent
- 02
For accident damage: panels removed, hidden damage photographed and sent to your insurer
- 03
PDR dents pushed out from behind or glue-pulled until the reflection runs straight
- 04
Traditional repairs: metal straightened, filler only where needed, primer and block sanding
- 05
Color-matched paint and clear coat blended into neighboring panels
- 06
Final inspection, wash and a walk-around with you at pickup
Which Dent Repair Do You Need?
The quickest way to know is a free inspection. In general, if you can see your reflection run smoothly into the dent and there are no paint cracks, PDR is likely possible. If the paint is cracked, the dent has a sharp crease, or the panel is torn, it needs traditional repair and paint. Many collision repairs use both: PDR on the panels that only have soft dents, and body work and paint on the panels that took the hit.
For a deeper comparison, read our guide to paintless vs. traditional dent repair.
Pricing
What Dent Repair Costs in Los Angeles
PDR is usually the least expensive way to fix a dent because there is no paint or filler. Traditional repair costs more because it includes body work, materials, paint and blending. The ranges below are typical Los Angeles market prices from our collision repair cost guide. Your exact price is in the free written estimate, and accident damage is usually paid by insurance.
| Repair | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small dent, paintless dent repairPer dent, paint intact | $75–$300 |
| Single-panel paint repair after body work | $300–$700 |
| Door repair or replacementPlus paint blending into adjacent panels | $500–$1,500 |
| Quarter panel repair or replacementWelded panel, more labor | $800–$2,500 |
Get a free estimate
Call or text (213) 282-8201, or send us the details online. Accident line and towing 24/7.
- Leti Auto Works
- 794 Merchant St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
- Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
- Get directions
- Shop hours
- Monday – Friday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- SundayClosed
- Accident line and towing answer 24/7.
Dent Repair — common questions
Didn’t find your question? Call us, a real person answers. 24/7 accident line & towing.
Call (213) 282-8201Can every dent be fixed with paintless dent repair?
No. PDR works when the paint is intact, the metal is not stretched or sharply creased, and the back of the panel can be reached or glue-pulled. Dents with cracked paint, sharp creases, torn metal or damage on panel edges need traditional repair and paint.
How long does dent repair take?
A few small dents fixed with PDR can often be done the same day. Traditional dent repair with paint usually takes one to three days per area because primer, paint and clear coat need time to cure. Collision repairs with several panels take longer, and we give you a written timeline.
Will insurance pay for dent repair?
Dents from a covered accident are part of the collision repair and are paid by the at-fault driver's insurer or by your own collision coverage minus your deductible. Small dings are often cheaper to pay out of pocket than to claim, and we tell you the estimate so you can decide.
Does paintless dent repair damage the paint?
No. PDR reshapes the metal without sanding or repainting, so the factory paint stays on the car. That is one of its main advantages for resale value and lease returns.
Can you fix a dent in a plastic bumper?
Plastic bumper covers are not straightened like metal. Small dents can be heat-reshaped, cracks can be plastic-welded and refinished, and covers that are torn or have broken mounting tabs are replaced.
Do you repair dents on aluminum panels?
Yes. Aluminum hoods, doors and fenders are common on newer cars and EVs. Aluminum is less forgiving than steel, so it is repaired following the manufacturer's procedures, and panels that are too stretched are replaced.
Leti Auto Works repairs dents of every size at our body shop at 794 Merchant St in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. Door dings and soft dents with intact paint are fixed with paintless dent repair; deeper dents, creases and collision damage get traditional panel straightening, body work and a color-matched refinish. Every repair starts with a free estimate, and insurance claims are handled for you.
Related services & guides
Collision Repair & Auto Body Shop in Los Angeles
Collision repair and auto body work in Los Angeles: dents, bumpers, paint matching, frame straightening, insurance claims handled, free 24/7 accident towing.
Auto Paint Shop in Los Angeles
Car painting and paint repair in Los Angeles: computerized color matching, panel refinishing, bumper scuffs and scratches. Insurance claims handled. Free estimates.
Bumper Repair & Replacement in Los Angeles
Front and rear bumper repair in Los Angeles: scuffs, cracks, dents and full replacement with OEM parts, color-matched paint and sensor checks. Insurance handled.
Insurance Claim Help After an Accident
We file and manage your auto insurance claim after an accident in Los Angeles: adjuster meetings, photos, supplements, rental car. All insurers. (213) 282-8201.
Paintless vs Traditional Dent Repair: Cost, Time & Which to Choose
PDR vs traditional dent repair: how each works, which dents PDR can fix, LA costs ($75–$300 per small dent with PDR), repair time, resale value and insurance.