How it works: Technicians use specialized tools—long metal rods, picks, and glue tabs—to push or pull the dent out. For access, they might go through panel gaps, remove interior trim, or work from the outside with glue and a puller. It’s a skill game; they read the dent’s shape (sharp, shallow, creased) and apply pressure in stages, often under LED lights to spot distortions. The paint’s flexibility—modern finishes stretch a bit—lets this happen without cracking, assuming it’s not already chipped.
Pros: It’s fast—hours, not days—costs less ($75-$150 per dent vs. $500+ for body shop work), and preserves your car’s value since the original paint matters for resale. No color matching or overspray risks either.
Downsides: It’s not DIY-friendly—tools and finesse take years to master. Big collisions or aluminum panels (harder to work) might stump it too.
