Car Dent Repair Tips

Nothing is more frustrating than walking out into the parking lot and finding someone has hit your car with their shopping cart. Minor accidents can leave our vehicle pockmarked with unsightly dings and dents and, unfortunately, they seem to happen more and more frequently. Between all the cars on the road and the number of inexperienced (or uncaring) drivers out there, it’s a miracle if we just escape with a few dents.

But taking our cars to the body shop, every time we get a bump or a ding somewhere, can become very costly as well as time-consuming. The most sensible thing would be to handle the small dents and dings ourselves… but how? Here are some helpful hints on how to pop those dents back out again, and get your car looking good as new.

First off, assess the damage. Most dents can be popped or tapped back out, provided it has not crumpled or creased the metal. In most cases, you can tell, simply by looking at the dent closely. Can you see any bumps or ripples in the metal that looks as though it was been partially folded? If not, then you should be able to work this dent out of your car in no time (please note that, if the metal is crumpled or creased, quite often it is more logical to buy that panel and replace it, rather than try to fight the dent).

For best results, before you get down to serious work, you may want to wash this section of your car to ensure there is nothing to interfere with your tools and allow for a good seal, should you choose to use a suction method to pull the dents from your car. Ideally, you will want to clean the panel a good 4"-6" around the dent in all directions. Dry thoroughly.

One of the easiest ways to remove a dent involves an item that almost all of us have in our homes - a common plunger. Applying the plunger over the dent, depress in a slow and steady fashion until all air has escaped and you have a tight seal between the panel and the rubber head of the plunger. Sometimes, it will help to get the plunger head a little wet, in order to create a good seal. Once you’re assured that you have that, take a firm grip on the plunger and, using a steady pull, gently pop the dent back out of the metal. This method works best along side panels, where it is hard to tap dents out.

The tapping method is another method of removing a dent and is usually best done on large, flat surfaces, such as your hood, the roof, or the trunk of your car. For this, you will want a rubber mallet, a block of wood, and an old towel. The size of your block of wood is dependant upon the size of your dent and the area that you have to work with but, in most cases, it’s easiest to use a block that can be comfortably gripped and held in one hand.

Wrap the towel around the block if you are going to be doing this anywhere that is visible. This will reduce the risk of scratches in your paint or to the interior lining of your car. If you are not working in one of these areas and you prefer not to use it, the towel is not necessary.

Taking the block, gently lay it against the metal on the opposite side of the panel from the dent and begin tapping it with the rubber mallet. The block will help to spread and even out the force of the mallet blows, preventing it from leaving marks in the metal as you slowly tap the dent out and restore your car to its former brilliance. The key to this method is to take your time and not to rush it, and when you strike the wood, make sure you hit the flat surface, rather than the edge, keeping the strength of your blows spread out, rather than driving the edge of the block into the metal.

For more serious dents, most auto repair shops carry car dent repair kits that use hot glues or suction devices, or you may consider taking your car into a shop that specializes in paint-free dent removal. Provided that there is no crease in the paint, they can usually pop your dent out for you and can do so while you wait, for a reasonable fee. If your car’s dent has a crease or rippling, you will need to take it to an auto body repair shop, in order to repair the damage.