PDR technicians use specialized tools to massage the metal back into its original form from behind the dent. Depending on the location of the damage, the panel is accessed through window openings or through other access openings. Rarely is an interior panel removed for access, which aides the speed of the process.

Paul Turton, who performs PDR for Dent Devils of London, England, explains, "You need to be able to 'read the reflection' to see where the dent ends and then you have to comprehend where the tip of the tool is. From there it is skill and patience."

In a typical dent removal, the metal is slowly massaged back into its original position slowly with minute sections being worked at a time. The dent becomes progressively smaller as the technician works to shrink it down bit by bit; eventually the dent becomes so small it blends with the surface texture of the paint and disappears completely.

Most repairs can be completed in under an hour, and many PDR companies offer mobile service to save even more time. Pricing varies depending on the vehicle model, location and complexity of the repair. A general range would be $85-125 for a single dent, up to several hundred dollars to remove numerous dents on various body panels. This compares with a cost of $300+ to repair and repaint a single dent using traditional auto body repair practices.

Paintless dent repair is very effective for the following situations:

• From very small to large dents.
• Generally 1990 model year and newer vehicles.
• The paint has not been broken or cracked.
• The dent is not near the edge of a panel.
• The panel has not had previous body repair.

PDR is so effective for hail damage that some insurance companies use "hail teams" that "chase hail" and travel to an area that was hit by hail to repair vehicle damage using PDR techniques.

Admittedly, not all damage to the body of a vehicle can be repaired with PDR techniques, but if a dent cannot be removed completely, often the repair will make the damage almost unnoticeable.

A number of advantages for paintless dent repair include:

No repainting or body filler needed. Less expensive than traditional body repair. Same-day service in most cases. No risk of paint overspray on other vehicle areas. No risk of incorrect color matching. Vehicle retains original paint.

A vehicle with original paint retains a higher value than a repainted vehicle. Even if it is just a door or a fender, it is always preferable to maintain the original paint on a vehicle for as long as possible.