PDR 101 – What You Need to Know with Appearance 1st Automotive

Have you heard of Paintless Dent Repair or PDR?

If not, then you are at the right place to learn and you will be surprised by the benefits and results of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) compared to a traditional dent repair. But first, let’s discuss what Paintless Dent Repair is and how you can determine if the dents, dings or creases on your car qualify it for a PDR.

Determining if your dents and dings qualify for a PDR is important because, as you will soon learn, PDR is your best option to repair any dents, dings, creases or hail damage on your car’s body.

Let’s dive right in and discuss the basics of PDR.

PDR 101 – What Is Paintless Dent Repair (PDR)?

PDR is the latest and most innovative dent repair method that involves various PDR techniques to repair dents, dings and hail damage. Only a certified PDR technician fully understands these techniques and is qualified enough to professionally practice on commercial cars.

If you are in or around Jacksonville, Florida, Appearance 1st Automotive (A1A) is the best place to find well experienced and certified PDR technicians.

PDR 101 – How to Determine If PDR Is an Option for Your Dents & Dings

Here is how you can determine whether the dents, dings, creases or hail damage on your car can be repaired using PDR.

  • Inspect the dents for paint damage. If there is no paint damage, even in dent clusters of hail damage, PDR is the best option for your dent repair
  • If there is slight paint damage, PDR may still be the best option because it is capable of correcting minor paint damage
  • Lastly, consult an A1A certified PDR technician to best guide you on your options. You can even get a quick quote through call or text
PDR 101 – Benefits of Professional PDR

A professional PDR is better than traditional dent repair in every aspect. It provides superior results and great benefits, especially if you opt for the certified PDR technicians at Appearance 1st Automotive in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here’s why.

Time

You do not have to spend days waiting for your car with PDR. Unlike traditional dent repair, which involves disassembly, fillers, repainting and drying, PDR has no such processes. You can get your dents, dings and hail damage repaired in just a few hours on the same day you bring your car to A1A.

Money

Since there are no fillers or paint involved, you save money on these material costs and only pay for the skills of an A1A certified PDR technician. This makes PDR much more inexpensive than traditional dent repair.

Insurance

You do not need to file insurance paperwork because PDR is so inexpensive that you can pay out of pocket. Your insurer will never be able to tell the difference once Appearance 1st Automotive is done repairing your car using PDR.

Resale Value

PDR immensely saves the resale value of your car because, unlike traditional dent repair, PDR does not tamper with, scrape or repaint the dented body parts of your car.

Why Use Appearance 1st Automotive?

A1A only has the most skilled certified PDR technicians that are well experienced at repairing dents, dings, creases and hail damage on classic, rare, exotic and common cars alike. You will not see better results in or around Jacksonville, Florida, than from the experienced professionals at Appearance 1st Automotive.

For more information on PDR, its benefits, Appearance 1st Automotive or to get a quick quote, please visit our website today.

Progressive Insurance for Hail Damage

Hail damage got you worried about dent repairs on your car?

Worrying about dent repairs for hail damage on your car is a thing of the past. The modern world brings many new innovations and thanks to the latest and greatest ones in dent repair, your hail damage dents are now easier than ever to repair.

No more long periods of downtime, high costs and poor results, Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) has all the solutions to your dent repair problems, especially if it is from hail damage. Appearance 1st Automotive (A1A) brings you the best Paintless Dent Repair service in Florida and here’s how it benefits you.

Let’s discuss these benefits and one particular insurance benefit that comes with A1A PDR.

Benefits of Using PDR for Hail Damage

Everything you thought about traditional dent repair has changed with the modern innovation of PDR.

  • Time Benefits

You no longer need to wait for days to get your car back from the dent repair shop. The PDR process does not require using filler or repainting body parts, which significantly cuts down the dent repair time. Your car can be repaired on the same day if the damage isn’t extensive with PDR through Appearance 1st Automotive.

  • Money Benefits

With A1A PDR, you will not be spending nearly as much money as you would if you got a traditional dent repair. This is because there are no extra costs of fillers or paint and you only pay for the skill set of an experienced A1A PDR technician.

  • Restoring Benefits

When our certified PDR technician fixes your hail damage, the results are far superior to those of traditional dent repair because the technician is essentially restoring your car, rather than repairing it. The original paint coat of your car is intact and the results are indistinguishable from the original state of the car.

  • Resale Benefits

Since there is no tampering with the original paint coat, an A1A PDR will save you tons of money on the resale value of your car. Traditional dent repair drops the resale value of your car with each repainted part but PDR has no effect on its resale value, other than increasing it by fixing the hail damage.

A1A Accepts Progressive Insurance, If You Opt for It

Since PDR is so inexpensive, most people opt to pay out of pocket to save themselves the insurance paperwork and increased premiums. Their insurers can never tell the difference once our certified PDR technicians are done repairing the hail damage.

However, if you want to go through your insurer, Appearance 1st Automotive gives you that option as well. We accept Progressive Insurance for all your hail damage PDR repairs, if you choose to opt for insurance repairs.

Why Use A1A Services

Hail damage is very tricky and only experienced and certified PDR technicians should handle it, which is why if you are looking for Paintless Dent Repair in and around Florida, Appearance 1st Automotive is your best option.

Our skilled and certified technicians have vast amounts of experience with all kinds of cars. They perform PDR on exotic, rare, classic and common cars all the time. They give results that our customers stand by and keep coming back for.

If you want to learn more about hail damage, Paintless Dent Repair or Appearance 1st Automotive, please visit our website today. We even offer a free estimate online.

Top Reasons to Use Appearance 1st Automotive Paintless Dent Repair

Most people believe that dent repair is expensive, time consuming and an unnecessary strain on their lives, especially if it is a relatively small dent. This could not be farther from the truth. The fact is that not all dent repair services are equal.

Appearance 1st Automotive is an industry leader in Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), which is a modern dent repair technique that defies all your preconceptions of dent repair. You would be shocked to learn the innovative advantages it has brought to the world of dent repair.

More importantly, Appearance 1st Automotive provides this service better than the competition in all of Florida and its surrounding area. Let’s discuss the PDR process and the top reasons to use Appearance 1st Automotive Paintless Dent Repair.

The Appearance 1st Automotive PDR Process

The process can be broken down into three simple yet effective steps, they are:

  1. Cleaning your car from edge to edge to remove any dirt and dust particles for a smooth repair process.
  2. Placing your car under UV light to assess the damage and accurately identify which areas need repairing.
  3. Finally, a skilled PDR technician repairs the damage using a glue slab or by massaging precisely the right points of the damage from behind the body part.

It is that simple to bring your car back to its original state. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

As simple as the PDR process may seem, it requires the skills and experience of a reliable PDR technician who knows exactly how to get the best results.

Top Reasons to Use Appearance 1st Automotive Paintless Dent Repair

Here are the top reasons you should opt to use Appearance 1st Automotive PDR service.

  • It’s Fast

While traditional dent repair requires dismantling the body part, fixing the dent and then repainting, PDR does no such thing, which means it is much faster. There is no need for repainting and that means not having to wait for 3-5 days, you can get your PDR done in a few hours of a single day.

  • It’s Inexpensive

The fact that there is no need to purchase fillers or paint for the PDR process means it is much less expensive than traditional dent repair. You only pay for the skill set of Appearance 1st Automotive’s experienced PDR technician.

  • It Retains Value

This is our favorite reason to use Appearance 1st Automotive PDR, because your car retains its value for longer when you use PDR. The original paint of your car is left intact, which means that it will sell for more because the original paint coat has not been removed.

  • It Does Not Require Paperwork

Unlike traditional dent repair, PDR is inexpensive, which means you can pay out of pocket and never have to fill paperwork for insurance. After the repairs, no one, including your insurance company, can ever tell there was a dent to begin with.

Conclusion

If you are in or around Florida and your car needs dent repair, we highly recommend that you opt to use Appearance 1st Automotive Paintless Dent Repair. It is fast, easy and inexpensive and it eliminates all the concerns you may have for dent repair services.

For more information on PDR or Appearance 1st Automotive, please visit our website today.

Dent Removal on a Bumper With PDR

A bumper is one of the most commonly damaged parts of a vehicle. It’s also one of those few parts of your vehicle that you can’t see when you’re driving your car, because of which it often gets a fair share of dents and dings. Apart from the obvious reason that a dent on a bumper is easily visible – you should also consider getting a dent removal with PDR because a dent can have several effects on your car that you might not know.

Here’s why you should get a dent removed from your car’s bumper as quickly as possible.

  • Rust

Why would anyone want to look at an ugly dent that tarnishes the beautiful look of your car? Even when you aren’t looking at it, there’s always that tiny voice in the back of your mind constantly nagging you to get a repair. Ignore it as long as you want; the problem gets serious when you start to see how the dent can damage the paint on your vehicle. 

The cracks caused by the impact allow water to seep under the dent. When this water touches the unprotected metal of the car, the body starts to oxidize, and rust beings to form. The worst part is, while a dent might not expand, rust will!

  • Long-Term Damage

Another problem with a dent on the bumper is that you’re going to need a lot more than just a paintless dent repair if you ignore it for a long time. If there are scratches on the car, your car will need paint, and if you aren’t able to find someone experienced – the process of the repair would be prolonged. 

Weather conditions and occasional wear and tear can make the problem get bigger. 

  • Lesser Resale Price

Let’s suppose you ignored your bumper dent to the point you’re thinking of reselling your car. Now, the dent has expanded, rust has formed, and even if you get a repair, the overall process will drastically reduce the value of your car. Not only are you paying a lot more for a process that could’ve been a small repair, but you’re also losing money off the price of your car. 

That is why – not only should you get PDR on your car’s bumper – you should also get it quickly!

But why PDR?

The Advantages of PDR

  • It’s Quick!

You don’t have to wait for a week to get your back because the PDR process is a lot quicker than a traditional auto body repair, depending on the damage your car has sustained. Since PDR is simpler, certified technicians at Appearance 1st Automotive can get done with it quickly. 

  • It Prolongs the Life of Your Car

PDR also won’t damage the protective coating your car has when it is shipped from the factory. This way, your car can stay safe from paint cracks and dents for a longer period of time. This also means that your car won’t lose value with a small repair! 

Contact us today for a free estimate to get that bumper dent fixed!

 

PDR vs. Do it Yourself Repair Kit

black mustang

You come out of the movie theatre feeling thrilled because of the movie you just saw. You never quite understood the twist at the end, but you tell yourself that not knowing is part of the fun. But while you hear your friends debate continuously – trying to make sense of what they saw – a dreadful sight pours cold chilly water over your blazing emotions.

Your Cadillac has sustained a dent on the door, and it just doesn’t look the same anymore. It feels like a punch in the gut because you’ve been so protective of your car all this time. A situation like this leaves many people reaching for two possible options that offer to make sense of the mayhem that has ensued.

A Do it Yourself Repair Kit?

The do it yourself repair kits you see online are designed in a way that they implore you. These repairs kits “claim” that without the help of a professional, you can get rid of the most annoying dents yourself. They tell you to stop paying a professional for the job because you can do it all yourself – but how much truth is there to this bold statement?

In some cases, DIY kits can work but to be fair – in those cases, you don’t need a DIY kit for a repair either. DIY kits are made for small repairs that can be fixed without a professional. If you have time and patience for a DIY kit – it might work for you, but then again, doing it wrong can have disastrous consequences as well.

The point is – a DIY kit is not the perfect solution. You’re going to need a lot of patience and some experience repairing dents to make sure everything goes right for you.

DIY Won’t Always Work

In some situations, even the most experienced and skilled home technicians can’t fix dents with a DIY kit. The dent either won’t change at all, or your relentless efforts will make the dent bubble out on the other side of the car.
Even though your DIY kit will come with tools that are supposed to stop this from happening, it’s a very easy mistake to make. And once the dent has bubbled out – your problems have just increased four-folds.

Leave It To the Professionals

There’s nothing like PDR repair from a professional.

Because the professional has done this procedure more times than you can probably imagine – leave their job to them. Not only are they certified experts in the field – but they also work for your best interest. Our technicians at Appearance 1st Automotive, make sure they make every paintless dent repair as affordable and safe for the customer as possible.

Since the PDR process is a lot quicker than a traditional dent repair, customers leave with their car a lot quicker, too. If your car has sustained damages in Jacksonville, Florida– drop by our shop anytime, or call us 904-664-9088 to get a free estimate of your damages.

FAQs About Dent Repair with PDR

Black Porsche

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is the modern way of repairing a dent. With the help of this procedure, certified technicians like Appearance 1st Automotive can remove small dents and dings from your vehicle. A technician does this by massaging the back of your vehicle’s dent with special tools that they are equipped with. 

Will the Paint Of My Vehicle Be Damaged?

Unlike a traditional auto body repair, PDR does not damage the paint on your car’s body. To repair dents the PDR way, the technician uses a massager to massage the body of the car back into its original place. The paint of your car also has a protective coating over it, which prevents the paint from chipping off, or it can help save your car from cracks. 

A traditional auto body repair destroys this protective coating, too, while PDR lets it stay intact. 

Can Any Dent Be Fixed?

No.

Even though at Appearance 1st Automotive, it is our priority to fix every dent with PDR – in some situations, our hands are tied. Larger dents or dents that tear the sheet of the metal on your car can’t be repaired with PDR. Dents that can be repaired with PDR are:

Round Dents

These dents are usually classified as hail repair or can be caused by a basketball, football, or baseball. These dents are pretty common and can be repaired easily with PDR.

Dings

Dings are pretty common, too. Dings are usually caused when a car is parked in the parking lot of a shopping mall or in a crowded place. Other cars or shopping carts can easily cause dings on your vehicle, but you don’t have to worry! Dings can be easily repaired with PDR, too.

Creases

Creases are complex dents that can be caused by storms. They stretch the body of your vehicle to a dangerous extent and for a very long time, repairing these dents with PDR was not possible. However, with advancements in PDR technology, these dents are repairable by PDR, too. 

If your car has any of these dents, or even dents apart from these, contact Appearance 1st Automotive for expert repairs!

Does PDR Have Benefits?

Yes.

Compared to the traditional method of repairing dents, PDR can have several advantages. 

  • It’s affordable. The traditional method of repairing dents drilled holes around the dented area and filled the dented area with body fillers. After the process was complete, this part of the car was repainted. This process reduced the value of the car, and it’s structural integrity. At the same time, PDR  does not use body fillers or paint to repair the dent. The value of your car is not affected. 
  • PDR is also a lot quicker. Most cars that come into the shop for a PDR leave in a day, depending on the repairs needed. However, a traditional auto body repair can take up quite some time. 

PDR is also environmentally friendly since no harmful chemicals are used to repair the dents.

PDR vs. Traditional Auto Body Shop Repair

Blue Car

Just about every vehicle can pick up a dent or a ding. When it’s about repairing minor damage on your vehicle, there are several options you can choose from. Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a somewhat radical procedure of fixing a dent when compared to a traditional way of repairing a dent. A PDR is a lot quicker, and it protects your car from losing value, too. 

If you’re wondering how PDR would fare against a traditional body repair – you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you should know about paintless dent repair, and how it fares when compared to a traditional dent repair. 

PDR Vs. Traditional Body Repair: The Process

Through PDR, a certified technician at Appearance 1st Automotive repairs the dented body panels on your vehicle. This repair process restores the panels back to the same condition they were when your car came from the factory. PDR also does not cause any harm to the paint of the car. 

To make sure that the technician can see every dent, they use LED reflection lights so they can see the smallest of dents on the vehicle. Because of the lighting, the technician knows where the fix is needed, and therefore, they can massage the panel on that specific spot.

On the other hand, if you opt for a traditional auto body repair, the technician will weld holes into the body of your car, and will then fill these holes with fillers. Conventional repairs also include sprays that are harmful to the environment. 

PDR Vs. Traditional Body Repair: The Price

The traditional method of repairing a dent is a lot costlier than PDR. That is simply because the traditional method includes sanding, painting repaired areas, and then bonding them together. This process is suitable in that situation where PDR can’t be applied. 

A traditional dent repair can cost somewhere around $3,000, while a PDR is much cheaper. PDR also provides results that are durable since it doesn’t affect the protective coating your car comes with from the factory. 

Insurance Companies Prefer PDR

Many car owners dread the idea of getting a car repair because it results in some deductibles in their insurance policy. But on the other hand, a PDR offers car owners to bring back some of the vehicle’s life. Because a PDR restores some of your car’s health, insurers prefer when their clients get a PDR. Some insurance companies even recommend their clients to get a PDR. 

It Is Environmentally Friendly

Compared to traditional body repair, a PDR is a lot more environmentally friendly. A traditional body repair includes a lot of sprays and fluids that release harmful chemicals into the air. These chemicals are bad for the environment. Unlike traditional body repair, the PDR process does not involve any harmful chemicals. The repair is done with simple tools, which is why it is a lot safer.

If you live in Jacksonville, Florida, and your car has dings or dents, you should call Appearance 1st Automotive to get your car fixed. We can also give you a free estimate of your damages.

Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring A PDR Technician

Ian Lamb car dent removal

As a vehicle owner, you want to be sure that your vehicle is getting the best repairs in town. This will only be possible by hiring a technician who understands the importance of customer satisfaction. This is especially when you’re choosing paintless dent repair for the first time. You may have numerous questions, and that’s why Appearance 1st Automotive recommends hiring a technician who’ll explain your concerns in detail. Here are the questions you should ask:

Are You Certified and Licensed?

For a technician to provide paintless dent repair services in Florida, they must be certified and licensed. This is a guarantee that they’ve undergone extensive training and practice to attain the set standards. A good technician will be willing to provide their certification and licensure documents. 

How Long Will the Repairs Take?

The repair time will entirely depend on the extent of the damages and the expertise of your ideal technician. Once an experienced technician receives your car, they’ll be able to give a precise estimate of the time to be taken. With a skilled technician, you’ll be able to get your vehicle back in less than a day.

How Will You Match the New Paint to The Original Color?

You’re probably choosing PDR in St. John’s County because you want your vehicle to retain the original appeal. A certified technician should be able to explain the method they’re going to use to satisfy your requirements. Skilled technicians from Appearance 1st Automotive will use paint codes from the manufacturer as well as specialized tools in this process. This guarantees the retention of your vehicle’s original color. 
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The Advantages of Paintless Dent Repair in St John’s County, FL

car with dent

Paintless dent repair is a process where the damaged panel of a vehicle is manipulated back to its original shape with no paintwork or fillers. Most people in Florida use it to repair minor scratches, windshield chips, hail damages, and touch up paint. Appearance 1st Automotive has rounded a list of the advantages that come with the process. 

 

It Involves Minimum Amount of Work

Out of all forms of body repairs available, paintless dent repair involves the least amount of labor. A technician will only need to use specialized tools to push the dents from the interior of the car’s body. The minimum work equates to minimum hassle in repairing your vehicle. 

Vehicle’s Value Retention

Unlike the traditional repairs that use body fillers and repainting of the damaged areas, PDR is non-invasive. A skilled technician will use specialized tools and procedures to correct the defects on your vehicle. This means that there will be no alteration on your vehicle, thus retaining its original value. 

Cost-Effective Repairs

Paintless dent repair will take less time than the conventional repairs. This way, the labor costs are significantly lower. When factoring in the savings on coats of expensive auto paint, body fillers, and primer, it’s easier to see how choosing this process will save your money. 

The Process Is Environmental- Friendly

Appearance 1st Automotive recommends paintless dent removal in St. John’s County because it has no negative impacts on the environment. After all, there’s no auto paint or body fillers required in the process. This means no air or water pollution through the release of toxic chemicals. 

PDR Offers A Permanent Repair Solution

Most people mistakenly think that over time, a dent repaired through this process will pop back. Well, this isn’t the case. Paintless dent repair is a permanent solution for dents and dings. Once the damaged panels are repaired, they retain the same strength they had before the dents occurred. Also, remember that Appearance 1st Automotive offers a lifelong guarantee on all dent repairs. 

Adds Value to Your Vehicle

The artistic and resale values of your vehicle will increase when choosing PDR to remove the car dents and dings. A well-skilled technician will ensure you get back to having a sleek-looking ride. This means that when it comes to selling it, potential buyers won’t be put off by the dents. 

Insurance Covers Paintless Dent Repair

The good news is that all insurance companies are aware of the procedure. This will give you a reason to consider the process over other conventional methods. Insurance agencies are ready to cover all the costs due to the procedure’s affordability. 

If you’re hunting for the best repair company in St. Augustine, Palm Valley, or Ponte Vedra Beach, at the most affordable price, look at Appearance 1st Automotive. We have serviced tons of happy customers, and we’ll fix your dents or dings in no time at all. The best part is we’ll come right to you, and you’ll understand why we have a five-star customer satisfaction rating. 

Give us a call for a free quote today!