How a dent is repaired, step by step

A dent in a door or wing looks like a simple job: straighten it, paint it, done. In reality, a proper repair has quite a few stages, and each one relies on the one before. Knowing them helps you understand the quote, the timings and why two repairs that look the same are not always equal.

1. Assessing the damage

The first step is to look at the damage calmly and under good light. Not just the visible dent, but whether anything behind it has been affected, whether clips or mountings have broken, whether the gaps with neighbouring panels have changed, or whether the impact has reached the structure. That decides whether the panel is repaired or replaced, and the quote is prepared. If an insurer is involved, this assessment is coordinated with their loss adjuster.

2. Removing what's in the way

Doing the job properly usually means taking off trims, lights, handles or interior panels. That gives access to the back of the panel and avoids painting over parts that should not be painted. Anything that stays on the car is protected with careful masking.

3. Reshaping the panel

This is panel beating in the strict sense: using pulling tools, hammers and dollies, the original shape is recovered by pushing from inside or pulling from outside. The aim is to get the metal as close as possible to its factory shape so that as little filling as possible is needed afterwards. The better this step is done, the less the repair relies on products that cover things up.

4. Preparing the surface

Damaged paint is removed, the edges are feathered, the surrounding area is given a key, everything is cleaned and degreased, and bare metal receives anti-corrosion protection. It is not a glamorous stage, but everything that follows depends on it to bond and last.

5. Levelling and priming

If small irregularities remain, a thin layer of body filler is applied and sanded until it sits level with the rest of the panel. Then comes the primer surfacer, a base coat that seals, fills fine sanding marks and creates the ideal base for the colour. The primer is sanded again, each time with finer paper.

6. Colour and clear coat in the booth

With the panel ready, the exact colour formula is found from the manufacturer's paint code and adjusted to the actual shade of your car, which may have shifted over the years in the sun. The paint is applied in a booth, in a clean and controlled environment: first the colour, then the clear coat. If needed, it is blended into the neighbouring panels so the transition does not show.

7. Curing, refitting and final check

Once cured, parts are refitted, gaps and alignment are checked and the finish is inspected: gloss, texture, and any specks of dust, which are removed with a light local polish. Finally, the car is cleaned. Many customers tell us they are surprised to get it back clean inside too.

How long does it take?

It depends on the size of the damage, whether parts need ordering and the drying times of each product, which should not be cut short. A small dent can be done fairly quickly; a claim involving several panels takes longer. Either way, we give you an estimate in the quote, and you can follow your car's progress in real time.

Got a dent you want gone? See how we handle panel repair and dents and dings, or ask for a quote at our workshop in Las Chafiras.