Dent repair is a crucial part of proper vehicle maintenance. If your vehicle receives dents or other damage, not only are they unsightly, but they can also cause structural damage that puts you at greater risk in future accidents. However, repairing every dent or ding can quickly become expensive — especially if you’re prone to accidents and use traditional auto body shops every time you need minor repairs.

Often, the first thing people think when they receive vehicle damage is, “How much is this going to cost me?” Luckily, Bumper Buddies makes it as affordable as possible to repair your vehicle thanks to our mobile bumper repair service. You can also put your mind at ease and approximate your dent repair cost beforehand based on the following four factors:

1. Dent Size

One of the biggest factors in determining dent repair cost is the size of the dent. As expected, the larger the dent, the more expensive it will be to fix. This is because larger dents often require more time and resources to repair.

When assessing the relative size of your dents, a common point of reference is the size of U.S. coins. Dents the size of a dime are generally the least expensive to repair, while dents the size of a nickel or penny may cost a bit more. Once your dent is the size of a quarter, half-dollar, or even bigger, these will become more expensive to fix.

2. Dent Depth

Although wider dents can become costly due to their size, deep dents are what cause the most damage to your vehicle. This is because deeper dents indicate a greater risk of impact to the metal underneath. Deeper dents are less likely to be cosmetic and more likely to need more extensive body repair.

When photographing your vehicle for a Bumper Buddies estimate, make sure you take some photos at an angle that accurately captures the depth of your dent. If dents appear more superficial on camera, your estimate may be inaccurately low and will need to be increased once the technician assesses your vehicle in person. For the most accurate quotes, make sure your photos encapsulate both diameter and depth.

3. Dent Location

Another key factor in dent repair cost is the location of the dent. Dents in certain areas of the car may be easier to access and repair, and they will therefore be cheaper. These more affordable areas include the hood, trunk, or bumper.

Dents in hard-to-reach areas such as side panels or door edges are more difficult and time-consuming to repair, resulting in a higher dent repair cost. Areas that are more reliant on being properly reshaped, such as wheel wells or near headlights, are also more expensive to repair since they’re more delicate and require more time to properly reshape.

4. Number of Dents

Of course, the number of dents you have will also increase the overall dent repair cost. Each additional dent is additional time and resources spent repairing your vehicle, so each dent will increase the cost of your overall repair. 

As such, there’s no benefit to waiting until you have multiple dents before getting your car fixed. On the contrary, you risk structural damage to your vehicle that can put your or your passengers’ safety at risk if you get into another accident. Whenever you notice a dent or ding on your car, no matter how small or superficial, it’s always best to have it repaired right away by a mobile dent repair professional like Bumper Buddies.

If you’re in need of affordable dent removal services — no matter how many dents you have or how big they are — Bumper Buddies can help! Through our mobile repair services, we minimize dent repair costs and make it a cost-effective, hassle-free process for everyone. We’ve served all of Southern California for more than 20 years, consistently providing five-star service across all of our service areas. If you have any questions about our repair process, or if you’d like to receive a free estimate for your dent repair cost, give us a call today at 888-711-5074, text us at 949-799-1413 or contact us online.