Why Car Dents Cost So Much

The other day my friend and I were getting ready to head home after a long day of work when we noticed a small note tucked beneath her windshield wiper. It read, 'Sorry, the wind blew my door into the side of your car. If this is a problem, call me and I'll have the cost covered.'

Initially, we hadn't noticed anything alarming but as we took a second glance there it was: a dent in her passenger door about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. It wasn't deep, but the paint was all scratched up. After a few days my friend got an estimate from a local auto body repair shop that quoted a shocking price: over $600.

Why Car Dents Cost So Much to Repair

We were told that the price included not only the labor (which was the substantial portion of the cost), but also 'top of the line' paint and that they would have to remove the bumper (naturally) and door to fix it properly. My concern was: was my friend getting ripped off?

After doing a little research I realized the hard truth: she wasn't. At least not entirely. In order for a professional to make your door or bumper appear as if it has never been touched a lot has to happen. Parts have to be removed and then reassembled. High tech machinery has to be operated and paint has to be retouched. And then you have to pay the people that are making each part of this process possible.

Of course, some auto body repair shops will charge more than others. They can do this if they are known in their industry for providing excellent services in a timely fashion and working with the best products on the market. No doubt my friend could find a much cheaper company to repair her dent (luckily you can get free estimates online from numerous auto body shops in your area these days). But she liked that fact that with the company we spoke with first had one of the best reputations in our area. Plus, who wants to go to some unknown place, put the effort and time to fix a dent, and then have the result be unsatisfactory?

Do it Yourself Dent Repair

After careful research of various DIY options, I would probably advise against it. Maybe this is because the options online sound pretty bizarre. For example: did you know you can fix a dent with dry ice? Or a hair dryer and air duster? What about a lighter and aluminum foil? There are several YouTube videos that explain each process so by all means, check it out if it sounds appealing. If not, hopefully your insurance will cover the dent and it always helps to go to a reputable Utah auto body dealer that offers high end products and services.