| In the US, the average car insurance deductible is | | | | will show visible damage during weathering and aging |
| between $200 and $500. The increase in insurance | | | | processes. There are several techniques for repairing |
| premium can cost hundreds of dollars annually. | | | | dents without repainting, but these techniques only |
| Considering these factors, consumers should | | | | work in very optimal situations. When there is already |
| determine whether the rise in insurance premium is | | | | paint damage or the dent has deep or sharp creases, |
| worth making an insurance claim for small dents, | | | | painting is usually required. The flexibility of the paint |
| scratches, and other damages. Often, using a local | | | | and metal and the amount the metal stretched during |
| repair shop and paying the repair bill without making | | | | the incident limit the success of PDR techniques. PDR |
| an insurance claim is cheaper and faster than going | | | | is a method often used to prepare the vehicle for |
| through the red tape and hoop jumping of the | | | | painting or as a cheap solution to dent reparation. |
| insurance claims process. | | | | Though it is slightly cheaper than more involved dent |
| Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is one common form of | | | | repair, it often leaves consumers unhappy when |
| repair for minor dents. PDR is an acceptable form of | | | | damages become visible several years after the |
| repair in some cases. However, in many cases, PDR | | | | repair. |
| leaves the vehicle with visible damage or areas that | | | | |