PDR hail repair does not have a single price. The amount depends above all on the number and size of the dents, the material of the panels, access to them from behind, removals and part replacements, and on the price list the workshop uses. You will only know a reliable price from an estimate prepared after an inspection — and this article will help you understand what goes into it.
Why there is no single rate for PDR repair
Hail damage usually means dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of dents spread across the whole body. Each one has a different size, depth and location. Two cars of the same model after the same storm can have completely different estimates.
On top of that, every PDR company works to its own price list. Rates differ between workshops, and some price lists include surcharges that others do not have. That is why, when comparing quotes, you should compare not just the final amounts but how they were calculated.
The main factors in the price of PDR repair
Number of dents
This is the most important component. With flat-rate pricing, the dents from the whole car are added up to a single number, which selects a band from the flat-rate table. A higher band means a higher amount, but a lower price per dent. This principle is described in more detail under the cumulative total method.
With very large damage, the table runs out and a fixed amount is added for each additional dent. In the WE-PDR default price list, above 100 dents this is PLN 13.50 net per dent.
Dent size
Typical bands are up to 40 mm, 41–70 mm and above 70 mm. Small dents are included in the flat rate. Larger ones are usually charged with a separate surcharge per dent, because they require more work and greater precision. A few large dents can push the estimate up more than a dozen small ones.
Material: steel or aluminium
Aluminium has less “shape memory” than steel and is harder to straighten. Aluminium bonnets, boot lids and wings are increasingly common, which is why price lists provide higher rates or surcharges for them. The material is determined separately for each panel.
Location of and access to the dent
A dent in the middle of a flat panel is a different job from a dent on a body line, an edge, near a reinforcement or on a pillar. In places without access from behind, the technician may have to use a different technique, and some places take much more time for the same dent diameter. A good estimate describes such places in the notes rather than quietly inflating the dent count.
Paint
The condition of the finish matters. Factory paint tolerates straightening well, whereas a panel that has previously been repainted or has a thick layer of paint carries a risk of the finish cracking — in which case PDR may turn out to be impossible and paintwork comes into play.
It also works the other way round: if the panel is going to be painted anyway, the technician can repair it less conservatively, which is why many price lists have a lower rate for such a panel.
Removals and part replacements
To repair the roof you often have to remove the headliner, for doors — the door trim, for the boot lid — lights and mouldings. Each removal is an additional line in the estimate. The same goes for parts that are not repaired but replaced: mouldings, badges, seals, aerials, roof rails. These amounts are usually calculated according to manufacturer times or an estimating system, not according to the PDR price list.
What raises and what lowers the estimate total
| Factor | When the estimate goes up | When the estimate is lower |
|---|---|---|
| Number of dents | more dents mean a higher flat-rate band | fewer dents, a lower band |
| Size | many dents of 41–70 mm and larger | mostly dents up to 40 mm |
| Material | aluminium panels | steel panels |
| Access | body lines, edges, pillars, reinforcements | flat panels with access from behind |
| Paint | finish after previous repairs | factory paint; panel being painted anyway |
| Additional work | removing headliner, trim, part replacements | no removals or replacements |
How to read a workshop's quote
An estimate you can trust shows how it arrived at the result, not just the amount. Check whether it includes:
- a list of panels with the number of dents in each size band,
- material and paintwork marked for each panel,
- the flat-rate band resulting from the total number of dents, and separately the surcharges for larger dents,
- removals and replacements as separate lines,
- net, VAT and gross amounts,
- photos confirming the number and location of the dents.
If the quote is a single figure with no breakdown, ask for details. Without them you cannot compare quotes or defend the estimate to the insurer. How to prepare such an estimate yourself is described in the guide how to estimate hail damage step by step.
When PDR repair stops being worth it
There are two thresholds at which it is worth stopping to think.
The panel. When a panel has a great many large or sharp dents, replacement with painting may cost less than paintless repair. Compare the cost of repair with the full cost of replacement: part, labour and paint. In WE-PDR this repair vs replacement comparison is calculated separately for each panel.
The whole vehicle. The cost of the repair is related to the value of the car. In WE-PDR, the warning bands are 0–50%, 51–60%, 61–69% and 70% and above — total loss. These are colour thresholds in the app, not a rule: the total loss threshold differs between insurers and policies.
Who pays for repair after hail
If the car has comprehensive (own-damage) cover, hail damage is usually covered by the insurer under that policy — with hail there is usually no at-fault party whose third-party liability cover could be claimed against. The amount of compensation, the excess and the method of settlement (based on the estimate or on the workshop's invoice) depend on the terms of the contract, so check the policy terms of your policy. The workshop's role is to prepare an estimate and documentation that will hold up during claims handling.
Regardless of who pays, the price of PDR repair comes down to the same factors. In the WE-PDR hail damage calculator, each of them is a separate line, calculated according to your company's price list — so the customer and the insurer can see where the amount came from.