How to Remove Small Dents from a Car Body

Co-authored by Chad Zani

Last Updated: September 15, 2023

A small dent in your car body can seem annoying, but it's actually quite simple to remove, with just a few items. By following these simple steps, your car body will be looking good as new in no time!

Steps

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Use the simple style of plunger without the flange in the bottom.^{[1]
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This will help the plunger create suction against the clean car body.
Create an adequate amount of suction.
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How does a hairdryer remove hail dents?

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The heat lets the metal expand and may pop the dent out. You can also heat the area and then immediately hose the area with cold water or a cold wet rag. This can cause the metal to contract quickly and pop the dent(s) out.

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How do I fix a bigger dent in the quarter panel?

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A simple plunger will suction onto the dent and may be able to then be pulled out with a jerking motion. This won't get it perfect, but can get the majority of it with several plunger applications. Or, take the car to a paintless dent repair shop for them to work their magic at a very much lower price than a collision shop.

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Check the dent to see how far the metal has bent. If the dent is not round, when you pop it out with the plunger, there will still be creases.

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This idea may not work for larger dents or more complex damage.

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