How to fix a dent in a car

Imagine this: You walk out of the grocery store and return to your car, only to discover a brand-new dent in one of your car doors. Frustrating, right? Whether it’s from a runaway shopping cart, someone else’s car door, hitting a curb, or backing into a pole (that you swear wasn't there before!), getting dents fixed quickly is key to keeping your car’s resale value intact.

The good news? You’ve got options. Depending on how bad the dent is, you can try a few DIY tricks at home, call in a professional, or even go through your car insurance. So, how do you tackle a dent? Let’s break it down.

How to DIY a car dent repair

If you're looking to save yourself some money and do it yourself, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to tackle small car dents or dings at home without messing up your paint—as long as the damage isn’t too serious. Here are a few methods worth trying for minor dents:

Using boiling water

Backing into something like a pole, tree, or another car is an easy way to end up with a small dent. And when it comes to plastic bumpers, they’re so stiff that even if you take the bumper off, pushing the dent out can still be a challenge.

So here’s the trick: pour boiling water over the dent. The heat softens the plastic, making it easier to reach behind and push it out. Once the dent’s out, pour cold water over it to cool and set it back in shape. Problem solved!

Using a hair dryer and compressed air

Another trick for getting dents out of plastic starts with a hair dryer. Grab your hair dryer and also a can of compressed air. Start by blasting the dent with the hair dryer on its hottest setting to heat up and expand the plastic. Once it’s nice and warm, flip the can of compressed air upside down and spray the area. The sudden blast of cold will make the plastic contract, and—voilà—the dent should pop right out!

Using dry ice

Did you know dry ice, typically used as a cooling agent, can also help remove small dents from your car? Just grab some protective gloves, hold the dry ice against the dent, and rub it around until you hear the dent pop back into place. If it doesn’t work right away, try again a few times—it should eventually do the trick as long as the dent isn’t too deep. For an extra boost, you can heat the dent first with a hair dryer (like in the hair dryer and compressed air method) before applying the dry ice.

Using a plunger

Did you know a plunger isn’t just for unclogging drains? It can also help pop out small to medium-sized dents in your car! All you need to do is splash some water on both the plunger and the dent, then start pushing and pulling gently until the dent pops out. Just make sure to use a cup plunger (the kind for sinks) so you can use the suction to pull the dent out and not a flange plunger (the one for toilets).

Using a vacuum cleaner

Suction is a great way to pop out a dent (like with a plunger), but finding a dent puller with just the right power can be tricky. So why not make your own? All it takes is a pot or bucket and a vacuum cleaner. This trick works best on flat surfaces where you can get a good seal. Place a bucket with a small hole over the dent, then start up your vacuum cleaner. If you hear a pop, congrats—the dent is gone!

Using a dent repair kit

If the DIY tricks don’t do the job, it might be time to grab a dent removal kit. You can buy these online or at your local auto parts store. There’s a huge variety out there, from kits designed for tiny, coin-sized dents to ones that can handle larger areas. Most of these kits use a simple method: you attach a suction cup to the center of the dent and gently pull it outward. Easy enough, right? Not only should these kits cost far less than hiring a professional, but you can repurpose them to repair future dents as well.

Using hot glue

Some DIY dent repair kits include a hot glue gun, but you can try this at home if you already have one. Just cover the dented area with hot glue and stick on a small plastic handle. Once the glue dries, gently pull on the handle to pop out the dent. You might need to repeat the process a couple of times for the best results, but it’s quick and usually takes just a few minutes.

Calling in professional help

If none of the home methods or dent repair kits did the trick, it's likely that the dent in your car is too extensive, and it's time to call in some professional help. The good news? Many paintless dent repair specialists are mobile now, making minor dent repairs super convenient. They can come to your home or workplace and often fix a dent in 20 minutes or less.

When hiring a dent specialist, always check their online reviews. Reading comments from previous customers is the best way to tell if they do good work. Then, compare prices by calling a few different dent repair specialists. Depending on the size and location of the dent, you could be looking at a few hundred dollars for the repair. However, if the paint is also damaged, your dent may not be in the scope of a mobile dent specialist. In this case, an auto body shop may be necessary.

Will car insurance cover the cost of my dent repair?

It can, depending on what caused the dent. If the dent happened as a result of a collision either with another vehicle or a stationary object, like a guardrail or a pole, you could submit an insurance claim under your optional collision coverage. If the dent was caused by something like a fallen tree branch or hitting a large animal, you could file under your comprehensive coverage.

However, both collision and comprehensive coverage come with a deductible, and depending on what yours is, you may not be able to submit a claim. A car insurance deductible is the amount you agreed to pay toward your claim before your insurance company covers the rest. So, if your deductible is $500 (which is pretty common) and you were quoted $300 to repair your dent, it wouldn't make sense to file a claim. Either way, you're paying $300 out of pocket, and your insurance company will likely deny your claim since it costs less than your deductible.

On the other hand, if you've got a major dent that also requires a paint repair, you could be looking at several hundred for your repair. If you were quoted $1,000 for the repair and your insurance deductible is $500, it may be worth filing a claim. However, you also have to consider your insurance premiums. Filing an insurance claim comes with a risk of increased insurance premiums upon your next renewal (unless it was due to an accident and you have accident forgiveness coverage). So, you'll also want to weigh that when deciding if you want to submit a claim for your car dent repair.

Car insurance from BrokerLink

While you can handle many small dents and dings at home, bigger ones might need professional help—and that’s when you might consider filing a car insurance claim. This is where having the right types of auto insurance coverage can really pay off.

Full coverage isn’t mandatory, but it can be a smart choice, depending on your vehicle and budget. It combines collision and comprehensive coverage, giving you broader protection. A BrokerLink insurance broker can help you navigate what “full” coverage covers, explain its benefits, and show you how it can fit into your policy and budget. We can also offer expert advice if you find yourself on the fence about whether to file an insurance claim.

You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

Get an auto insurance quote [phone]

FAQs on repairing car dents

Can you fix car dents yourself?

It depends! Small dents, door dings, and bumper damage can often be tackled with DIY fixes, like a plunger or a dent repair kit. But for bigger dents, you might need to call in a paintless dent repair technician or head to an auto body shop.

How do you pop a dent back out of a car?

There are several at-home methods you can use to pop a dent back out of a car, including using a plunger, boiling water, a hair dryer and compressed hair or dry ice, and even a vacuum cleaner with a bucket. However, whether these methods will work depends on things like the type and size of the dent and the material of the car.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.