In Poland, buyers of used cars often bring a paint thickness gauge. A panel repaired the traditional way reads 200–400 µm instead of the factory 80–150 µm, and that means questions and a lower price. After PDR, the gauge shows factory values, because the paint was never touched.
For expats this matters even more: if you plan to sell the car before leaving Poland, a clean paint reading is worth more than a cheap bodyshop repair.
| Situation | PDR? |
|---|---|
| Door ding from the car parked next to you | yes, the typical case |
| Hail on the bonnet, roof or boot lid | yes, usually the only sensible method |
| Shallow dent on a wing with access from behind | yes |
| Dent on a body line | usually, but harder and more expensive |
| Cracked paint or a chip in the dent | no, it needs a paint shop |
| Sharp crease, stretched metal | usually not, a mark will stay |
| Area repaired with filler before | no, the filler will crack |
In September a client brought in her 2022 Škoda Kodiaq with a 4 cm dent in the rear door from a car park at Bonarka. A bodyshop had quoted 1,800 zł for panel repair and respray. The paint was intact, so we pushed the dent out from inside in an hour and a half for 350 zł. The paint gauge on that door still reads a factory 120–130 µm.
Hail leaves dozens of shallow dents on the bonnet, roof and boot lid. Respraying whole panels costs thousands of złoty and leaves the car with thick paint for good. PDR usually removes most dents without a trace. If you have AC (comprehensive) insurance, report the damage before the repair. We prepare the PDR cost estimate and can settle the repair directly with the insurer.
The fastest way to a quote: send a photo of the dent in side light on WhatsApp to +48 510 510 082, in English.
A single dent starts at 200 zł; a whole car after hail, at 3,000 zł. Send a photo or bring the car in, and we'll confirm the price.
No. The factory paint stays, so the gauge reads the same as on undamaged panels.
Yes, from 3,000 zł for a whole car. The work takes one to several days, and we can settle AC claims directly with the insurer.
Yes, you can book and talk to us in English.
Studio: ul. Powstańców 20, Kraków (Prądnik Czerwony), Mon–Sat 9:00–19:00, phone/WhatsApp +48 510 510 082. The studio is inside Kraków's Clean Transport Zone: check whether your car needs a permit.
