We’ve all been there — you come back from the store and notice a dent on your door or bumper. It’s frustrating, unexpected, and can hurt your car’s value. At City Collision Center in Lauderhill, we get a lot of questions about DIY dent repair hacks — and while some might work, others could make things worse.
So here’s a quick guide on what works, what doesn’t, and when it’s time to call the pros.
For small, shallow dents on plastic bumpers, using hot water and a plunger can sometimes pop it back into place. Here’s how:
Pour hot (not boiling) water over the dented area to soften the plastic.
Use a clean plunger to suction and gently pull the dent out.
Dry the area and check the results.
This hack might work for light bumper dings — but be careful. If it’s a painted surface, you risk cracking or damaging the finish.
You may have seen videos of people using dry ice or hairdryers and compressed air to pop dents. While they look cool online, they often don’t work in real life — and worse, extreme temperatures can crack paint or weaken the panel over time.
If the dent is:
On a metal panel (like doors or hoods)
Deep or has sharp edges
Cracked the paint
Part of larger collision damage
…then it’s best to skip the DIY and let our experts handle it. At City Collision Center, we offer paintless dent repair (PDR) and full-service auto body restoration — done right the first time.
Stop by City Collision Center at 7527 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33319, or call us at (954) 741-7701 for a free estimate. We’ll assess the damage and help you choose the most cost-effective repair option.
Dent repairs made simple — and done right.
Let’s restore your car to showroom condition.
