How to Remove Small Dents from a Car Body

Co-authored by Chad Zani

Last Updated: February 28, 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

1
Get a small clean drain plunger. Use the simple style of plunger without the flange in the bottom.^{[1]
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2
Clean the body of the car so that it is free from grease and dirt.

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3
Put a bit of soapy water on the rim of the plunger, not too much. This will help the plunger create suction against the clean car body.
4
Attach it to the car body over the dent. Create an adequate amount of suction.
5
Slowly pull the plunger until the dent is gone.^{[2]
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Community Q&A

Question

How does a hairdryer remove hail dents?

Community Answer

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.
Question

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

Community Answer

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.