Dent repair, specifically the technique of removing dents from vehicle bodies, has been practiced for many years. However, it is challenging to pinpoint a specific place or time of origin for this technique, as it likely evolved gradually over time.

One of the earliest methods used to repair dents involved using heat and cold to manipulate the metal back into its original shape. Blacksmiths and metalworkers employed these techniques to repair dented armour, carriages, and other metal objects.

In the automotive industry, the development of dent repair techniques gained significant traction in the early 20th century. As automobiles became more popular and their bodies predominantly made of metal, the need for dent repair arose. Traditional methods such as using hammers, dollies, and other manual tools were used to reshape the damaged metal.

(Tools: hammer and dollie)

However, modern dent repair techniques, such as paintless dent repair (PDR), emerged later. PDR originated in the 1960s in Germany, primarily through the efforts of Oskar Flaig, a Mercedes-Benz technician. Flaig, along with other technicians, developed a method to access the backside of a dent and use specialized tools to push and massage the metal back into its original shape without the need for repainting. This technique revolutionized the industry, as it provided a faster, more cost-effective, and non-intrusive way to repair dents.

(Oskar Flaig)

Since its inception, PDR has gained popularity worldwide and is now commonly used in the automotive industry. It has become the go-to method for repairing small to medium-sized dents, preserving the original paint finish of the vehicle.

While dent repair techniques have evolved and improved over time, their exact origins remain somewhat ambiguous due to the gradual development and widespread use of various methods by different cultures and industries.