Which type of dent repair avoids damaging the vehicle's paint?

Paintless dent repair is the method that effectively avoids damaging the vehicle's paint. This technique involves manipulating and reshaping the metal back to its original form without the need for filling or repainting. It’s particularly effective for shallow dents that haven’t compromised the paint layer. Technicians use specialized tools to push or pull the damaged area from behind, allowing them to apply pressure smoothly and return the metal to its pre-dented contour without scratching or distorting the paint surface.

In contrast, body filler repair involves applying a material to fill in dents and is usually followed by sanding and painting, which inherently risks damaging the original paint. Paint touch-up repair is aimed at small scratches and chips by applying paint to those specific areas, but it also doesn’t address dents and may require blending that can affect the surrounding paint. Spot repair is similar to touch-up but encompasses small repairs on larger damaged areas, which could include painting and potentially affect the original paint's integrity. Thus, paintless dent repair stands out as the preferable technique for preserving the vehicle's factory finish while effectively removing the dent.