PDR Universe

How much does it actually cost to become a Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) technician? In this episode, 12-time PDR champion Žan Vidic and Zeeshan discuss the real costs of starting a PDR career, including beginner tool sets, online vs in-person training, cheap vs professional tools, and the mistakes that slow new technicians down. If you're considering a career in Paintless Dent Repair, this epis...

Stretched dents and oil cans are some of the biggest challenges in Paintless Dent Repair. In this episode, Žan Vidic and Zeeshan break down everything you need to know about shrinking metal, repairing stretched dents, avoiding common mistakes, and using shrinking boxes effectively. They discuss why dents stretch, how shrinking actually works, when to shrink during a repair, shrinking aluminum, pus...

What is PDR? Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is one of the fastest-growing automotive repair methods in the world, yet many vehicle owners still don't fully understand what it is, how it works, or what types of dents can actually be repaired. In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast, Zan Vidic and Zeeshan break down the fundamentals of Paintless Dent Repair, explain the difference between PDR a...

Should you glue pull first or push first? In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast, Zan Vidic and Zeeshan break down one of the most important decisions every Paintless Dent Repair technician faces. The discussion covers cold glue, hot glue, pushing techniques, hail damage repair, parking dents, body lines, roof damage, rail repairs, stretched metal and real-world examples from years of profess...

This week on the PDR Universe Podcast, Žan Vidic and permanent co-host Zeeshan look back at the recent European PDR Tech Meetup held in Slovenia. From technicians traveling over 1,500 km to attend, to networking, technical discussions, behind-the-scenes stories, and a tour of the new ASIS facility, this episode highlights the passion that drives the paintless dent repair community. They also share...

Who helped shape your PDR career? In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast, Žan Vidic and Zeeshan discuss the technicians, mentors, competitors, podcast hosts and industry legends who influenced their journeys in Paintless Dent Repair. From early hail repair days and learning the basics, to discovering PDR College, Bryce Kelly, Sal Contreras, Giedrius, competitions, seminars and online educatio...

In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast, Zeeshan shares his full experience competing at the CamAuto GPR Competition in Canada — one of the most advanced paintless dent repair competitions in the world. We discuss: High-level PDR & GPR techniques Large damage repairs Lateral tension & glue pulling Competition pressure Lessons from world-class technicians The future of big dent repair F...

How do PDR technicians find hail storms fast in Europe? In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast, Žan Vidic and Zeeshan sit down with Bartosz Zawadzki to talk about Hail Signals Europe — a platform designed to help paintless dent repair technicians find hail damage opportunities across Europe faster and more efficiently. We discuss: • Hail chasing in Europe • Real-time hail alerts for PDR techs...

How to improve your PDR skills and avoid the biggest paintless dent repair mistakes. In this PDR Universe Podcast episode, Žan Vidic and Zeeshan break down the top mistakes even advanced PDR technicians still make during hail damage repair, glue pulling, lateral tension, cold glue work, and large dent repairs. This episode covers: Why rushing repairs hurts your quality How lateral tension changes...

🎙️ PDR Universe Podcast Ep. 18 – Martin Sadler In this episode, we talk with Martin Sadler — one of the most experienced and respected PDR technicians in the industry. With over 25 years in the field, Martin shares his journey, insights, and lessons learned from years of high-level repairs, competitions, and training. We cover: The reality of learning PDR How the industry has evolved Tools, techni...

What is it really like to be a hail technician? In this episode, we break down the real life of PDR hail work — from travel and long hours to money, stress, and lifestyle. If you're thinking about getting into hail damage repair or chasing storms, this is the honest truth from guys living it. Learn more: https://bestpdrtraining.com ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 00:11 Podcast intro 00:31 What this epi...

In Episode 16 of the PDR Universe Podcast, we talk with Steven Dyke about the CAM Auto GPR Competition, glue pull repair, big dent repair, and where the PDR industry is heading next. We get into Steven’s PDR backstory, how glue pulling evolved over the years, why GPR is becoming more important, what makes the CAM Auto event unique, and which competitors are coming this year. If you’re into paintle...

How do you actually learn PDR and get started in paintless dent repair? In this episode, we break down the best ways to learn PDR, from in-person training and online courses to apprenticeship and self-taught learning. We talk about: - how to start paintless dent repair - the fastest vs cheapest way to learn PDR - what beginners should focus on first - how long it takes to become a PDR technician -...

PDR Universe - Episode 14 In this episode, we talk about why some PDR technicians get stuck in their journey and stop improving. Maybe the work is still coming in. Maybe the customers are happy. Maybe the money is still decent. But if you stay too comfortable, avoid harder dents, and stop pushing yourself, sooner or later someone else will pass you. We talk about: • why comfort can quietly hold yo...

In Episode 13 of the PDR Universe Podcast, we talk about a big business question for dent techs: should you open your own PDR shop, or stay mobile? Žan and Zeeshan break down the pros, cons, risks, costs and long-term opportunities of having a shop. They talk about: 🚗 mobile PDR vs shop life 🏢 buying vs renting 💸 overhead, mortgage and pressure 📈 business growth and long-term thinking 🛠️ addin...

🎙️ PDR Universe – Episode 12 In this episode, Žan and Zeeshan sit down with DB Expo 2026 Champion Alex Piven to talk about what it really takes to compete and win in PDR. We cover: ✅ how Alex started in PDR ✅ learning from his father Igor Piven ✅ how he prepared for DB Expo ✅ mindset under pressure ✅ why “slow is fast” ✅ competition strategy, tools and execution ✅ why training never stops,...

In Episode 11 of the PDR Universe Podcast , Žan and Zeeshan talk about how PDR technicians should communicate with insurance adjusters . Topics include: • How to justify repair hours • Why adjusters underestimate PDR repairs • How to educate insurance companies • Why speed should not reduce your pay • The importance of building good relationships with adjusters If you do hail repair or insurance w...

🎙️ PDR Universe – Episode 10 This episode was recorded LIVE at IASRE 2026 in Germany 🇩🇪 We break down: ✅ the new competition format ✅ tougher dents + less time ✅ why that makes judging better ✅ the growth of the expo ✅ live reactions from organizers and competitors Guests in this episode: 🔥 Almin – competition organizer 🔥 Freddie – expo organizer 🔥 Bart – competitor fresh out of round one...

In Episode 9 of the PDR Universe Podcast, Žan Vidic and Zeeshan sit down with Josh Kidd (Canada) to discuss scaling a PDR business with an abundance mindset — without burning bridges. Josh shares his journey from early door ding work to hail operations, partnerships, insurance contracts, merging companies during COVID, running multiple locations, and adding services like ADAS calibrations to stabi...

🎙️ PDR Universe – Episode 8 We’re joined by Stefan from the USA 🇺🇸 — an 18-year autobody tech making the transition into full-time PDR. We talk about the REAL side of switching: ✅ aluminum surprises ✅ underbidding and learning ✅ why R&I becomes a huge advantage ✅ building a PDR business while still working a shop job ✅ fears of leaving W-2 security ✅ the best advice for body techs who wa...

🏆 Should you compete in PDR even if you don’t win? In PDR Universe – Episode 7, we recap MTE and Dent Olympics, and break down why competitions are valuable even without a trophy. Competing helps you: ✅ perform under pressure ✅ handle people watching you (customers, techs, judges) ✅ build confidence (which makes selling easier) ✅ sharpen skills faster ✅ create reputation + open doors for wor...

Burnout in PDR is real—especially in hail season. What helped YOU the most when you felt burned out: time off, changing environment, changing work type, or something else? Train with us (Hail + PDR fundamentals): https://www.bestpdrtraining.com 👊 If this episode helped, hit Subscribe and share it with a tech who needs it.

In this episode of the PDR Universe Podcast , hosts Zan and Zeeshan sit down with Kip (20 years in PDR) to break down the soft skills that matter most in hail towns, dealerships, and body shops: rapport, communication, reading red flags, and adapting your sales approach to different personalities . We cover practical cues like eyelids/eyes for detail vs big-picture communication, how to avoid “red...

Episode 4 of the PDR Universe Podcast features our first-ever guest , Jurgen from Estonia. We talk about learning PDR the hard way, starting with online training, realizing the need for in-person coaching, surviving brutal first hailstorms, and building real-world skill through experience. Topics include hail chasing, fog vs line boards, shrinking tools, hotbox myths, opening and closing a shop, p...

In Episode 3 of the PDR Universe Podcast , co-hosts Žan Vidic and Zeeshan break down the value of PDR seminars from both perspectives: instructor and attendee. We cover what makes a seminar successful, classroom vs hands-on training formats, why asking questions matters, and how seminars can speed up your learning curve—especially for hail techs wanting to improve at big dents, creases, body lines...